Fort Worth Can! Academy\, a non-profit organization giving young Texans a second chance through relationship-based education\, today announced they will present the Motherhood: The Lifetime Achievement Award to an extraordinary Fort Worth woman at their first Motherhood Luncheon benefit on Friday\, June 17\, 2011. The luncheon will celebrate women in Fort Worth who have made a positive impact in their community and benefits the students of Fort Worth Can! Academies\, which are part of the Texans Can! charter school district.

Congresswoman Kay Granger will be honored for her outstanding achievements and dedication to both family and community. \; Granger has held many positions and founded many organizations while on her path to her current title as Congresswoman for the 12^th District of Texas. \; Before being elected to Congress she served three terms as the Mayor of Fort Worth. \; In her early career she taught English and Journalism. \; She has three children and is the proud grandmother of five grandchildren. \;

Congresswoman Granger is the Chairwoman of the appropriations subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations for the 112th Congress. \; She is also on the subcommittee of \;Labor\, Health and Human Services\, and Education. Granger co-chairs the Anti-Terrorism Caucus and serves as a deputy whip.

Congresswoman Granger received Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s first Global War on Terrorism Coin for her unwavering support of anti-terrorist efforts\, the 2006 National Association of Community Health Centers Community Health Defender Award and the National Association of Manufacturers Award for her pro-growth\, pro-manufacturing\, pro-worker voting record. She has been inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Business Hall of Fame and is the recipient of the Fort Worth and Tarrant County Region of the National Conference of Community and Justice’s 2006 Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation.

“Congresswoman Granger serves as a consummate role model to our students. \; She has built a life an outstanding parent while also giving back to her community. \; She exemplifies our mission to provide opportunities to our community’s youth through education and hope for a better life\,” said Richard Marquez\, president and CEO of Texans Can! Academy.

The luncheon’s Honorary Chair is Diane Stow\, associate publisher of Fort Worth\, Texas magazine. The luncheon co-chairs are Fort Worth Can! Development Council members Larry Mallory\, CEO of TOBIDA International and Jason Vinson\, president of Prosperity Bank. \; The Development Council is an all-volunteer group of nine community leaders members who have taken an active role in advancing the work of Fort Worth Can!

During the luncheon\, guests will hear from Fort Worth Can! students who will speak about their experiences and goals for their education. \; “For our inaugural luncheon we looked for someone to recognize who has been not only a driving force in improving the quality of life in Fort Worth\, but has devoted part of their life to the education of children\,” said Larry Mallory. \; \; \;

The Lifetime Achievement Award Luncheon will raise funds for students who often need support beyond the classroom\, to provide scholarships and for school programs. \; It is a tribute to strong\, civic-minded women who also happen to be mothers while raising money to further the education of Fort Worth’s youth. Texans Can! Academies believe helping these students is critical to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty and illiteracy. \;

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT \;CRISTINA GOMEZ-JIMENEZ AT 817-759-0505 OR CGOMEZ-JIMENEZ@TEXANSCAN.ORG. \; \; \; \;