By Forward Times Staff
In celebration of Black History Month, Comcast and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner recently honored ten (10) community volunteers and civic leaders at the second-annual Mayor’s History Makers Awards Luncheon, held at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa. KPRC Meteorologist Khambrel Marshall served as the Emcee for the program.
The ten local honorees were recognized for their commitment to making a difference in the community through volunteerism, mentorship, advocacy and civic engagement.
In addition to being recognized, Comcast announced plans to donate $1,000 to the nonprofit organization of each honoree’s choice.
The ten 2019 Mayor’s History Makers Award Honorees and their Nominating Organizations are:
Sam Alix – Gulf Coast Center/MVPN
Darryl Blackburn – Big Brothers Big Sisters
Donna Brownlow – Target Hunger
Leonard Donaldson – CanCare
LaShonda Johnson – The Mission Continues
Rev. William Lawson – LULAC
Howard Middleton – The HEART Program
Patrick Purnell – Mental Health America Greater Houston
Tiffany Sanders – Kids Meals Inc.
Patricia Smith Prather was also awarded as the Living Legend Honoree for 2019.
The judges who had the responsibility of selecting this year’s honorees included: Ralph Martinez, Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast Houston Region; Mary Benton, City of Houston; Martha Castex-Tatum, Houston City Council Member (District K); Juana Collins, UNCF; Kevin Doffing, Lone Star Veterans Association; Marina Franco, Houston Recovery Center; Adriana Gonzalez, Camara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston; Charles Savage, Urban Enrichment Institute; and Yolanda Smith, NAACP Houston Branch.
This article originally appeared in the Houston Forward Times.