DALLAS—The Catholic Foundation has named Kara Gehan and Mary Terry to its 2017 Board of Trustees. Each on a three year term starting January 2017, the new trustees will bring exemplary leadership, wisdom and dedication to the Board.
John Landon will take over as Chairman of the Board, as Vicky Lattner becomes immediate past chair after leading the board for two years. He is the CEO and Chairman of Landon Development and Landon Homes, with more than 30 years of experience in the homebuilding and land development industry. He has developed more than 25,000 lots and built more than 45,000 homes in over 500 communities across America.
A graduate of Louisiana State University, he was inducted into the LSU EJ Ourso School of Business Hall of Distinction and his companies have been listed as one of LSU’s “Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses” for multiple years. John and his wife have four children and attend Prince of Peace Catholic Church.
“We look forward to the experience and insight our new trustees bring to The Catholic Foundation Board, and we thank them for their willingness to serve our Catholic community in this capacity,” said Matt Kramer, president and CEO of The Catholic Foundation. “Under John Landon’s leadership, I am confident our Board will help us grow the Foundation so that we may continue to greatly impact the community through the philanthropic dreams of our donors.”
Kara Gehan, J.D. provides pro bono legal expertise to low-income families and individuals. She is a member of the Advisory Boards of The Catholic Center at Duke University and the Town North YMCA and the Board of Trustees for The Ursuline Academy of Dallas Foundation. She is an academic coach for middle school students and delivers meals for Meals on Wheels. She has served on the Bishop’s Gala committee benefiting Catholic Charities and on the Steering Committee for the Building the Future Campaign for St. Rita Catholic Community. Previously, she was a products liability litigation attorney at Hartline, Dacus, Dreyer & Kern, LLP as well as Strasburger & Price, LLP.
She graduated from Ursuline Academy, earned her bachelor’s degree at Duke University, and earned her law degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Kara, her husband Peter and their three children are parishioners at St. Rita.
Mary Terry and her husband Mike founded The Mike & Mary Terry Family Foundation in 2006, focused on providing equal opportunities for all children, advancing youth through education and ensuring a haven for those in need throughout North Texas. In addition to her work through the Foundation, Mary has served on the boards of the Jesuit Dallas Museum and Notre Dame School of Dallas. She chaired Notre Dame’s recent Hearts and Hammers Capital Campaign, which raised a record-breaking $12 million, and served as Honorary Co-Chair for the Notre Dame School’s Affair of the Heart event in 2016. For the past eight years, she has volunteered weekly at The Bridge, serving meals to the homeless. Mary and Mike served as Honorary Co-Chairs of the “Our Faith Our Future” Capital and Endowment campaign for the Diocese of Dallas and were honored with The Catholic Foundation Award in 2014.
She attended Ursuline Academy and graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in sociology. An active member at St. Rita Catholic Parish, Mary has three children and four grandchildren.
About the Catholic Foundation
The Catholic Foundation is a trusted giving vehicle for the Catholic community. Chartered in 1955, the Foundation was founded by a group of dedicated Catholic laymen with a vision that extended far beyond the charitable needs of the moment. The Foundation has spent decades building a strong community, helping donors fulfill their charitable goals, and preserving the founders’ vision and philanthropic legacy. Over the past 55 years, the Foundation has provided more than $126 million in grants to religious, charitable and educational organizations. Today, it manages more than $219 million in assets and houses more than 400 charitable funds and trusts.