Person of the Year

‘I JUST COUNT IT ALL A JOY’

Cindy Brinker Simmons’ philanthropy is in her DNA

SUPPORT HER CAUSES

Volunteer to help or donate to various Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer programs at wokc.org.

Keep track of the programs and tournaments that honor Maureen Connelly-Brinker at mcbtennis.org.

By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

Cindy Brinker Simmons’ passion for philanthropy is pretty much genetic. But her desire to contribute to finding a cure for cancer came while she sat on a church pew, mourning the loss of her mother.

“Everything my parents did was with the thought of blessing others,” Simmons said of her parents, restaurateur Norman Brinker and former tennis star Maureen “Little Mo” Connelly-Brinker. “Giving back is just really part of my DNA because of my remarkable parents, who really focused on the importance of investing in others’ lives and making a difference — being other focused and not self-focused.”

Simmons work to combat childhood cancer and help families dealing with the rigors of pediatric cancer treatment through Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer is why Preston Hollow People chose her as our 2021 Person of the Year.

It’s also why Simmons was awarded with the Governor’s Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award this year.

Her parents embraced a culture of giving, she said, but it wasn’t until her mother died of cancer that Simmons had a mission — despite being the tender age of 12.

Simmons’ mother, Maureen, was a world champion tennis player before a horse-riding accident cut her career short. But to get there, she had the help of generous people that helped fund her competition travel — something that spurred her to want to give back later, creating a nonprofit with friend Nancy Jeffett to promote and assist other promising young tennis players.

“She was actually No. 1 in the world in 1952, ‘53, and ‘54,” Simmons said. “And she won Wimbledon three years in a row.”

Maureen died of cancer at 34, six months after starting the Maureen ConnellyBrinker Tennis Foundation.

“I was 12, and my sister Brenda was 10,” Simmons said. “And I remember sitting in a very uncomfortable pew at my mom’s funeral, between my dad and my sister, so angry — so heartbroken, just so confused … it was such a loss for our family.

“I sat on that pew as a preteenager, and I just thought that someday I’m going to do something to halt that scourge of a disease that claimed my mom’s life at age 34 — and I think that seed was planted in my head because I saw my parents helping so many people.”

These days, Simmons and her sister not only honor their mother by continuing to support junior tennis through her foundation, but also their parents’ spirit of giving through a variety of philanthropic endeavors.

“My dad said to me, ‘You know, money only allows you really two things: It allows you some freedoms and some options,’” Simmons said of her late father. “But the greatest joy of having a few nickels to rub together is that you can give them away.

“It’s the joy of giving them away, and I just count it all a joy.”

Read more of our conversation with Cindy Brinker-Simmons at peoplenewspapers.com.

My dad said to me, ‘You know . . . the greatest joy of having a few nickels to rub together is that you can give them away. Cindy Brinker Simmons

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Cindy Brinker Simmons with her father, the late Norman Brinker; Little Mo stamp - Brinker Simmons mother, Maureen, was commemorated with a “Little Mo” stamp by the US Postal Service in 2019; Maureen Brinker was known as “Little Mo” Connelly during her stint as one of tennis’ elite. (PHOTOS: COURTESY

2021 Newsmakers: Neighbors Who Made Headlines

Michael Hinojosa

Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD superintendent (and alumnus), was already navigating the aftermath of a tornado that destroyed three schools and damaged several others when another disaster struck — COVID-19.

The superintendent oversaw the district’s plan to go virtual suddenly as the pandemic hit the state. He then navigated efforts to make the return to school as safe as possible for staff and students — getting national attention as he defied Gov. Greg Abbott to mandate masks for the district.

Michael Hinojosa

(COURTESY DALLAS ISD)

Clay Jenkins

Love him or hate him, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has been on the forefront of the county’s response to the pandemic — and often at odds with the state’s GOP leaders.

Jenkins found himself butting heads with Abbott on numerous occasions, from local control of the pandemic response versus statewide quarterbacking from Abbott’s office, to mandating masks and vaccines. Some loved him for it, while others picketed in front of his home.

Clay Jenkins

(FILE PHOTO)

Mark Cuban

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban ended 2021 by buying a whole danged town, but that wasn’t the only newsworthy endeavor by the Preston Hollow resident.

In November, he was named to the Texas Business Hall of Fame. He also launched the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, which will offer an online pharmacy to reduce drug costs on 100 of the most prescribed generic drugs.

He is also the chairman and CEO of AXS TV and an investor on ABC’s Shark Tank. Read about his foundation’s AI Bootcamps in this month’s STEAM section.

Mark Cuban

(COURTESY DALLAS MAVERICKS)

Jennifer and Peter Altabefs

The couple who gives together is honored together — Jennifer and Peter Altabefs were honored with the Peter and Jennifer Altabef Texas Appleseed’s (COURTESY TEXAS APPLESEED) J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award in recognition of their philanthropic work. Jennifer also was named one of TACA’s Silver Cup honorees for 2022.

Both spend time and resources supporting an array of nonprofits, from the Dallas Theater Center to Big Thought, to SMU, to KERA, to Children’s Health, and many more.

Izzy Martin, surrounded here by her parents Christine and David and siblings Luke, Madeleine, and Faith, hasn’t let her cancer diagnosis dim her desire to help others.

