The Roy Maas Humanitarian Award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions and leadership in service to Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives and the children in its care. Businesswoman Lana Duke is only the fourth recipient of this award. Lana has been inspiring the children at RMYA for five years. As a former foster child, Lana feels a special bond with them and has made it her mission to inspire them to realize their full potential. From her first fundraiser for RMYA – a potato drive to help feed the children – to her most recent support of job training opportunities and graduation dinners to encourage education, Lana does her utmost to show the children that they can succeed in life, just like her. Lana shows her love for these children in need through her outspoken support at community outreach opportunities, through financial sponsorships and by utilizing the resources of the two Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants she owns in San Antonio. But Lana isn’t just a name without a face, the RMYA children know and love her through her annual Ruth’s Chris Thanksgiving Feast and other face-to-face opportunities she shares with them. Duke’s ongoing support of and dedication to our children is truly inspirational.
Lana received the Roy Maas’ Humanitarian Award during an Evening of Inspiration on April 9th at the Huntington at Shavano Park, and featured a special reception and public tour of two beautiful multi-million dollar homes – the Imagination Home by Image Homes Custom Builders and the Burdick Inspiration Home by Burdick Custom Homes. Art Burdick, an RMYA board member and his wife Pam—both past Humanitarian Award recipients—presented the Humanitarian Award to Lana and Frances Strange of Don Strange of Texas presented a special commendation form Governor Rick Perry. Ruth’s Chris Steak House catered the reception with delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, and complimentary valet parking was provided by Mercedes-Benz of Boerne and Denton Communities. Ursula Pari served as our emcee, and we had terrific entertainment provided by Ken Slavin and Beverly Houston & Breezin’.
We would like to thank everyone who came to recognize and honor Ms. Duke, and especially the following sponsors who helped make the evening truly inspirational: Denton Communities, Huntington at Shavano Park, Burdick Custom Homes, Image Homes Ltd., Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Mercedes Benz of Boerne, Blonde Creative, Don Strange of Texas, Greg Harrison Photography, A-V Technologies, Catrina’s at the Ranch, Ken Slavin and Beverly Houston & Breezin’. We would also like to send special thanks to Art and Pam Burdick, Roberto Kenigstein, Kelly Kenigstein, Bill Bird and Christina Holguin, Ursula Pari, Kathleen Fenlon, Steve Clemens, Chef Chris Brook and Lisa Brothers Gutierrez.
But most of all, from the children, staff and Board of Directors of Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives, we are honored to recognize Lana as the recipient of the 2010 Roy Maas Humanitarian Award and offer our sincere thank you to her for her belief in our programs & our children!
