An Evening of Memory, Story, and Power  Click here to view photos from the event on our facebook page.  While you're there consider becoming a fan of WITS!

WITS 25th Anniversary Celebration was a smashing success.  This event was the first ever of its kind for WITS and the response was nothing short of amazing.  On the evening of November 5, the ballroom at the Junior League was packed with WITS supporters both new and enduring.     

The evening began with opening remarks from Robin Reagler, Executive Director.  Then honorary event chair and First Lady of Houston, Andrea Ferguson White, took the podium to give a personal account of the significance of WITS in her family and to introduce Yisel Uranga, a former WITS student.

Yisel recalled in her speach that it was WITS writer, Marcia Chamberlain, who helped her discover and cultivate her talents with writing.  Marcia met Yisel in 1999 at Footprints in the Sand, a homeless shelter for women and their children.  Through the next several years Yisel became the most dedicated and prolific student at the shelter.  

Yisel made the point that if she hadn't become aware of the talents she possessed she would have never been able to acheive so much in her life.  Writing helped give her an escape from the harsh realities of life in a homeless shelter.  Writing gave her the power to express herself.  And it was her writing skills that helped her win a full sholarship to UT business school where she is currently working towards a bacehelor's degree.       

Guest Speaker, Li Cunxin

Li Cunxin returned to Houston where he made history as a former principal dancer at the Houston Ballet.  The fascinating story of his life is recorded in his memoir, Mao's Last Dancer, and has recently been brought to life on the big screen in a new major motion picture of the same title.

In many ways Li Cunxin was the perfect person to speak on behalf of WITS.  Just as Li told his powerful life story in his memoir, WITS encourages and teaches thousands of children every year to tell their own stories in their own voices.  WITS empowers Houston children so that many more powerful stories can be told.  Li Cunxin spoke about the impact that a teacher can have on the life of a child.  He recalled that it was teacher, Xiao, that inspired him too work hard to be the best he could be and to seize every opportunity in life.  Li recognized that WITS creates moments like these for thousands of children every year. 

Li Cunxin's inpirational speach reminded us that when a child is inspired to work hard and to learn more, the whole world benfits along with that child.  When students understand the power each of them holds to change their environments and acheive their dreams, they can begin to do what they only dreamed before.

A special and heartfelt thanks go to the following supporters of WITS 25th Anniversary Event

Honorary Event Chairs
Mayor Bill White & Andrea Ferguson White

Event co-chairs
Marcia & Michael Nichols
Ginya & Clayton Trier

Host Committee
Laura & John Arnold
Cheryl & Ed Butler
Jan Carson & Tim Connolly
Meryl & Murry Cohen
Becky & John Crane
Jennifer Langdon & Joe Crownover
Anne & Ken Culotta
Sally & Mike Curtis
Melinda Snell & David Elder
Kelli & Martin Fein
Lily & Charles Foster
Tina & Craig Freedman
Merrill & Joe Hafner
Sheri & Ron Henriksen
Jill & Dunham Jewett
Tina Laningham
Y. Ping Sun & David Leebron
Kathy & Jeff Love
Nancy & Neal Manne
Candace & Ken McCoin
Ava Jean Mears
Babs & Jay Rosenfeld
Betsy & Ed Schreiber
Lisa & Greg Spier
Nancy & Irving Stern
Betty & Jess Tutor
Diana & Chase Untermeyer
Dominic Walsh