Over the past year, Jonathan’s Place has provided vital support and resources to vulnerable youth and families and fostered a safe place where individuals can begin to heal and thrive. Through our unique programs—offering educational opportunities, mental health services, and essential life skills—Jonathan’s Place has empowered countless young people to rise above their circumstances and envision brighter futures. Their unwavering commitment to advocacy not only uplifts those in need but also inspires us all to work together for a more inclusive and compassionate society. It’s this kind of transformative work that reminds us of the profound impact we can have when we stand together in service of one another.
Your commitment makes a difference in the lives we serve at Jonathan’s Place.
We hope you will join us at the 2025 Jonathan’s Place A Chance To Soar Luncheon to learn more about our programs and campus expansions throughout Dallas County.
Acclaimed actress and singer Bellamy Young is best known for her award-winning role as ‘President Mellie Grant’ on the ABC/Shonda Rhimes series SCANDAL.
Young’s performance as the politically ambitious First Lady who becomes President earned her much critical praise including: a Best Supporting Actress statue from the Critics’ Choice Awards, Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Best Characters on TV, #15 on Entertainment Weekly’s 50 Best TV Scenes of the Year, NY Post’s Top 10 TV Actors, and a TV Guide Magazine’s Fan Favorite Award. Rolling Stone Magazine described Young’s portrayal as “the most badass first lady in TV history” and E!’s resident TV critic described Young as her “favorite character on TV ever.”
On the big screen, Young was recently seen in Disney and Ava Duvernay’s A WRINKLE IN TIME. She also recently starred alongside Lou Diamond Philips in the crime thriller, NIGHT STALKER as well as indie projects, BERNARD & HUEY and Zoe Cassavetes’ DAY OUT OF DAYS. Young has appeared alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest stars in films such as Randall Wallace’s WE WERE SOLDIERS with Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe, and Greg Kinnear, and JJ Abrams’ MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: III with Tom Cruise, Laurence Fishburne, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. She has also appeared in several independent films including Sundance favorite THE FREEBIE starring Dax Shepard and A COUNTRY REMEDY, which she starred in and produced in her home state of North Carolina.
Young’s extensive television resume includes recurring roles on CRIMINAL MINDS opposite Thomas Gibson, DIRTY, SEXY, MONEY alongside Donald Sutherland and Jill Clayburgh, CSI: MIAMI with David Caruso, the hit-comedy SCRUBS with Zach Braff. Young made her television debut as ‘Dr. Courtney Evens’ on the long-running NBC soap ANOTHER WORLD.
Young began her acting career on stage starring on Broadway in Cy Coleman’s THE LIFE and in the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Young also starred in Randy Newman and David Mamet’s FAUST and the first run of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Landford Wilson’s BOOK OF DAYS.
Singing has been a life-long love for Young. In 2015, she released her debut album Far Away So Close: a collection of contemporary covers influenced by her North Carolina roots. Later that year, she performed at the White House for President Obama and his family in the National Christmas Tree Lighting telecast with Andra Day and Kelsea Ballarini.
Through her philanthropic work, Young serves as the national spokesperson for the Humane Society of The United States’ campaign The Shelter Pet Project, a project promoting animal adoption from shelters and rescue groups. Young has also used her notoriety to bring awareness to Operation Blankets of Love, a donation-based foundation that repurposes comfort items for animals in shelters across the country to raise their quality of life, thereby making them more adoptable. In 2015, Young won “Celebrity Jeopardy,” donating her $50,000 earnings to Operation Blankets of Love. During the Obama Administration, Young served as the Ambassador for The Trust for The National Mall, alongside Chelsea Clinton.
Born in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, Young graduated from Yale University with dual degrees in English and Theater Studies; she also holds a certificate from England’s University of Oxford. Young was financially able to attend Yale because of a privately donated scholarship; thanks to Scandal, she is now able to provide an annual scholarship for current Yale Students.
