Parents Step Ahead's 5th Annual Gala Honors 'Families Building Dreams'

USA - English

• Latin America - español

DALLAS, Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents Step Ahead, a nonprofit parental-education organization, honored five parents and a pair of grandparents at its 5th Annual "Parent of the Year" Gala on Dec. 3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel-Dallas Market Center.

The "Parents of the Year" honored for involvement in and support of their children or grandchildren's educations were:

• Jeanne Dulie Kom, from Thomas Haley Elementary (Irving ISD)
• Margarita Hernandez, from W.C. Daugherty Elementary (Garland ISD)
• Paul Hakes Jr., from Jack E. Singley Academy (Irving ISD)
• Laura Madrigal, from Leila P. Cowart Elementary (Dallas ISD)
• Esmeralda Martinez, from Urban Park Elementary (Dallas ISD)
• Rosa and Ramon Miranda, from Las Voces Olvidadas de la Tercera Edad

"These parents and grandparents truly are 'families building dreams,' " said Linda Valdez Thompson, executive vice president, Administration and Diversity for DFW International Airport and co-chair of the Gala.  "The gala was inspirational and allowed us to recognize parents who take an active role in their children's education, which ensures future success for our Hispanic community."  Robert Bard, CEO and President of LATINA Style Inc., also co-chaired the Gala. "The success of Parents Step Ahead's gala highlights the fact that when parents, teachers, administrators and the community get together to fight for the education of our children, great things are accomplished," said Bard. "This success reinforces my commitment to continue to work in support of this great organization."

Each honoree had an opportunity to address the audience and received a plaque, a Dell desktop computer system donated by Pinnacle Technical Resources, and Internet service from Assurance Wireless.

"I never thought that someone would acknowledge me for being a mother," said Laura Madrigal, "Parent of the Year" winner from Leila P. Cowart Elementary. "I help my children because they are the most important thing in my life. I feel happy and am thankful to Parents Step Ahead for this honor."

Gala sponsors were Verizon, Wal-Mart, Educational Testing Services, Assurance Wireless, Pinnacle Technical Resources, General Motors, Capital One Bank, Comerica Bank, Frito-Lay Inc., AT&T, and McDonald's Hispanic Owner-Operators Association. More than 275 guests including representatives from school districts, corporations, and community organizations attended.

"Parents want to be friends to their kids because they do not have the guts to discipline them and be parents," said Gala keynote speaker Steve Blow, a columnist for The Dallas Morning News.  "I believe in the two R's -- Respect and Responsibility."

For more information about Parents Step Ahead, please visit www.parentsstepahead.org.

About Parents Step Ahead

Parents Step Ahead is a 501-C3 nonprofit organization with a mission "to recognize, educate, enable and empower parents to take a proactive role in the educational and personal development of their children." The organization works in partnership with school districts, corporations and community organizations to offer a series of school-based programs for parents of all backgrounds throughout the school calendar year. Educators, motivational speakers, community volunteers and parenting experts present seminars on topics such as gang awareness, drug use prevention, underage drinking, computer literacy, Internet safety, raising kids with love and logic, and health and financial issues. Programs focus on ways parents and legal guardians can be involved in their child's life and the difference their involvement can make. www.parentsstepahead.org.

SOURCE Parents Step Ahead