Uninsured and ineligible for Medicare (under 65), these individuals have often depleted their personal funds in battling their illnesses and now want hospice care but are unable to pay.

Arnold (Arnie) Holtberg’s commitment to fostering the growth of young individuals into strong, compassionate and contributing adults originates from a childhood lesson to “love his neighbor.” While this upbringing instilled a dedication to service, Holtberg has established his own legacy through his commitment to education.

Holtberg has held key roles in numerous U.S. private and public schools, including Social Studies Teacher, Dean of Students and Headmaster. He also served as principal of the Hong Kong International School, overseeing a diverse student body representing approximately 40 nations. From 1993 to 2014, he was the Head of School at St. Mark’s School of Texas, becoming the longest-tenured head in the school’s history. During his two-decade tenure, more than 1,600 young men graduated from St. Mark’s. Holtberg is credited with transforming the campus by significantly increasing enrollment and admission demand, enhancing academic and extracurricular programs and recruiting exceptional faculty, staff and administration.

Looking ahead, he said he aims to “inspire our youth to lead us to higher moral ground and create an environment where all people experience unconditional respect.” Since retiring in 2014, Holtberg has served as a board trustee for several not-for-profit organizations focused on improving education. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Advisory Council at The Compass School of Texas and he recently published his first novel, “Game On!: One Boy’s Odyssey,” which explores the challenges of a young boy navigating middle school and imparts valuable lessons to today’s youth. Even outside the classroom, Holtberg continues to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders to commit to finding their moral compass and to lead with integrity.

Holtberg is a graduate of Princeton University and holds a Master of Arts in Religion, specializing in Pastoral Care, Counseling and Theology, from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is also a proud member of the 1970 College Baseball All-American Team as a pitcher for Princeton.

In 1979, the newly constructed elementary school in Plano, Texas, was proudly named James L. Thomas Elementary, marking a significant milestone as the first public school in Plano to bear the name of an African American. This honor was not prompted by the three percent African American population in Plano but was a collective decision by the entire community to celebrate Thomas’s impactful contributions.

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps and continuing the Thomas legacy, James Thomas has devoted his life to serving those in Plano. Over the course of 48 years working with Plano ISD (PISD), Thomas’s roles and responsibilities have evolved, yet his impact has remained steadfast. When asked what inspired him to stay and serve at PISD for so long, he credits the children and families, saying, “I enjoy working with our children and families and having the opportunity to witness their growth.” Currently, Thomas serves in multiple roles within PISD, with his most cherished being the McKinney Vento liaison position. In this role, he identifies homeless families, offering them vital services and connecting them with agencies to support both students and their families in navigating the challenges they face.

In addition to his work at PISD, Thomas serves as a board member for several not-for-profit organizations which help him stay up-to-date with local available resources and assistance so that he can better connect Plano families. He is especially proud of a partnership he helped facilitate between Plano ISD, St. Andrew’s Methodist Church and the North Texas Food Bank, that has provided shelf-stable food to Plano elementary students and their families for the past 14 years. When asked about his passion for serving others, he is quick to admit, “I don’t have a passion to help others. I have a passion to do the right thing even when no one is watching and helping others is always the right thing.” The Thomas family has built a generational legacy through their commitment to do the right thing and service to the Plano community.

Over the past two decades, the landscape for survivors of sexual violence in Dallas and North Texas has transformed dramatically. Prior to 2010, Parkland Hospital was the only facility out of 47 providing or performing rape kits in Dallas County; Dallas was also the largest city, much less county, in the country lacking a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program. SANE Programs increase conviction rates by more than 95% while also providing survivors with trauma informed care, specialized forensic evidence collection and specialized training in meeting the needs of victims in crisis. Today, because of the relentless efforts of Courtney Underwood, survivors have multiple options when seeking access to this critical medical exam including the W.W. Caruth Center for SAFE Healing at Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas and Courtney’s SAFE Place in Plano. Whereas survivors were previously left waiting for more than 12-24 hours for a rape kit that was performed by residents lacking the necessary training, now they can choose where to go for an exam and they are promptly attended to by a qualified SANE and trained victim advocate; having SANEs perform these exams is the best predictor of successful prosecution in these cases, even more so than the presence of DNA or other physical evidence. The proliferation of SANE Programs across North Texas over the past 14 years can largely be credited to the dedication of Underwood.

Courtney Underwood has been a devoted advocate for sexual violence survivors for nearly 25 years. Inspired by her mother’s work making the world a better place, Underwood has focused her life on improving care and options for survivors. Among many board positions, Underwood chairs The Dallas County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) SANE Oversight Committee and serves as President of the Board of The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center, where she also played a pivotal role in establishing Courtney’s SAFE Place, the only Forensic Nursing Clinic in North Texas.

A transformative moment in her life was her first press conference at Texas Health Dallas; standing among Dallas’ Chief of Police and District Attorney, she recalls how the room reverberated when the hospital president told predators in Dallas to watch out, declaring that they were coming for them. This moment marked a turning point, not only in serving survivors but also in providing a platform to discuss sexual violence in a way that had never been done before in Dallas. Looking ahead, Underwood dreams of establishing an Advocacy Center or Family Justice Center for the community. She envisions a facility housing several of Dallas’ most heroic non-profits under one roof, available to serve families, including adults and children. Such a facility has the potential to make an incredible impact on the community while supporting the criminal justice system

Underwood’s commitment to advocating for survivors of sexual violence has been central in the progress Dallas has achieved in providing better support and care for survivors. From her leadership roles to the establishment of essential services, Underwood’s work continues to inspire and drive change, making Dallas a safer and more supportive city for survivors of sexual violence.

Patrick Walsh has an impressive family as well as record of service and leadership. He is married to Andy Kaye Walsh, a 2017 EMM honoree who continues to serve the community. During his naval career, Dr. Walsh served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. With 77 combat missions, 4,700 flight hours, 19 years of command experience and extensive crisis management expertise, including humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, the former White House Fellow and Slot Pilot for the Blue Angels retired as a 4-star Admiral. But when asked about his achievements, he is more excited to talk about the students at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep.

Dr. Walsh is President of Cristo Rey Dallas, a Catholic preparatory school serving low-income households where 92% of students will be first-generation college attendees. He credits Cristo Rey’s 100+ corporate partners for the success of its students; the school’s work program is a fee-for-service model allowing students to work in a hands-on professional setting with students’ earnings paying for 60% of their education costs. This unique opportunity gives them the added benefit of graduating with a resume in addition to a transcript.

Dr. Walsh’s dedication to education stems from the ripple effect education had on his own life. He recalls the impact of being able to attend Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, made affordable by incentives encouraging faculty members to enroll their family members in the school. He shared, “Because my father was a member of the faculty I attended Jesuit and was able to compete for an appointment to the United States Naval Academy (USNA). Because I graduated from USNA, I was able to attend flight school, have a career in naval aviation and receive three graduate degrees. All the doors opened by education, all the hopes that became dreams and all the dreams that became realizable, were paid for by people I had never met.”

Recognizing the transformative power of education, Dr. Walsh continues to advance Cristo Rey’s mission to help empower students from underserved backgrounds to achieve academic success and pursue their dreams. His commitment to serving others throughout his life, both at the national level in the armed forces and today in the Pleasant Grove community, exemplifies his dedication to making each moment matter for those in need.

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Cathy & William W. Davis

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Annette Simmons