Cynt Marshall has been a dynamic force in business over a 36-year career at AT&T and almost seven years as the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. Cynt has been a champion for achieving business results through inclusion and a relentless focus on people and operational excellence. When Cynt was hired as the CEO of the Mavs in February 2018, she set her sights on a culture transformation.
Widely recognized for her visionary leadership and ability to get things done, Cynt is the recipient of several honors and awards, including the 2024 Junior Achievement Dallas Business Hall of Fame Laureate award and the 2022 Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum Hope for Humanity award. In 2021, Forbes named Cynt one of 15 of the world’s most inspiring female leaders. In March 2020 and several times prior, Cynt was selected as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise magazine and named to Ebony magazine’s 2016 “Power 100” list.
Royce West is a lawyer and public servant who was first elected to the Texas Senate in 1992, where he has represented the 23rd Senatorial District. During his tenure, he has been named by Texas Monthly as one of the 25 most powerful people in Texas politics, and he has been selected for the magazine’s biennial “Ten Best Legislators in Texas” list twice, as well as receiving mention on the Associated Press’ “Movers and Shakers” list and the Texas Insider’s “Best Legislators” list. Senator West is Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and is a member of Senate committees on Education, Finance, Higher Education-Subcommittee, Local Government, and Redistricting, Special.
In addition to his senatorial duties, Senator West is the managing partner in the law firm of West & Associates, L.L.P. He has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1979 and has demonstrated fidelity over his career to the mission and objectives of the National Bar Association (NBA). He joined the NBA in 1980 and has served as Regional Director, President, and Treasurer for the JL Turner Legal Association. He also served as a member of the Dallas Bar Association board of directors. Overall, Royce West is a dedicated public servant who has used his legal skills to effect positive change in his community.
Anna DeCamp, Luncheon Co-Chair
Anna DeCamp brings over 23 years of mortgage experience, and was named one of D Magazine’s Best Mortgage Professionals in Dallas and one of the Best Mortgage Originators by Texas Monthly Magazine.
Beyond her professional success, Anna is deeply committed to her community. As a proud member of the Dream Team Women’s Network, she connects with like-minded women who lead with purpose and vision. Her heart for helping shines through her volunteer work at Jonathan’s Place. Whether visiting the children or donating in her borrowers’ names for every loan she closes, Anna ensures her work leaves a lasting impact both personally and professionally.
Anna’s dedication to serving others is the foundation of everything she does helping families achieve their dreams of homeownership while giving back to those who need it most.
Maria Leach, Luncheon Co-Chair
Maria Leach is a Senior Mortgage Consultant for First United Bank, whose career reflects not only professional excellence but also a heart devoted to serving others. A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, Maria began in real estate before transitioning to mortgage lending, where she quickly became a top-producing loan officer. Recognized with numerous honors—including Scotsman Guide’s Top 1% of Mortgage Professionals in America and D Magazine’s Best Mortgage Professionals—Maria’s focus is always on helping her clients achieve their dreams.
Maria’s servant heart extends beyond her career. She and her son Tristan enjoy volunteering together, and she published her first children’s book, George Can and You Can Too, inspired by her experiences at Jonathan’s Place. Maria treasures time with her family, whether on the water, traveling, or simply being together.
Hannah Braun, Host Committee Chair
Hannah Braun is a dedicated community advocate with a passion for giving back and making a meaningful difference. A former college volleyball athlete at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Hannah brings the same spirit of teamwork, discipline, and resilience to everything she does.
In addition to her professional role as a financial advisor with Edward Jones, Hannah devotes her time and energy to causes close to her heart. She actively supports single mothers, champions animal welfare, and works to improve the lives of neglected and vulnerable children. Her commitment to serving others is driven by a deep belief in the power of empathy, education, and community support.
Whether in her professional work or volunteer efforts, Hannah strives to uplift those around her and create lasting, positive change.