Church folks are known are stepping high wearing their Sunday’s Best for the Lord on His day. Well, the family and friends of the Wheeler Avenue Inner City Visions Women’s Guild prove that Sunday’s Best can make a Saturday appearance, as well as the fashions, were fierce at the annual the 2019 Audrey H. Lawson IMPACT Awards Luncheon and Fashion Show. For 56 years blessings have poured out of this organization to provide scholarships for college students, help for the homeless, housing for the elderly, and other philanthropic projects following the ideals and heart of visionary founder Audrey H. Lawson.

Fellowship and fashion were being served at the annual sold-out affair that followed the tradition of honoring women from the community who has outwardly shown their commitment to support the community with their time, talents, dollars, and skills to positively change someone’s life with faith, style, and grace. The six distinguished IMPACT honorees included Dr. Grenita Lathan, interim superintendent, Houston Independent School District; Dr. Adena Williams Loston, 14th president of St. Philip’s College, San Antonio, Texas, our nation’s only Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution; Mrs. Cydonii Miles, executive vice president and general counsel, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas; Mrs. Courtney Johnson Rose, principal broker, George E. Johnson Properties, Houston, Texas; Ms. Sumara M. Thompson-King, general counsel and chief legal officer, NASA, Washington, DC; and Pastor Mia K. Wright, author, inspirational speaker and co-pastor, The Fountain of Praise, Houston, Texas. Along with that exceptional group, successful business owners of Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Aundrea Young were served as honorary chairpersons.

Close to 1,000 people packed the Hilton Americas ballroom to view the stylish fashions of clothier Dillard’s down the catwalk that featured models from the church congregation. Children stole the show with their abundance of cuteness as they modeled the hottest fashion for the pint-size circuit. Men and women gave a preview to spring fashion that will have a lot of black and white plaid with pops of color. Favorite scenes were those that highlighted the charter members of the church showing they still know how to work it as well married couples who know dating your mate doesn’t stop after marriage. Other applause worthy moments were performed by the WABC’s Ministry in Motion and popular jazz artist Joe Carmouche. Melanie Lawson, aka daughter of William A. and Audrey Lawson and KTRK-TV Channel 13 News Anchor, emceed the program as usual.

H-E-B was the official presenting sponsor and H-E-B Group VP of Public Affairs, Diversity, and Environmental Affairs Winell Herron was in attendance to present $10,000 from the Texas-based grocer for scholarships to WABC’s senior pastor Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, WAICV’s Executive Director Rev. Preston Allen, Women’s Guild President Rhonda Williams, and other dignitaries. Other sponsors on the platinum level included St. Phillip’s College, The Church Without Walls, and Richard and Aundrea Young.

Kudos to the dynamic team of Danielle Keys Bess, Susan N. Bynam, Gayla Gardner and their team for their hard work to not just produce a that embraced their vision of style but one that resulted in going beyond their fundraising goals. This year’s luncheon had more than 1,000 tickets sold coupled with funds from sponsors, silent auction and the raffle garnered over $100,000.