The Ellis County Press: Meals-on-Wheels celebrates National Philanthropy Day

Meals-on-Wheels celebrates National Philanthropy Day
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Editor on 12/08/2011 17:40:00


Submitted by Amy Jackson
Meals-on-Wheels celebrated the 31st Annual National Philanthropy Day on
Thursday, Nov. 17 by honoring the Meals-on-Wheels Legacy Society Founders at a
luncheon held at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth, which included Mr. and Mrs.
Charlie Morton of Ovilla, and friends of the late Norma Schaefer and Harlan
“Gene” Gallaway, both of Cleburne.
The announcement of the Legacy Society at Thursday’s event comes in light of
Meals-on-Wheels’ upcoming 35th anniversary.
“The establishment of the Society is an opportunity to grow Meals-on-Wheels
into the future,” said Vinsen Faris, Meals-on-Wheels executive director.
“Thanks to people like the Mortons, and the late Ms. Schaefer and Mr.
Gallaway, we will be able to ensure the needs of today’s seniors are being
met, and for those to come.”
The annual event was sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
More than 500 people gathered to honor non-profit organizations, private
foundations, corporations, clubs and individual donors from all over North
Texas.
National Philanthropy Day is the special day set aside each year to recognize
and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy -- and those people
active in the philanthropic community -- have made to our lives, our communities
and our world.  The theme for National Philanthropy Day this year was “Change
the World with a Giving Heart.”
Past Meals-on-Wheels’ Philanthropy Day honorees include The Jack Burton
Family, TXI, The Joe Barton Family Foundation, The Waxahachie Foundation,
Walgreen’s Distribution Center, Mr. Art Norton, Community Bank, United Way of
Johnson County, Lowell & Shirley Smith, The Alton & Fay Talbert Memorial Fund,
The Heritage Assembly, Mrs. Pat (Mary Anne) Wilkirson, and Bank of America
Cleburne Banking Center.
“Like all of our previous honorees, the Founders of the Legacy Society are
helping to move the mission of Meals-on-Wheels forward, and we all owe them our
sincerest thanks,” added Faris.
Meals-on-Wheels is a community benefit organization serving the residents of
Johnson & Ellis counties for 34 years.  If you are interested in volunteering,
donating, or if you know of someone who could benefit from Meals-on-Wheels
services, please contact the Meals-on-Wheels offices at 817-558-2840,
972-351-9943, or online at www.servingthechildrenofyesterday.org.