Maura Women Helping Women Award Recipients
For 45 years, The Maura Women Helping Women Award has recognized those who have led the way in improving the lives of women and girls. The Maura Award was named to honor the late Maura McNiel, founding president of the Women’s Center and among the founders of Texas Women’s Foundation, who set a standard of passion, spirit and commitment for women’s issues.
TEXAS ADVOCACY PROJECT | AUSTIN, TX
Heather Bellino
Heather Bellino is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming lives as the CEO of Texas Advocacy Project. With a commitment to serving victims of domestic and dating violence, child abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking, she leads a team that provides crucial legal services. At the heart of her leadership lies a passion for advancing the lives of women and girls. Through TAP's initiatives, Heather raises awareness about critical issues, dismantle stigma, and foster open dialogues, driving positive systemic change.
MARSHA CLARK & ASSOCIATES | FRISCO, TX
Marsha Clark
Marsha Clark has become a driving force in the realm of leadership development, change management, strategic planning, performance management, team development and executive coaching. A visionary leader, she has dedicated more than 20 years to crafting and delivering leadership development programs tailored for women. She is also an Amazon best-selling author of Embracing Your Power. Complementing her literary success, she hosts a weekly podcast titled Your Authentic Path to Powerful Leadership, accessible on MarshaClarkandAssociates.com.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO | EL PASO, TX
Adeeba Raheem
Dr. Adeeba Raheem, UTEP associate professor of Civil Engineering, uses her academic prowess to help students. She has a multi-million dollar research portfolio with funding from U.S. federal agencies and non-profit organizations, which is directed towards supporting women and economically disadvantaged students in civil and construction engineering. For a decade, she has also been leading a construction safety training program where a large number of women representing diverse socio-economic backgrounds have been trained on occupational safety topics.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | CEDAR HILL, TX
Jamila Thomas
Jamila Thomas serves as senior vice president for Big Brothers Big Sisters and is responsible for establishing the strategic plan for corporate and community engagement. She also serves as an executive board member for Pipelines to Possibilities, an organization founded by four African American women judges focused on educating students on the justice system. Jamila helped establish the first Racial Equity Office in Dallas ISD and founded Cultured Consulting Group, an organization committed to the implementation of culturally responsive leadership best practices.
Young Leader Award Recipients
The Young Leader Award recognizes breakthrough leadership exhibited by a woman under the age of 40 who is achieving success in a field, initiative or sector, and creating a path of opportunity for other women to follow.
ALLYN MEDIA | DALLAS, TX
Cimajie Best
Cimajie Best, an associate with Allyn Media, is a trusted advisor to clients facing public affairs challenges, public relations opportunities, political elections, and landmark fundraising campaigns. As a skilled tactician in capacity building and stakeholder management, she is a strong racial equity advocate and program evaluator. Cimajie works with nonprofits, foundations, elected officials, and communities to create inclusive outcomes for all parties involved. She is a staunch advocate for collaborations, partnerships and a collective impact approach to producing change.
CANNENTA CENTER FOR HEALING | ADDISON, TX
Hilda McClure
Hilda McClure, COO at Cannenta Center for Healing and Empowerment and a founding board member at Cannenta Foundation, is a skilled bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in adult therapy and trauma-focused counseling. Driven by a dedication to youth well-being, she pioneered an evidence-based program for children and single mothers in residential care. Committed to community growth, she trains professionals in serving Hispanic families and navigating the acculturation process.