Gracie Cavnar, President of the Board
Writer, Philanthropist, Founder, President & CEO of Recipe for Success
"I can do that."  Gracie Cavnar believes that you can do anything you put your mind to, and she's spent a lifetime proving it. In 1998, following careers in architecture, hospitality, marketing and public relations, Gracie Cavnar retired to write.  Her lifestyle and business features regularly appeared in national magazines and newspapers; excerpts from her column Grace Notes are being turned into a book; and she has just finished her first cookbook for children, Eat it! Food Adventures with Marco Polo.

Since 2005 Gracie has given her full time attention as the pro-bono CEO of Recipe for Success Foundation, the organization she created after a decade of research into the global childhood obesity epidemic.

In just six years, she has built Recipe for Success into the largest nutrition education program of its kind in the country, one that enjoys national reputation and respect; and she has assembled a powerful board of directors who are equally invested in the long-term sustainability of the Foundation and its mission.  As a reflection of the national attention she has managed to garner for Recipe for Success, Gracie recently served as an adviser to the First Lady's Lets Move! Task Force and was asked to bring RFS to national scale.

In 2008 Gracie was honored for her groundbreaking work with Recipe for Success by Dr. Mehmet Oz at The Enchanted Garden Gala in New York; with The Houston Junior Forum's Shining Star Award, the 36th annual SAVVY Award from Macy's and the Houston Chronicle, the 2008 Mayor's Volunteer Houston Award, and the President's Volunteer Service Gold Award from President George W. Bush.  She was selected as a 2008 L'Oreal Paris Woman of Worth Honoree from a national field of 3,000 nominees.  She was a 2009 Houston Women of Distinction, was selected by Harlequin Publishing to receive their coveted 2010 More than Words award.  In 2010 she was recognized with the Glynwood Good Food For Health Harvest Award and as one of Houston's Most Influential Women.  Texas Medical Association Foundation honored Gracie in 2011 as Houston Health Leader, Self Magazine selected her as one of the 2011 Women Doing Good, and she was was recently announced as a winner of Longines and Town&Country Magazine's 2011 Women Who Make a Difference.

San Antonio native and trained architect, Gracie holds board positions with The Houston Grand Opera, Inprint, KIPP Academy Houston, Hermann Park Conservancy, Lawndale Art Center, and Arte Publico.  In 1999 she created the Essence of Mexico Foundation to capture the disappearing festivals of indigenous people.  The resulting photography anthology, which was donated to the Latin American collection of the San Antonio Museum of Art, has traveled the world and in 2008 was featured in a Smithsonian Exhibition.  She has chaired nearly a dozen high-profile charity galas that raised many millions of dollars.  During her professional career spanning more than forty-five years, her job titles have included: model, architect, designer, caterer, restaurateur, special event coordinator, hospitality, marketing and public relations executive, journalist and writer. She has owned her own businesses and worked for others including multinational corporations, but she considers creating and shepherding Recipe for Success Foundation her ultimate calling and most gratifying achievement.   "We have the opportunity to literally save the next generation and I will do everything I can to eliminate this deadly epidemic, which threatens to rob them of their health and well being."

Gracie married Bob Cavnar in 1996 and they have three children: Justin Hamilton (m. to Lucia Tschen), Robert, Jr. (m. to Kristin Zumo) and Gina (m. to Philip Seibert), a toddling grandson, Joey Seibert (who is a very healthy eater), and three spoiled canines.