FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Brynn Bagot
Brynn Bagot Public Relations
[email protected] | 214.770.4280

DALLAS – September 29, 2023 – Junior League of Dallas (JLD) is excited to reveal that the 2024 Sustainer of the Year is Kathleen Gibson. Kathleen has been a vital Member of the League for many years including her roles as Assistant Provisional Project Chair; JLD Ball Committee, including Advertising Sales Force and Assistant Arrangements Chair; Public Affairs Committee – Issue Researcher, and as Funding Ad Hoc Committee Member.

She has used her JLD training both in her nonprofit board involvement and in her career. She is credited for transforming Southwestern Medical Foundation by forming committees for the board, governance and leading a successful $1 billion capital campaign. Her fundraising placements within JLD prepared her well for this role.  In addition, Kathleen has chaired multiple nonprofit boards and served on numerous committees, again using the skills she learned through JLD training.

“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. “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.”

Kathleen became President and CEO of Southwestern Medical Foundation in 2012, making her the tenth President in Southwestern Medical Foundation’s more than 80-year history and the first woman to lead the organization. In 2022, following 10 years of service, she instituted a CEO succession plan to recruit the next Foundation leader and provide sufficient time for an orderly transition.

During her tenure, Kathleen 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 such that two-thirds of all Foundation grants were made in the past 10 years. She also established new efforts to engage a broad community of advocates and contributors, while leading the Foundation’s business, investments, and programs to maximize impact in addressing growing community needs.

Prior to that, Kathleen worked in financial services at Citibank as President of Texas and Central US Commercial. She spent 25 preceding years at Bank of America in various roles including Head of Asset Management Risk, President of Southwest US Private Banking, Head of Southwest Corporate Banking, and President of Bank of America Dallas.

Kathleen has been active in the community and state serving on the boards of Southwestern Medical Foundation, Texas A&M Foundation, Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, Texas Higher Education Foundation, Philanthropy Southwest, Visiting Nurses Association of Texas, and LaunchBio. Her prior civic involvement includes service on the boards of the Dallas Regional Chamber, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, The Dallas Opera, The Lamplighter School, Dallas Citizens Council, BioNTX, and the Dallas 2012 Olympic Bid Committee.

She is past Chair of Texas A&M Foundation and The Association of Former Students, and currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board of The Bush School of Government and Public Service.  Kathleen has been recognized by Texas A&M as a Distinguished Alumnus and honored with the Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry and Women’s Legacy Awards.

In addition, she has received recognition by the Dallas Business Journal as a ‘Top 25 Industry Leader in ‘Women in Business,’ and the Profiles in Diversity Journal in the 10th Annual ‘Women Worth Watching’ edition.

Kathleen will be recognized at the 2024 Milestones Luncheon on Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Omni Dallas Hotel. For underwriting information or to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.jldallas.org/milestones-luncheon/

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ABOUT JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS

The Junior League of Dallas cultivates leaders who collectively address the critical needs of the community. Founded in 1922, JLD is one of the largest Junior Leagues in the world, as well as the largest and oldest training organization for women in Dallas. Active members range in age from 22 to 49 with approximately 85% percent of women employed outside of the home. The JLD provides leadership opportunities to nearly 4,000 women each year through more than 17,000 cumulative hours of experiential and formal training. Uniquely member-run, JLD provides approximately 100,000 hours in volunteer service and more than $1 million in funding to area nonprofits each year. For more information, please visit www.jldallas.org or Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.