Photo courtesy to the Junior League of Dallas.
The Junior League of Dallas announced Kathleen Gibson as the 2024 Sustainer of the Year. She has been a valuable asset to the league for many years, serving in various roles according, to the committee.
Gibson’s extensive experience within the Junior League includes positions such as Assistant Provisional Project Chair, JLD Ball Committee member, where she contributed to Advertising Sales Force and served as the Assistant Arrangements Chair, Public Affairs Committee Issue Researcher, and Funding Ad Hoc Committee Member.
In addition to her services as a JLD member, she has used her JLD training both in her nonprofit board involvement and in her professional career. She is credited for transformative impact on the Southwestern Medical Foundation by forming committees for the board, governance and leading a successful $1 billion capital campaign. Additionally, she has chaired multiple nonprofit boards and served on numerous committees.
“Kathleen has demonstrated her leadership and applied her JLD training personally and professionally for decades and continues to do so. Her work has positively impacted countless lives for the better,” said Connie O’Neill, JLD Sustainer.
In 2012, Gibson became President and CEO of Southwestern Medical Foundation, becoming the tenth President in Southwestern Medical Foundation’s over an 80-year history and the first leader of the organization. 10 years of service later, she instituted a CEO succession plan to recruit the next Foundation leader and provide sufficient time for an orderly transition.
During her tenure, she steered the Foundation’s strategic priorities toward long-term sustained impact and grew both assets and endowment over $1 billion. During this time, grant making accelerated, with two-thirds of all Foundation grants being awarded within the past 10 years.
Furthermore, she also established new efforts to engage a diverse community of advocates and contributors while leading the Foundation’s business, investments, and programs to maximize impact in addressing growing community needs.
“Kathleen is not just a board member she is active, involved, and engaged. I have served alongside her on several boards and seen firsthand where she brings creativity to solve issues, while also asking the critical questions as a steward of the organization. She has all of the qualities befitting a recipient of this award and is beloved by so many in our community,” O’Neill said.
