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Who Should Attend

Jazz It Up!

East Fort Worth Business Association is hosting the Annual Community Awards and Scholarship Banquet event on Thursday, November 9, 2023.

Our Awards Banquet honors outstanding businesses, organizations, citizens, and – most importantly – educators and students in East Fort Worth. We are excited to return to the beautiful Texas Wesleyan University Martin Center.

We are asking for your Sponsorship commitment to help us make higher education more accessible for seven of the most ambitious and dedicated East Fort Worth high school students.

We are naming a seventh scholarship in honor of Malcolm Wentworth, and we will dedicate that Scholarship to the Outstanding Graduate from Texans Can Academy. Malcolm served on our Board and was instrumental to the success of this banquet, and this scholarship honors his legacy .

The addition of the Malcolm Wentworth Scholarship raises our total to $10,500 in Scholarships.

Jazz It UP!

This year's theme is "Jazz It Up!" While jazz music and exceptional high school achievements may seem unrelated, they share some common core skills when it comes to their essential qualities.   

Creativity and Individuality:

Jazz is known for its emphasis on improvisation and the individual expression of musicians.  Exceptional high school achievements often stem from students' ability to think creatively, solve problems, and approach tasks from unique perspectives.

Skill Development and Mastery: 

Jazz musicians are renowned for their technical proficiency and mastery of their instruments from years of practice, dedication, and honing of musical skills. Students who excel academically or in extracurricular activities often invest time and effort into mastering subject matters, developing critical thinking skills, and consistently honing their abilities.

Networking Time

This is your time to meet with community leaders, elected government officials, first responders from the FW Police and FW Firefighters, as well as eastside Educators who guided these sudents, and local business owners who generously support the Wanda Conlin Scholarships program.

Featured Presentation Speaker

Our Banquet 2023 Featured Presentation Speaker is Pete Geren, CEO, Sid Richardson Foundation.

Fun, Friends & Food

Dinner Menu

Catered by TWU

  • Tossed Garden Salad with Cucumbers & Tomatoes served with Ranch Dressing & Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Fresh Baked Dinner Rolls
  • Slow Roasted Eye of Round served with a Rich Seasoned Sauce
  • Grilled Rosemary Chicken Breast with Lemon Cream Sauce
  • Oven Roasted Potatoes
  • Seasoned Green Beans
  • New York Cheesecake or Carrot Cake
  • Iced Tea & Water
  • Starbucks Coffee & Decaf Coffee


midjourney generated jazz guitars

Keynote Speaker: Pete Geren

CEO, Sid Richardson Foundation

pete photo

Preston "Pete" Murdoch Geren, III is the president/CEO of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas. Geren's long and successful career as an attorney, politician, civil servant and philanthropist has created a lasting legacy benefitting not only local citizens, but the entire United States of America.

After working as an attorney and then an aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, Geren served for four terms in the United States House of Representatives from Texas' 12th Congressional District from 1989 until 1997. He is a Democratic former member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 12th congressional district. He later chaired of the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria, Virginia.

Geren was born in Fort Worth. He attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1970 to 1973, where he was the starting center for the football team. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas in 1974, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1978.

Geren joined the Department of Defense in September 2001 to serve as Special Assistant to the Defense Secretary with responsibilities in the areas of inter-agency initiatives, legislative affairs and special projects.

On July 29, 2005, President George W. Bush appointed Geren the acting United States Secretary of the Air Force, a position he served in until the confirmation of his successor Michael Wynne in November 2005.

Geren was the 28th Undersecretary of the Army, a post he assumed on February 21, 2006, following his nomination by President Bush and confirmation by the United States Senate. As the Undersecretary, Geren was the Army's No. 2 civilian leader. He served as the deputy and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and was Acting Secretary in the absence of the Secretary.

In March 2007, Geren was named Acting Secretary of the United States Army by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. On July 16, 2007, the Senate confirmed Geren as Secretary of the Army. On August 30, 2007, Geren established the independent Commission on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations to investigate the contingency contracting crisis within the Army.

Pete has been president and CEO of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, in Fort Worth since 2011.

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Thank you to the Businesses
Supporting Our Scholarships

Band Leader $5,000

1920s New Orleans Jazz Sponsors

1930s Swing Jazz Sponsors

1940s Big Band Jazz Sponsors

2023 Wanda Conlin Scholarship Recipients

This year, we shall present seven students with scholarships, for a total of $10,500 in Scholarships! We are naming the seventh scholarship in honor of Malcolm Wentworth, and we will dedicate that Scholarship to the Outstanding Graduate from Texans Can Academy.

2023 Outstanding Community Awards

We presented FIVE Awards this year:
Outstanding Entrepreneur, Mark Crittendon
Mark plaque

Outstanding Organization,
Eaast Fort Worth Community Jazz Band
EFWCJB plaque

and 3 Outstanding Community Advocates
Cindy Boling, Judy Taylor and Torchy White!
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Venue and Info

Venue Details

The 2023 Scholarship & Community Awards Banquet is at the Nick and Lou Martin University Center on the Texas Wesleyan University campus.

Address:

Martin Center
Texas Wesleyan University
1201 Wesleyan St.
Fort Worth, TX 76105

 

Email:

efwba@efwba.org

 

Phone:

817-451-6276

Martin Center