Crime Stoppers of Houston Luncheon Honors Women in Public Safety

Crime Stoppers of Houston honored and celebrated three “women in public safety”, along with two incredible community partners at the annual Houston’s Heroes Awards Luncheon which took place on Thursday, May 19th at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. The event welcomed over 380 guests from the Greater Houston Area and raised nearly $125,000 to power the non-profit’s crime solving tip line and prevention programs.

Crime Stoppers Awards Luncheon at the Royal Sonesta Hotel

Keynote Speaker NBC News Correspondent Janet Shamlian, Emcee ABC 13 Dave Ward

Dave Ward, ABC – 13 returned to lend his support as the master of ceremonies and led the afternoon festivities which included opening remarks from Crime Stoppers Executive Director Rania Mankarious, a series of thanks from Sergeant Shannon Bowdoin, Chaplain for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; followed by keynote speaker NBC News Correspondent Janet Shamlian who spoke about her career in journalism, the role media plays in solving crime and her personal tie to the Crime Stoppers’ mission for the past 25 years as a reporter covering crime stories.

“Houston is truly blessed to be filled with incredible people. This year, we chose to highlight women who invest their time and talents in the public safety of our collective community. While they have contributed in different ways, each has used her own steadfast commitment to make undeniable and significant enhancements to the betterment of everyone who calls the Greater Houston Area, home. Congratulations again to them, as well as our two community partners without whom Crime Stoppers would not be where it is today.” shares Crime Stoppers Executive Director Rania Mankarious.

Crime Stoppers of Houston is Houston’s only non-profit dedicated to public safety and since 1980 has remained committed to its mission to solve and prevent serious crime in the Greater Houston Area in partnership with citizens, media and the criminal justice system. Through close collaboration with local law enforcement agencies and the citizens of Houston, Crime Stoppers of Houston has successfully solved over 33,000 felony cases and arrested over 25,000 felony fugitives through its 713-222-TIPS Tip Line Program. The Tip Line Program continues to be a national crime prevention model and strives to empower and motivate citizens to report crime.

The women and corporate partners who were honored are all incredibly dedicated and invested to their communities and were recognized as the 2016 Houston Heroes for continuously being on the forefront as citizenry advocates. Amongst the award recipients were: Lieutenant Wende Wakeman, Texas Rangers, Michelle Heinz, Laura Ward and the Corporate Partnership Award was presented to Wells Fargo.

Each year the luncheon keeps getting bigger and better with new members and a diverse group of friends of Crime Stoppers. Spotted at the luncheon were: Miya Shay, Sneha Merchant, Naureen Malik, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Debbie Pakzaban, Stephanie Von Stein, Deborah Elias, and Tracy Faulkner. Other notable guests included: Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Houston Police Department Interim Chief of Police Martha Montalvo, City Council members Jack Christie, Brenda Stardig, Mayor Pro-tem Ellen Cohen, and Constable Alan Rosen. Among supporters were, Bobby Horton, Khalil Shafei, Heather O’Connor, Arin Morris, Jill and Charles Talisman, Vicki Rizzo, Crime Stoppers Board Chairman Don DeGabrielle, Tena Faust, Tama Lundquist, Gary Becker, Donna Vallone, Edna Meyer-Nelson, Carol Sawyer, Yvette Webb, Rusty Hardin, Rachelle Rowe, Corey Flores, Hazem Ahmed, Ellen Cokinos, Allison and Stephen Lewis, Sidney Evans II, Jeff Vaden, Bryan Beene, Heather Ramsey Cook, Toni Lawrence, Cynthia Adkins, Judy Tate, George Strake, Wendy Granato, Henry Florsheim and Leisa Holland-Nelson.

Photo Credit: Michelle Watson

0222_Keynote Speaker NBC News Correspondent Janet Shamlian

Sergeant Nathan Polansky, Shelley Garza, Sergeant Marlon Runnels

Veronica Martinez, Mary Benton, Council Member Mike Laster, Deborah Elias

Edna Meyer-Nelson, Honoree Laura Ward

Stephanie Von Stein, Crime Stoppers Exec. Director Rania Mankarious, Ruchi Mukherjee

Jim Dickinson, Paul Schweitzer, Linda Haskins, Tony Hankins

Linda Baker, Honoree Lieutenant Wende Wakeman, Lieutenant Kip Westmoreland, Crime Stoppers Exec. Dir. Rania Mankarious, Constance White

Honorees Laura Ward, Lt. Wende Wakeman, Crime Stoppers Executive Director Rania Mankarious, Wells Fargo Susan Holcomb, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Jennifer Hazelton, Michelle Heinz