2020 Patricia Chernicky
Luminary Award Recipient
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Sharon Thoele is Tulsa CARES’ founding executive director who spent nearly 30 years serving individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Her work began with Hospice of Green Country and later with what would become Tulsa CARES. Her career was truly a labor of love, and her goal was to create a safe haven for all who entered the doors of the agency. Under her leadership, a model of care was created that was later duplicated throughout the country, and Tulsa CARES was the first HIV organization to become certified in the State of Oklahoma. Sharon tirelessly advocated on behalf of clients, forged meaningful partnerships in the community, and established the foundation for Tulsa CARES’ continued growth and many successes today.
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2020 red ribbon gala chairs
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Dr. Deborah A. Gist is a lifelong educator, passionate Tulsan, and the superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools. She's worked in public education for nearly 30 years at the school, district and state levels. Gist served as a senior policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Education and as the Education Commissioner for the state of Rhode Island before moving back home to Tulsa. She loves and supports Tulsa CARES and the incredibly important service it provides to Tulsans in their greatest time of need.
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The Rev. Mark Raymond Wood has served Episcopal parishes in Texas, Connecticut, Switzerland, France and New York. As a gay man who lived through the dark days of the 1980s, he has a special appreciation for organizations like Tulsa CARES that have been at the forefront of outreach to those living with HIV. It's a joy for him to be working on a cause long dear to his heart.
Deborah and Mark met at Harvard in 1999 and became fast friends. They're honored to chair Red Ribbon Gala together and support a cause so meaningful to them both. |
THE CAUSE
Red Ribbon Gala serves as the largest fundraiser annually for Tulsa CARES.
Tulsa CARES delivers social services to people affected by HIV and AIDS. We are committed to creating a community where all people with HIV/AIDS have equal opportunities for healthy living. We advance our mission through empowerment, inclusion and the creation of hope by offering tailored, integrated resources and advocating for the end of HIV stigma.
Tulsa CARES delivers social services to people affected by HIV and AIDS. We are committed to creating a community where all people with HIV/AIDS have equal opportunities for healthy living. We advance our mission through empowerment, inclusion and the creation of hope by offering tailored, integrated resources and advocating for the end of HIV stigma.
