Category: Unsung Hero

The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands presented an Unsung Hero Award to Carol Toler at its meeting on September 22nd.  This award is given by the club to Lake Highlands residents who go out of their way to provide a valuable community service.

For the past 10 years, Carol has written various articles about activities in Lake Highlands which are emailed to the community thorough her blog.  These go  to hundreds of residents and she also partners with the Lake Highlands Advocate in some cases to distribute her articles.  These are usually written several times a week. Although she receives no salary or compensation for this, she spends numerous hours attending meetings, meeting with business leaders, interviewing residents, etc to keep Lake Highlands residents  informed. She says she does this simply because she loves Lake Highlands. She and husband, Toby, have four children who are Lake Highlands High School graduates. Carol has an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and an MBA from SMU.

Picture–L to R- Club Member Don Lee, Carol Toler, and John Torres, club Community Service Director.

The Exchange Club honored Jeri Johnston as an Unsung Hero this morning for her work as creator of the Artists of Christian Talent (ACT) program at Lake Highlands Methodist Church in 1976, or some 39 years ago. She was nominated by club President Greg Duval.   About 2,500 area students have had the opportunity to participate in annual Broadway-style musicals at the church.  This year’s presentation is the Disney musical “High School Musical” which will open on February 13.  Jeri’s idea and foresight has resulted in a lasting legacy.  She and husband Bob are longtime Exchange Club members.

Read the entire Advocate article. 

Greg Duval, Bob and Jeri Johnston, Larry Engel, Paula Davis, Sabrina Hancock and Jill Jackson-Sears

Our featured speaker was Jim Fox, long time Fox Sports Network reporter. He is a friend of club member Tim Halwas.  Jim entertained the audience with various anecdotes about his career.

Tim Halwas and Jim Fox

Brent Basden presented an Unsung Hero Award to April Gorman (Tate’s wife) and her “Little Stewpot Stewards” organization.  Founded by April, this group of young children raises contributions for the Stewpot in Downtown Dallas.  Founded by the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, the Stewpot provides meals and other services to the homeless. The children are from several area elementary schools. They recently completed a number of projects to provide cash and other contributions to the Stewpot. The club presented them with a plaque and a $150 contribution.