Margot Perot Receives United Way’s Highest Honor for Volunteer Service
The longtime supporter was chosen as the 2024 recipient of the prestigious J. Erik Jonsson Award.
February 3, 2025

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, our impact is only possible thanks to the volunteers, investors and advocates who give of their time, talents and resources to support our mission. Recently, we had an opportunity to celebrate one of our biggest supporters, Margot Perot, who is the recipient of this year’s prestigious J. Erik Jonsson Award.
Named after the visionary co-founder of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, this award is given annually to a volunteer who exemplifies the spirit of service and leadership that has defined our community.
In September, we gathered with some of our dedicated supporters, including past recipients of the J. Erik Jonsson Award, to honor Mrs. Perot, one of the city’s most humble and impactful leaders. She has dedicated decades of selfless contributions to education, financial stability and healthcare, alongside her unwavering support of community-focused initiatives in North Texas. The event was a moving tribute to a woman whose quiet generosity has made an indelible mark on Dallas, with her influence felt across the city’s most vital causes.
Click here to view our video honoring Margot Perot, and read on for highlights of the J. Erik Jonsson Award reception.
A Legacy of Visionary Leadership
The evening began with warm introductions from Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and Tom and Karen Falk, the 2023 honorees of the J. Erik Jonsson Award. Reflecting on the legacy of Jonsson, who co-founded United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and launched the transformative Goals for Dallas initiative, they emphasized how his vision continues to shape the city today—much like the legacy that the entire Perot family has cultivated. Tom Falk highlighted the parallels between Jonsson’s Goals for Dallas and United Way’s Aspire United 2030, our roadmap for improving education, income and health across North Texas. “Jonsson didn’t just leave his mark; he laid the foundation for corporate and civic leadership to take ownership of the well-being of this city,” Tom Falk said. He also remarked on the profound impact Perot’s work has had in carrying Jonsson’s ideals forward, uniting the private and public sectors for the betterment of the community.Honoring Past Recipients
Karen Falk took a moment to recognize the past recipients of the J. Erik Jonsson Award who were present at the event:- Lyda Hill, 2018
- Stan Rabin, 2012
- Liz Minyard, 2004
- Ron Steinhart, 1996
Celebrating Margot Perot’s Lifelong Dedication
Sampson then reflected on Perot’s incredible legacy. “Margot’s name is tied to virtually every major initiative that United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has undertaken over the decades,” Sampson said. Highlights include:- Mrs. Perot was the first member of the Tocqueville Society almost 40 years ago, and when her dear friend Ruth Sharp Altshuler founded it, she was the first to step up as Tocqueville Chair in 1987 and 1988.
- In 1991, Mrs. Perot received the Alexis de Tocqueville Award, only the second person to do so, following Altshuler.
- Mrs. Perot served as honorary co-chair of United Way’s 90th Anniversary celebration in 2015, helping Altshuler launch the Unite Forever campaign, which raised an unprecedented $100 million in endowment funds to support our community.
- In 2018, Mrs. Perot received the Decades of Distinction award alongside her friend Margaret McDermott.
- In 2022, Mrs. Perot made the largest single philanthropic investment in United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ almost 100-year history to accelerate impact with 144 community impact partners, which range from long-standing proven impact providers to grassroots organizations bringing bold new strategies to our community’s most pervasive challenges in education, income and health.
Presenting this Year’s J. Erik Jonsson Award
Lyda Hill, a close friend of Margot Perot and a fellow philanthropist who is also a J. Erik Jonsson honoree, had the honor of presenting the 2024 J. Erik Jonsson Award. Hill spoke about Perot’s immense impact on United Way and beyond, recalling how her contributions have strengthened initiatives like the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. “For over 50 years, Margot and her family have touched countless lives—many in this room and beyond—through their quiet but powerful generosity. And it’s impossible to overstate the impact that her work and philanthropy have had on United Way,” she said. “Margot’s influence goes beyond financial support. Her personal warmth and thoughtfulness leave a lasting impression on everyone she touches. She epitomizes the heart, the intellect and drive that the J. Erik Jonsson Award honors.” In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Mrs. Perot expressed gratitude to her family, friends and the United Way community for the honor. True to her modest nature, she reminded the audience that awards like these are not about accolades, but about the difference we can make together. “United Way is about community,” she said. “That’s what first drew me to this incredible organization and what continues to inspire me today.”A Legacy That Inspires
In closing, Sampson reflected on the impact Mrs. Perot has had on Dallas and beyond. “Margot’s leadership, compassion and generosity have made this city a better place for all of us,” she said. Quoting Albert Schweitzer, she captured the essence of Mrs. Perot’s steadfast leadership: “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Congratulations, Margot Perot, on this well-deserved honor, and thank you for your dedication to our community and to United Way. Your legacy will continue to inspire us all.Tags

Change Lives with Us
As we begin our second century of service to North Texas, we invite you to join the Live United movement. Your gift to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas fuels progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, our roadmap for 10 years of data-driven progress and measurement.