I am honored to serve as the 2023-2024 Chair for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Women of Tocqueville. In my past five years serving on the WOT Steering Committee, I have been fortunate enough to team with several great women leaders in this role before me, including my good friend, Mandy Austin, who led us to give, advocate, and volunteer to deliver significant impact across North Texas this past year. I am thrilled to announce that Vanessa Salinas Beckstrom, Partner, PwC, and my longtime colleague and friend, will join me in leading our efforts as WOT Vice Chair. Together with our incredible WOT Steering Committee, we are dedicated to continuing the legacy of impact across North Texas in support of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Aspire United 2030 goals.

Our mighty, mighty Women of Tocqueville are a passionate, influential, and FUN! network of corporate and community leaders focused on creating opportunity for all North Texans to thrive. We are at an exciting point in the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ journey as we march toward 2025, the centennial anniversary of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. What a wonderful time to be engaged in the Women of Tocqueville, making history, and creating lasting impact across our community for hundreds of years to come – we invite you to bring your friends and join us!

In alignment with our Aspire United 2030 goals, this year we will continue to focus on strengthening the building blocks of education, impact, and health. As a business professional focused in the healthcare industry, and an adult sandwiched between aging parents and thriving youth children, I have a particular interest in the Aspire United 2030 impact area of health. Physical and mental health are foundational in driving school success for our children and economic outcomes for adults. Our focus areas for 2023-2024, are as follows:

• Diversity – Cultivate and broaden our outreach to the diverse ethnic, industry, and community sectors around us.
• Health – Foster access to physical + mental health care in the communities we serve. Activate current and former WOT Steering Committee and members as resources to build awareness on the mission and impact of WOT and ways to engage with WOT.
• Impact – Generate initiatives aligned to support UWMD Aspire United 2030 Goals through giving, advocacy, and volunteerism.

We will have many opportunities to connect in person, volunteer, advocate, and give this year alongside our Women of Tocqueville, as well as the broader Tocqueville Society leading into the Centennial. The calendar is already filled with opportunities for us to connect and engage with each other. In September alone, we hosted a book launch for our very own, Rachel Simon, WOT Steering Committee member and now author, and we have our Tocqueville UWMD Campaign Impact Celebration and Kickoff Luncheon (September 27th – RSVP today). We also have a full list of activities planned for you to get involved socially or through volunteer events – we hope to see you there!

I feel so privileged to be able to lead alongside this wonderful group of women this year. The brightness and light that you all bring to our community is inspiring. I’m looking forward to our continued impact.

Together we SHINE! … With Servant Hearts We Inspire Our Neighbors To Engage In Our Community.

Michelle Horton
2023-2024 Women of Tocqueville Chair
Principal, PwC

Vanessa Salinas Beckstrom
2023-2024 Women of Tocqueville Vice Chair
Investigations & Forensics Partner, PwC