photos courtesy of Crystal Chatmon
Hosted by musician Daniel Dodd-Ellis and WFAA’s Alanna Sarabia, co-host of Good Morning Texas, the Equanimity Awards Benefit Gala took place on July 28 inside the Royal Affairs Ballroom in Lewisville, TX. The evening raised funds for JB Dondolo, Inc, a 501c3 non-profit which provides the simple, basic necessities to impoverished communities worldwide. Lumbie Mlambo, founder of J.B. Dondolo took to the stage to relay that proceeds from the evening will specifically be used to bring clean water to the Igusi Clinic in Umguza, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe and repair the kitchen and bathrooms. This effort will impact a community of 20,000 people. Guests were so moved by her story that people were approaching the stage and handing Mlambo cash and checks as she was speaking. This burst of spontaneous support generated almost $2000 in addition to the evening’s silent and live auction. Ongoing donations can be made to http://jbdondolo.org/ways-to-care/#donate.
Mlambo also invited everyone in the room to join her on a trip to Zimbabwe next year and participate in the renovation. 71 people signed up on the spot and the charity is already organizing the first group of twelve individuals to go in 2019. Entertainment was provided by country singer IMAJ, musician/songwriter TOLU, mind mentalist/magician John Born and comedian Alfred Kainga. Awards were presented throughout the evening to honor citizens who are using their platforms to make a positive change in the world.
2018 Honorees Included:
• Activist, philanthropist and Real Housewives of Dallas star, LeeAnne Locken, was honored with the Community Impact Award for utilizing her social platforms and using her voice to bring attention and change to the causes she is passionate about, which include the LGBTQ community and animal care and rescue.
• Career coach, Rogers Vigne, received the Breakthrough Award for using his platform to enhance the human condition through his experiences, personal successes and failures.
• Author, mentor, and educator, Monica Johnson, was presented with the Excellence Award. Monica is Founder, and CEO of Monica Johnson Enterprises LLC, which includes the brands That Girl is S.M.A.R.T., and OneWordMovement Charities, a nonprofit organization for mentoring young girls and Publishing House.
• Debra Nixon-Bowles received with the Visionary Voice Award for her work with a “Women Called Moses”, a nonprofit organization which helps battered women and their children.
• Cassandra Bradford Wilson received the Women Empowerment Award for using her platform to change how small business owners think, how the world views the entrepreneur, and how we ourselves define success.
• Noah McArthur received with the People's Choice Award for using his undying faith, ever-growing desire to be the best in all of his endeavors, and his quest to seek knowledge to be the driving force in relentless pursuit of excellence for not only himself, but his client and community.
• Actress, dancer, singer, model, choreographer, motivational speaker, and advocate, Colby Christina, was honored with the Outstanding Teen Leader Award for using her platform to encourage, market and promote excellence for Teens and Tweens in the Arts.
• Kelechi Eke received the Pan-African Thrive Award. Kelechi helps talents to thrive in the market place by creating opportunities in the entertainment industry where talents showcase their work.
