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The �鶹��Ƶ Foundation has named Alison Anthony as the 2017 Vision in Education Leadership Award recipient. As President of The Williams Foundation, Inc. and Director of Strategic Outreach for Williams, she is being honored for her local and national contributions to education, diversity, inclusion, and community development.

The evening will also mark the 10th anniversary of Tulsa Achieves, a program that served as a nationwide model for free public higher education. Created in 2007, Tulsa Achieves is a gap funded program that has assisted more than 15,000 students in attending college and covers tuition and fees after federal student aid is exhausted.

Anthony will be recognized for her contributions at the annual Vision in Education Leadership Award Dinner Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Cox Business Center in downtown Tulsa. A reception will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7 p.m. The 2017 Vision Honorary Co-Chairs are Michael and Libby Johnson. Jim Langdon and Steve Turnbo will serve as the Dinner Committee Co-Chairs.

“Anthony’s work in the areas of education, volunteerism, and community involvement makes the Tulsa area a better place to live,” �鶹��Ƶ President & CEO Leigh B. Goodson, Ph.D. said. “We have all benefitted from this hard-working leader who steps forward with innovative ideas, is not afraid to take risks on behalf of others, and connects people for collaborative solutions.”

Anthony is an authentic and inclusive leader who consistently embraces the responsibility of supporting education initiatives for Tulsa and Williams, including the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance and the �鶹��Ƶ Engineering Alliance. Recently, she helped to showcase Oklahoma STEM efforts when Williams and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation co-hosted the National STEM Funders’ Network in Tulsa.

In addition to honoring Anthony, the evening will showcase the success of Tulsa Achieves and how our community has been shaped by a program that provides a college degree path for qualified graduating high school seniors living in Tulsa County.

Funds raised from the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation Vision Dinner provide �鶹��Ƶ students with scholarships, leadership development opportunities, engagement and mentoring with academic scholars and leaders, and technology and equipment necessary to prepare for today’s work force. The �鶹��Ƶ Foundation 2017 Board Chair is Alana R. Hughes, Chief Operating Officer, Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.

“�鶹��Ƶ Foundation scholarships provide the critical link to students between their educational aspirations and their accomplishments,” said Lauren Brookey, �鶹��Ƶ Vice President of External Affairs and President of the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation. “In the last 10 years, we’ve increased our scholarship giving and tripled the amount we give each year to students.”

The 2017 Vision Dinner sponsorship levels are $25,000 for Visionary, $10,000 for Leadership, $5,000 for Excellence, $3,000 for Achievement, and $1,500 for Dedication.

Leadership sponsors include Robin Ballenger, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation Businesses, Cox Communications, Michael and Libby Johnson, and SemGroup. In addition, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation has issued a challenge sponsorship and will match a $25,000 Visionary sponsorship.

The Vision Award is presented annually to an individual dedicated to education excellence and community leadership. The 2017 �鶹��Ƶ Vision in Education Leadership Award Dinner committee members are Carlin Conner, Andy Kinslow, Mina Lotti, Henry Primeaux, Roger Ramseyer and Paul Samuels.

Past honorees include:

• 2016 – Congressman Tom Cole – U.S. House of Representatives 4^th District of Oklahoma
• 2015 - Susan Harris, former Tulsa Regional Chamber Senior Vice President of Education & Workforce
• 2014 - Jake Henry Jr., President & CEO of Saint Francis Health System
• 2013 - Don Walker, former �鶹��Ƶ Foundation Trustee and CEO of Arvest Bank
• 2012 - Keith Ballard, Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools
• 2011 - Lynn and Stacy Schusterman, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
• 2010 - Gov. Brad Henry, Oklahoma Governor
• 2009 - Montie Box, Sand Springs business leader
• 2008 - David Boren, President of the University of Oklahoma
• 2007 - John-Kelly C. Warren, CEO of the William K. Warren Foundation
• 2006 - Michael Johnson, Senior VP & CAO of Williams, former Tulsa Public Schools Foundation chair and �鶹��Ƶ Foundation Trustee
• 2005 - Early Childhood Advocates: Martin Fate (posthumously), Leonard Eaton, Bill Doenges, Robert LaFortune, George Kaiser, Nancy McDonald, Pete Churchwell, Sen. Ted Fisher, and Rep. Ron Peters
• 2004 - Ron King, former President & CEO of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Oklahoma
• 2003 - Dr. Jim and Ann Halligan, former President and First Lady of OSU-Tulsa
• 2002 - John Gaberino, former Senior VP & General Counsel of ONEOK, Inc., and advocate of OSU-Tulsa and the OU/OSU Graduate Research Center
• 2001 - Ken Lackey, The Nordam Group, former President of OU-Tulsa and former Chief of Staff for Gov. Frank Keating, current �鶹��Ƶ Foundation Trustee
• 2000 - Dr. Paula Marshall, CEO of Bama Companies and former �鶹��Ƶ student

For information regarding sponsorships and tickets to the 2017 Vision in Education Leadership Award Dinner, call (918) 595-7836 or .