Pearland Woman HonoredThe Community Foundation of Brazoria County honored Susie Wilcox (Pearland), Doris Williams (Lake Jackson) and Josie LaChance, Young Philanthropist (Lake Jackson) as the 2017 Philanthropists of the Year for their service and generosity to the community.

Chosen philanthropists were honored March 30, 2017 at 6:30 pm at the Corporate Learning Center of Brazosport College in Lake Jackson.

Barbara Franklin, the Executive Director of the Community Foundation, said “Celebrating individuals who act for the benefit of others is a welcome breath of fresh air in these days. Honoring the Philanthropist of the Year is an opportunity to be inspired by the extraordinary courage and compassion of ordinary people. Our organization chooses the honorees not just based on their monetary donations, but also their time, talent and treasure. The candidate’s commitment to the well-being of the community is a big part of the criteria, so area people are honored who have been generous with their time and talent. One of our missions is to foster philanthropy of all kinds and honor our philanthropists to inspire people to reach out to others.”

For more details about The Community Foundation of Brazoria County please call 979-848-2628 or visit our website www.cfbr.org.”

Susie Wilcox, a Pearland resident and long-time banking professional and community volunteer, was chosen as one of the Philanthropists in Brazoria County for her lifetime commitment to Pearland. A resident for over 70 years she helped organize the concept, vision, and creation of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce. She fashioned a Mexican Fiesta for the Chamber’s first fundraiser, helped organize the first Chamber Banquet at NASA with 88 people in attendance, coordinated the first Chamber Founder's Day festivities and served as a Chamber Director and officer for many years. She even won the Go-Getters Award for signing the most new chamber members than anyone else in a year. The Pearland Chamber of Commerce honored Ms. Wilcox as the 2006 Citizen of the Year for her commitment to the community.

Ms. Wilcox volunteered for the first Project Graduation at Pearland ISD and was an organizer of the city’s first Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. She served an appointment on the Children's Protective Services Board and volunteered to deliver food each Thanksgiving to adopted needy families by coordinating employees and officers of the bank. As a charter member of the Women in Leadership Society (WLS), Susie spent countless hours getting the program off the ground.

This beautiful and strong lady is also a cancer survivor and continues to make an impact on lives by providing words of wisdom, hope and inspiration with anyone she comes into contact. Ms. Wilcox knows the meaning of employee loyalty, dedication and service not only in the community, but as a 50 plus year employee of Pearland State Bank where she is credited by her employers as an instrumental key to the success of the institution. More importantly through all of her activities she has remained a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

On behalf of The Pearland Chamber of Commerce, we congratulate Susie Wilcox as being chosen a Philanthropist by the Community Foundation of Brazoria County, a perfect choice for someone giving one hundred percent in all she does.