Former Dallas Mayor Michael S. Rawlings to receive the 2019 Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award

Dallas, Texas – Methodist Health System Foundation has named former Dallas Mayor Michael S. Rawlings as the 2019 Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award recipient. The award will be presented at a dinner on Friday, September 20 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Hilton Anatole Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Established in 2005, the award recognizes individuals whose demonstrated commitment and excellence in community leadership emulate the contributions of former Dallas Mayor Robert S. Folsom.

“We feel very strongly that Mike Rawlings exemplifies the intent and spirit of this special award,” said Jim Johnston, Methodist Health System Foundation President. “Like Bob Folsom, Mike’s dynamic leadership as a dedicated public servant in Dallas – as well as his care, concern, and generosity to help others who are less fortunate – have made a lasting impact on our city.”

Mayor Rawlings was the 61st mayor of Dallas and the longest-serving mayor in more than 57 years. Over eight years in office, he focused on spurring economic development in the long-overlooked southern portion of Dallas through his GrowSouth initiative, improving public education, combatting poverty and domestic violence, developing parks, elevating the city's international profile and turning Dallas into a top destination for artists, young professionals, families and corporations.

Dallas has experienced tremendous economic growth on his watch. When he took office in 2011, the overall property value in the city was $83 billion. Now, it is upwards of $130 billion, an increase of about 56 percent. He has also worked to keep Dallas in the national and international spotlight. In 2016, he was selected as a Vital Voices Global Partnership honoree for his work to eradicate domestic violence. He was the 2017 recipient of the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award for Leadership in Urban Design. In 2018, he received the National Award for Local Arts Leadership from Americans for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and this past April, he received the Spirit of the Centennial Award from the Friends of Fair Park.

Prior to being elected as mayor, he served as the Chair of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau (VisitDallas), the city's Homeless Czar and president of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board. In addition to his mayoral duties, Mayor Rawlings is a founding partner of CIC Partners, a middle-market private equity firm that invests in growth-oriented companies primarily in the food, restaurant, healthcare and energy industries. He and his wife, Micki, have two children, Michelle and Gunnar, and are longtime members of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Dallas.

“No one has been a stronger advocate for southern sector than Mike Rawlings. He has dedicated much of his life to making Dallas an even greater city, and we sincerely appreciate his hard work,” said Pete Schenkel, Vice Chair, Methodist Health System Foundation board of trustees. “Bob Folsom was committed to Methodist and to ensuring those less fortunate had compassionate, quality healthcare, and Mike shares that mission.”

In 2018, Methodist Health System provided nearly $150 million in unreimbursed charity care—an amount that continues to grow with the community needs. The Folsom event has raised more than $18 million over the past 14 years to benefit Methodist Health System’s programs and services.

The honorary co-chairs for this year’s event are Marilyn and Stephen L. Mansfield, PhD, FACHE, and co-chairs include: Cedonia and Chief David O. Brown; Melanie and Tim Byrne; Kathy and Harlan Crow; Sally and Tom Dunning; Linda and Mitch Hart; Nancy Ann and Ray Hunt; Sophia and Willis Johnson; Lottye Lyle, PhD, and Bobby Lyle, EdD; Laura and Jack Matthews; Sammye and Mike Myers; Carolyn and David Miller; Dee Ann and Marshall Payne; Diane and John Scovell; Phyllis and Ron Steinhart; Pat and Pete Schenkel; Natalie and Michael Sorrell, EdD; Mary and Mike Terry; Debbie and John Tolleson; Gail and R. Gerald Turner, PhD; Carol and state Senator Royce West; Joan and the Honorable Alan Walne.

Past Folsom Leadership Award recipients include Robert S. Folsom (2005), Nancy Ann Hunt (2006), Troy Aikman (2007), Laura Bush (2008), the late Norman Brinker (2009), Pat and Emmitt Smith (2010), Trevor Rees-Jones (2011), Mike Boone (2012), Rev. Mark Craig (2013), Bobby B. Lyle (2014), Jack Lowe, Jr. (2015), R. Gerald Turner (2016), David B. Miller (2017), and state Senator Royce West (2018).

Current lead presenting sponsors of the 2019 Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award are Nancy Ann and Ray Hunt and Carolyn and David B. Miller. For those interested in supporting the Robert S. Folsom Award, the Leadership Circle underwriting begins at $10,000. That level of sponsorship includes invitations to an exclusive patron party in early September at the home of Kathy and Harlan Crow. For more information, please contact Methodist Health System Foundation Vice President Calvert Collins-Bratton at 214.947.4585 or CalvertCollinsBratton@mhd.com. More information is available at www.methodisthealthsystem.org/folsom.

About Methodist Health System

Guided by the founding principles of life, learning, and compassion, Dallas-based Methodist Health System (Methodist) provides quality, integrated health care to improve and save the lives of individuals and families throughout North Texas. Ten hospitals proudly carry the Methodist Health System brand, as owners or through affiliation. More than two dozen Methodist Family Health Centers and Medical Groups are among the facilities served by the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the fastest-growing health systems in America, Methodist continues to add facilities and services to enhance patient care along the entire continuum. Additional information is available at MethodistHealthSystem.org.
 

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