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Ursuline Raises $70,000 at Luncheon
Anonymous donor to match scholarship funding
By Margaux Anbouba
On North Texas Giving Day, Ursuline Academy of Dallas asked attendees of its Lunch With A View fundraiser to open their hearts and donate to the school's scholarship fund.
"Among those 800 ladies [attending Ursuline], there are almost 200 on scholarships," said Jean-Claude Saada, the master of ceremonies for the Sept. 19 luncheon. "That's 25 percent of our school. These are young women whose determination inspires us, whose talents raise our school, and whose friendship enriches our daughters."
Ursuline can fulfill half of the $1.6 million needed for student aid; the other half comes from generous donors.
Nelly Nwonuma, a senior at the private school, shared what her time at Ursuline has meant to her. Nwonuma is an honors student, an Ursuline Ambassador, a recipient of the Girl Scout Silver Award, and a member of the track and field team.
"Ursuline was not only my high school, it was my blessing," Nwonuma said. "I know no matter what I do, I am going to change the world, and because I am an Ursuline girl, I will succeed.
The keynote speaker for the event was Kip Tindell, the CEO and chairman of the Container Store.
Tinell, who attended Jesuit, spoke about the secrets behind the success of the Container Store. He attributed some of it to the feminization of American businesses and how educated young women are becoming an important commodity in the business world.
"At the Container Store, 14 of the top 18 positions in the company are women," Tindell said. "I have always felt women make better executives than men."
Tindell wasn't all business in his speech; he shared funny anecdotes from his 35 years of building up the organizational store to what it is today.
"People have told us we have saved their marriage," he said. "We're just trying to organize closets!"
Laughs aside, Lunch With a View raised more than a record-breaking $70,000 for the Ursuline scholarship fund. An anonymous donor offered to match the money raised from the event, putting the total net earnings more than $100,000.
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