Wlliams and Tulsa Shock Honor Women of Inspiration
June 8, 2015 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Tulsa Shock News Release
TULSA, Okla. - For the fifth consecutive year, Williams and the Tulsa Shock are proud to honor inspirational women with the 2015 Williams Women of Inspiration ceremony at the BOK Center on Sunday, June 28. For the first time, there are six women named as top honorees, in the past it was limited to five. Also for the first year, the search for inspirational women went statewide; prior to 2015 it was limited only to the Tulsa area. These women serve Oklahoma with dedication and passion, while impacting the lives of area youth and the community.
In addition to the Williams Women of Inspiration program, for the second season the Tomorrow's Women of Inspiration essay contest will be conducted. Young women students at KIPP Tulsa College Preparatory submitted essays of an inspirational woman, such as a family member or teacher. The five students selected as Tomorrow's Women of Inspiration are Santina Gates, Amya Jamison, Ladrea King, Skylar Watson and Raven Young. The winners receive tickets to the game, an invitation to the pre-game reception, inclusion in the Williams Women of Inspiration awards ceremony and will be featured in short videos throughout the game.
The 2015 Williams Women of Inspiration Top Six Honorees are:
Jari Askins:
Jari Askins has served the people of Oklahoma for more than 30 years in a variety of roles ranging from a special judge to Lieutenant Governor and many areas in between. She currently serves as special advisor to the governor on child welfare and Pinnacle Plan implementation. In this role, Jari works with the Department of Human Services lending her expertise to the state's reform of the foster care system. When Jari was sworn in as Oklahoma's 15th Lieutenant Governor in 2007, she achieved the rare distinction of being involved in public service in all three branches of state government.
Masie Bross:
In 1996, Masie was hired by her husband (Larry Bross, Founder) to become Director of CityCare's Whiz Kids. At her retirement in June of 2012, the program had grown to include 57 churches, 27 schools and serves over 850 at risk children one-on-one using more than 1,000 volunteers. Over the years, Masie has seeded, nurtured and expanded CityCare's Whiz Kids Program into a viable solution to illiteracy. After retirement in 2012, Masie has continued to volunteer for Whiz Kids. She has been an instrument in connecting her church with an inner-city church to tutor forty kids a week. She is also a volunteer for CityCare. Her delight is to connect people with needs to the resources available to help them long term: education and housing.
Cassandra Gaines:
Cassandra Gaines, fondly known as "Momma C", has dedicated her life to improving her beloved city of Muskogee through encouraging economic development, volunteering for non-profits and non-profit work. She holds the positions of Muskogee Civic Center Director, Muskogee Multi-Cultural Tourism Coordinator, and Manager of the Roxy Theater, an historic and beloved Muskogee landmark. Since 1982, Cassandra has been actively involved in tourism in the Northeastern Oklahoma region. She is a pioneer in the tourism industry's rapidly growing niche market of Heritage Tourism. While working for the Muscogee Department of Convention and Tourism in 1996, Cassandra wrote a proposal to the Oklahoma Historical Society for funding to help promote African American Heritage Tourism in Northeastern Oklahoma. After presenting and defending her proposal before Governor Frank Keating, Cassandra was awarded a grant of $50,000 for ten years and used these funds to establish the Muskogee Multi-Cultural Tourism Department, which she coordinates.
Jennifer Patterson:
Jennifer founded and directed Crossover, an urban youth ministry, in 1998 and served for 11 years. Her responsibilities included weekly programming, volunteer recruiting and coordinating, event planning, mentoring and relationship building with urban youth in north Tulsa. Jennifer stepped out in faith in 2005 and founded Aim High Academy, a non-profit gymnastics program for North Tulsa's children and youth. With a baccalaureate degree in Health and Sports Sciences from the University of Oklahoma in 1995, coupled with a Masters Degree in Therapeutic Recreation in 2000 from Oklahoma State University, Jennifer brings unique professional qualifications for this endeavor. Aim High Academy has grown to serve over 275 urban children each week.
LeAnne Taylor:
LeAnne Taylor joined The News On 6 team in January 1998 as co-host of Six in the Morning. Taylor is active in the Tulsa community and passionate about fighting breast cancer. As a survivor, she is involved with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is past president of the Tulsa Affiliate and participates in the Race for the Cure each fall. She was also given the "You Make A Difference Award" for making her private battle with breast cancer public. LeAnne has also been involved with the Tulsa Chapter of the Association of Women in Communications, serving as its president. A graduate of Leadership Tulsa, Taylor has helped with the American Cancer Society, Oklahoma Special Olympics and Tulsa County 4-H. She can often be found serving as emcee for a variety of community events.
Geri Webb:
Gerri is originally from Des Moines Iowa and relocated to Tulsa in 1998. She relocated to pursue a job opportunity with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK), as Vice President of Government Programs. She was the first African American, Vice President at BCBSOK. Gerri retired from BCBSOK in 2008 and currently co-owns a consulting company, Interim Executives, LLC. She is currently a Docent at the Philbrook Museum, mentor for 5th and 6th girls at Gilcrease Elementary School. She recently became a member of the Operations Committee for the Day Center for the Homeless. Her past community services in Tulsa include serving on the boards of The Parent Child Center of Tulsa and Margaret Hudson Program. She was Board President for both boards. She received an appointment from Brad Henry, the former Governor of OK, to serve as a Commissioner for the Department of Human Service (OKDHS). She has volunteered hours for the Homerun for the Homeless, Iron Gate, United Way, Voters' Registration Drives, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and Habitat for Humanity.
All of the 2015 Williams Women of Inspiration nominees will be invited to attend a pre-game reception hosted at the BOK Center before tip-off of the June 28 game. In addition, nominees and honorees receive tickets to the game. The Top Six Honorees will receive on court recognition during halftime of the game and an appreciation award from Williams and the Tulsa Shock. The 2015 Top Honoree will be announced on court during halftime and receives an all expenses paid trip with a guest to the 2015 WNBA Women of Inspiration Luncheon in New York, in addition to the previously mentioned awards.
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