(PHOTOS: LYONS PHOTOGRAPHY, TI ADORO STUDIOS)

‘One of the Best People I Have Ever Met’ ESD student battles cancer but focuses on caring for others

By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

When you’re a dancer, you’re prepared to get injured sometimes. For 11-yearold Isabelle “Izzy” Martin, a dance injury turned out to be much more severe.

But it’s what happened as she fights cancer that earned the Episcopal School of Dallas student more than 900 votes in our Readers’ Choice Person of the Year for 2021.

On Feb. 13, 2020, Izzy injured her leg at dance class — and it turned out to be a broken femur, which didn’t jibe with the low-impact incident. Tests revealed that she had stage four osteosarcoma — a bone cancer. She’s been battling it ever since.

“Despite having 13 surgeries, including a full femur replacement and a skull surgery, she has not only maintained a positive attitude but has also spent countless hours helping the community,” one nominator said. “She’s donated hundreds of care packages for Austin Street Center, is an inaugural member of United Way’s ‘Teens United,’ and has raised over $200,000 for Children’s Hospital and pediatric cancer research.”

But if you ask Izzy, she’ll say that what she hopes is that her actions will result in better funding for osteosarcoma research and awareness. “My entire life, I have always believed that knowledge is power,” she said. “So, when we know more about something, we can do more about it. When I first got diagnosed, we learned how little funding goes into pediatric cancer, and specifically osteosarcoma. I want people to know that they can make a difference, no matter their circumstances.” As she’s navigated her illness, she’s made quite an im-

Izzy should be the pression on her friends and teachers, Person of the Year too. because of her love “Izzy’s commitment to engaging of life, her insistence with the ESD comon moving forward munity has been inspiring to witexpeditiously, and ness,” said Jonathan her dedication to Chein, ESD’s head of middle school. making the most of Allison Darnell, the precious time sixth-grade dean and math teacher, that we have. admires both Izzy’s The Rev. Tim determination and “caring heart.”Kennedy “With her strength, determination, can-do-attitude, and humor, nothing limits her. She is so hard-working and determined,” Darnell said. “Though facing significant physical challenges, she has enthusiastically embraced life and lives it to the fullest,” said ESD chaplain and religion teacher the Rev. Tim Kennedy. “Izzy should be the Person of the Year because of her love of life, her insistence on moving forward expeditiously, and her dedication to making the most of the precious time that we have.”

“There is not a flaw about her,” said classmate Wynne Horton. “She is one of the best people I have ever met.”

“Izzy is so funny and the toughest, smartest person I know,” agreed classmate McCall Moore. “She still gets through school just as well as anyone else and never feels sorry for herself.”

With her looking to start her fourth treatment protocol in 2022, Izzy said she has lots of hopes for the year, including “finding more ways to support things I care about,” such as the Austin Street Center and the Osteosarcoma Institute.

She grinned and added one other thing. “I guess I wouldn’t mind having another dog in the family.”

BE #TEAMIZZY

The #TeamIzzy Osteosarcoma Science Fund with the Osteosarcoma Institute raises money to fund a breakthrough clinical trial or research study to advance treatments, survival rates, and ultimately find a cure for osteosarcoma.

Make a gift of any amount to her fund: secure.osinst.org/a/teamizzy

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Among the 10 nominees for Readers’ Choice Person of the Year, two more individuals stood out, garnering our poll’s second and third-most votes.

Courtney Dios

When students walk into Courtney Dios’ class at the Shelton School, they aren’t just sitting down in front of any teacher – they’re getting time with an alumna who understands exactly how they feel.

The Highland Park native said she struggled in school before finding her home at Shelton as Courtney Dios (COURTESY PHOTOS) a student.

As a teacher, she offers her students a “life hacks” class that teaches sewing, cooking, gardening, and even basic survival skills.

“My goal is to teach them how to work smarter, not harder, and give them the knowledge where if they were put in a situation, they would be more confident,” she said.

James T. “Brad” Bradley

Few personalities have been as constant a presence at the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic as celebrated sports photographer James T. “Brad” Bradley. The World War II veteran photographed his first Cotton Bowl game in 1948 when SMU football standout Doak Walker was in his heyday and remains the only sports photographer in the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.

“Through the years, Brad be- James T. Bradley came college football’s favorite photographer,” Bradley’s biography on the Cotton Bowl’s website reads. “Few can match his years of service to a bowl game. A permanent fixture at the AT&T Cotton Bowl, his streak of consecutive games worked has reached an unprecedented 59 games.”

Bradley’s father-in-law, Jim Laughead, had been hired by SMU as a photographer before that in 1947 and quickly asked Brad to join him.

“The business became known as Laughead Photographers and was located on Hillcrest immediately across the street from SMU,” said Gerry York, SMU Heritage Hall curator. “In later years, after Laughead retired, the business became known as Bradley Photographers.”

Bradley has covered more than 40 colleges and several NFL teams. In the summer of 2018, the College Football Hall of Fame had an exhibit dedicated to him and his photography.

The family business continues from his University Park home, where Brad and his son, Jimmy, still take photos for SMU. Brad was named University Park’s Citizen of the Year in 2019 and serves on the city’s Facilities Naming Committee.