The Annual Linz Award Luncheon will be Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Omni Dallas Hotel

The Dallas Morning News and Zales® Jewelers have the distinct pleasure of announcing 88th Annual Linz Award recipient Lyda Hill. Community leaders will gather to present the award to Ms. Hill Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at the Omni Dallas Hotel.

For nearly 90 years, the Linz Award has been the Dallas area’s highest form of recognition of individuals whose civic or humanitarian efforts over the last decade or more have bestowed the greatest benefit to our city. The award is presented annually at the Linz Award Luncheon, organized by Sustaining members of the Junior League of Dallas(JLD) and benefiting the JLD’s Community Service Fund.

Miss Hill is being honored for her commitment to fund game-changing advances in science and nature, empower nonprofit organizations and to improve the local community. Her varied career reflects business savvy, entrepreneurial vigor, and a commitment to balancing profit with purpose. She began her career in 1967 when she founded Hill World Travel, which quickly became the largest travel agency in Dallas and was one of the largest in the country. She served as president of Seven Falls near Colorado Springsand later developed and constructed the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center.In 1990, with a partner she restored the award-winning Fort Worth Stockyards, a historic tourist and shopping area highlighting the city’s heritage. Hillis president of LH Holdings, a real estate, tourism and venture investment ?rm. As the namesake of the Lyda Hill Foundation, MissHill has supported a wide range of non-profits in the Dallas area including the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Miss Hill served a president of the JLD in 1982-1983, as well as many other nonprofit organizations including:the Crystal Charity Ball, the Dallas and Texas chapters of the American Heart Association, the Visiting Nurse Association, the Dallas Easter Seal Society and the Women’s Texas Golf Association.

“Some of Dallas’ most important organizations and critical projects have greatly benefited from Miss Hill's remarkable charity which has in turn improved our community in so many ways," said Jim Moroney III, Publisher and CEO of The Dallas Morning News.

As part of her desire to leave a lasting mark on society, Miss Hill became a member of The Giving Pledge in 2010. The Pledge, created by Melinda and Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, is a commitment by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals/families to dedicate a majority of their wealth to philanthropy.

“Miss Hill embodies the spirit of Linz Award,” said David Bouffard, vice president of corporate affairs for Signet Jewelers, parent company of Zales. “She has devoted her life and talents to perform impactful volunteer service with selfless efforts focused on improving the lives of those around her.”

The Linz Award Luncheon will take place Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Check-in will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the Luncheon will begin at 11:45 a.m. Individuals Luncheon tickets are $125.00 to $1,000 and Sponsorships begin at $2,500. To purchase tables or individual tickets, please contact Laura Johnson at (972) 679-2141 or visit www.jld.net/ to purchase online.

ABOUT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS:The Junior League of Dallas cultivates leaders who collectively address thecritical needs of the community. Founded in 1922 and now in its 95th year, the JLD is the largest Junior League in the world, as well as the largest and oldest training organization for women in Dallas. Active members range in age from 22 to 49 with nearly 75 percent of women employed outside of the home. The JLD provides leadership opportunities to over 5,000 women each year through more than 26,000 cumulative hours of experiential and formal training. Uniquely member-run, the JLD provides over 100,000 hours in volunteer service and $1 million in funding to area nonprofits each year. For more information, please visit www.jld.net or Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

ABOUT THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS:

Established in 1885, The Dallas Morning News is Texas' leading newspaper and the flagship newspaper subsidiary of A. H. Belo Corporation. It has received nine Pulitzer Prizes since 1986, as well as numerous other industry awards recognizing the quality of its investigative and feature journalism, design and photojournalism. Its portfolio of print and digital products reaches an average daily audience of more than 1.1 million people and includes online news and information sites; iPhone, Android and iPad apps; Al Dia(www.aldiatx.com), the leading Spanish-language publication in North Texas; and Briefing, the free, home-delivered quick-read. In addition to the editorial drivers within the Morning News, CrowdSource was created as an independent business division to assist event organizers and producers with its operational, marketing and promotional needs. To advertisers, the portfolio of products is represented by DMNmedia(www.DMNmedia.com), the marketing solutions group of The Dallas Morning News, Inc. For more information about the publication and its entities, visitwww.dallasnews.com.

ABOUT ZALES JEWELERS

Zales Jewelers, a leading brand name in fine jewelry retailing, operates stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Zales Jewelers is operated by Signet Jewelers Limited, the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry. Signet Jewelers operates approximately 3,600 stores. For additional information on Zales visit www.Zales.com or follow us on: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitterand YouTube.