Six Oklahomans named “Treasures for Tomorrow” by the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation.
Article URL: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-health-center-foundation-announces-its-2011-treasures-for-tomorrow-honorees/article/3541966
Outlet: NewsOK
Publication Date: 2-20-2011
The Oklahoma Health Center Foundation announced six Oklahomans as its 2011 Treasures for Tomorrow honorees.
A tribal statesman, a couple dedicated to civic volunteerism and the arts, an advocate for film and poetry and a couple who are celebrated sports professionals and community volunteers will be honored at the 12th annual Treasures for Tomorrow celebration on April 14 in downtown Oklahoma City.
The Treasures for Tomorrow honor pays tribute to individuals whose passion for life, courage and inspiring actions serve as a model for quality values and goodness in our community. Serving as Treasures for Tomorrow co-chairmen are David Thompson and Shannon Rich.
The 2011 Treasures are: Bill Anoatubby, Dudley and Sue Ann Hyde, Jeanne Hoffman Smith, and Barry and Becky Switzer.
Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, named Outstanding Innovative Leader
Bill Anoatubby began working for the Chickasaw Nation in 1975 as its health services director and served in various position until he was elected the Chickasaws' governor in 1987. Currently in his sixth term, the Chickasaw Nation has grown from about 250 employees to more than 11,500. The financial condition of the tribe has tremendously improved from an $11 million annual budget to capital outlays of more than $750 million annually, according to information provided in a news release. Anoatubby recently received the Leadership Award for Public Service by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for his outstanding dedication to economic development in the public sector.
Dudley and Sue Ann Hyde, named Dedicated Arts Visionaries and Humanitarians
Dudley and Sue Ann Hyde have played key leadership roles within Oklahoma's arts and community service organizations. She created the Treasures for Tomorrow program after being inspired by a similar program in Santa Fe, N.M. She also was the first executive director of Leadership Oklahoma, Inc., and has served as board president of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. She also worked on innumerable volunteer projects with Oklahoma's leading nonprofits including Leadership Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, University of Oklahoma College of Fine Arts Charles M. Russell Center, Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, Allied Arts Foundation and the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. Dudley Hyde has served in many board positions as well including Oklahoma City Public School Foundation, Oklahoma Venture Forum, Nature Conservancy, Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Ballet Oklahoma, Camp Classen YMCA, Redbud Classic and the Oklahoma City Arts Festival.
Jeanne Hoffman Smith, named Devoted Advocate for Education Via Films and Poetry
The arts are dear to Jeanne Hoffman Smith's heart, and she followed advice from her late father, Ray Hoffman Jr., to establish Oklahoma endowments. Smith, a clinical social worker, has established endowments for the film program at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, film programs and a creativity award at the University of Oklahoma and a poetry instructor and a film program at the Oklahoma Arts Institute. She also established an endowment to found the Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film and Literature at Oklahoma City University. She is currently involved in community boards such as the Inasmuch Foundation, Presbyterian Health Foundation, Film and Education Committee with the Oklahoma City Art Museum and the Oklahoma Arts Institute. She is a lifetime board member of the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma County. She has also given her time and resources to her hometown of Chandler.
Barry and Becky Switzer, named Celebrated Sports Professionals and Tireless Community Volunteers
Two dedicated sports professionals who have truly made a difference for thousands of Oklahomans are Barry and Becky Switzer. Barry Switzer is a name synonymous with University of Oklahoma football, serving as head coach and leading the team to multiple national championships. He also served as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, who won the Super Bowl in 1996. He is the founding organizer of the Swing for Sight Golf Tournaments, which have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Society for the Prevention of Blindness. For the past 30 years, Coach Switzer has given his name, time and participation as honorary head coach of the Oklahoma Special Olympics. Seventeen years ago he funded a private foundation at The University of Oklahoma, which provides non-athletic scholarships for minority students. Becky Switzer dedicated her sports career to University of Oklahoma women's gymnastics as head coach. She was selected to the coaching staff for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. Also playing an active role in community volunteerism, she is involved with the boards of the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and City Care.
Treasures for Tomorrow event proceeds and generous donors have raised significant funds for beautification projects on the Oklahoma Health Center campus.
