1996 – Houston, Texas
Carolyn Farb exemplifies the essence of public service and philanthropy. She is committed to volunteerism for the greater good. Her hands-on planning and execution of every detail for a project serve as a role model for all volunteers. Carolyn Farb personifies the meaning of a true philanthropist. It has been said, “With the savoir-faire of any Fortune 500 CEO, she executes her business plan with precision and determination. With the charm and finesse of an amiable maestro, she produces a memorable event that seems effortless.” Her record-setting philanthropic work has touched many organizations from the 1980 Houston Ballet Foundation “Soiree on the Swanee” which raised $250,000 to the 1999 “Quest for Excellence Award Gala Honoring Eckhard Pfeiffer” benefiting the sciences at the University of Houston, which raised over $3 million, setting a special event record for the institution and adhering to her famous “zero budget” philosophy, keeping expenses below 5%! Ms. Farb’s honors include the Illustrious Modern Award from the Wedgwood Society, the Diana Award, YWCA Woman of the Year, “I Have a Dream” Dreammaker Award, the National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis’ Winter Ball “Woman of Distinction Award and the Volunteers of America’s Regional and National Service Awards. She was a Community Hero Torchbearer for the 1996 Olympics. In 1992, the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center established the Carolyn Farb Permanent Endowment Fund in honor of her services. In 1998, she received the Children’s Medallion of Honor from UNICEF. She is the author of “How to Raise Millions, Helping Others, Having a Ball”, a practical guide for fundraising professionals and volunteers. Her software package Carolyn Farb’s Guide v1.0 is a hybrid desktop/Internet package designed to assist both the novice as well as the professional fund raiser. She has graced the list of Houston’s Best Dressed and is passionate about her son Jake, art, the Houston Rockets and her shihtzu, Bogie.
