For more than 30 years, nonprofit organizations in Montgomery County have come together annually to honor one of their shining volunteers. She is recognized for the numerous hours, unyielding commitment, and loyal dedication she has provided to their agency. Their dedication, humility, and tireless effort to serve others and our community make these women stand out as a Woman of Distinction.

We are proud to announce our 2024 Woman of Distinction, Tesa Monroe.

I moved to The Woodlands in 1975 when I was ten years old. The Woodlands was very new and very small. There weren’t even traffic lights, only stop signs! I was a Highstepper at McCullough and was in the third graduating class of 1981. I went to The University of Texas, majored in Physics, and returned to McCullough to teach High School Physics for 12 years. I was also the Cheerleader coach. Great fun! After having two kids, I retired from teaching to be a full-time mom and began looking for volunteer opportunities. After 9/11, a group of friends from my children’s preschool wanted to do something to give back, and after much debate, decided to help the Women’s Center. We invited 100 women to a homemade lunch at my home in exchange for bringing gifts for the Shelter’s Christmas Wish list. This also evolved into selling raffle tickets, for which we used the proceeds to start an endowment fund. We just hosted our 23rd annual luncheon, and our endowment fund has grown to over $350,000! Over the years, I began to want to do more and took the official week-long Attorney General’s training for Domestic Violence/ Sexual Assault so I could be a volunteer at the Women’s Center. I have spent the last several years coming every Wednesday morning to answer phones at the Center. I have the utmost respect for the staff, who brave a tsunami of need daily with empathy and kindness. I am so grateful that they let me be a part of this critical mission to help these women and children.