More than 300 guest, community and business leaders
will attend the gala supporting parental involvement in district schools

DALLAS – Nov. 4, 2013 – Parents Step Ahead is pleased to announce that Olga Lopez, district manager of Wells Fargo in Dallas and Betty Uribe, Ed. D., executive vice president of California Bank & Trust will serve as the 2013 co-chairs of the Parents Step Ahead’s (PSA) 8th Annual Parent of the Year Gala to be held Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 at the Wyndham Dallas, 3300 W. Mockingbird Lane in Dallas.

Each year, the organization honors parents who have taken a proactive approach in their child’s educational and professional development. Parents are nominated by their child’s school based on Parent Step Ahead program participation and two essays; one written by the parent on his/her involvement and the second written by the child about why their parent should be named “Parent of the Year.”

“Parents instill the expectations, they provide encouragement and motivation. They serve as role models and examples,” said Lopez about the importance of parental involvement. “They need to feel rewarded and recognized as the single most important constituents because they are the most important influence in their children’s academic success which equates to life success.”

Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Lopez, a community partner of PSA, joined Wells Fargo in 2009. She is responsible for 150 team members, 11 banking stores and more than $200 million in deposits. Prior to her present position, she has worked in small, community banks such as Dayton State Bank, to large national banks such as Chase, Wachovia and now Wells Fargo. In addition to PSA, Lopez’s community involvement includes serving as a member of the board of directors for the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as well as chair of the Latin Connection, a network of Wells Fargo Team members who volunteer and support the Latino community. She has also supported the March of Dimes and the United Way.

Betty Uribe has been part of the PSA board of directors since 2011 and has a 25-year-career in the financial services industry. At California Bank & Trust, Uribe leads many branches and business lending teams in eight regions throughout the state. In the last two years, Uribe has been recognized as member of the Hispanic Business Magazine’s top 25 Corporate Elite for 2010. She was also awarded, “Top Woman in Finance” and listed amongst the most Powerful Women in Finance by Women of Color Magazine.

“From someone who migrated from Colombia at the age of 12, my mother had a huge role in my education,” Uribe said. “Today with a doctorate degree, and as executive vice president for Zions’ California Bank & Trust, I am able to pay it forward to others who also look to make a significant impact in the community.”

The annual gala is the yearly fundraiser for the Parents Step Ahead program which has helped many families become active participants in their children’s lives. The gala raises funds for many of PSA’s programs which include college preparation, test taking skills, gang awareness, drug use prevention, underage drinking, computer literacy, Internet safety, raising kids with love and logic, and health and financial issues.

Event sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities and event tickets are available: $100 for individual ticket and $2,000 for table of 10 guests. (RSVP is needed by November 25).

About Parents Step Ahead
Parents Step Ahead is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission “to recognize, educate, enable and empower parents to take a proactive role in the educational and personal development of their children.” Founded in 2006, the organization works in partnership with school districts, corporations and community organizations to offer a series of school-based programs for parents of all backgrounds throughout the school calendar year. Programs focus on ways parents and legal guardians can be involved in their child’s life and how their participation impacts their children’s futures. For more information, visit www.parentsstepahead.org.

For more information contact:

Karina Ramirez
Communications
214-357-2186 x 220
karina@parentsstepahead.org

Valerie Reyes-Braun
Director
214-357-2186 x 219
valerie@parentsstepahead.org