The Catholic Foundation Welcomes Three New Trustees To Board

L to R: Pratt, Bangs, Thompson, Howard, Kramer

Fred Bangs, Mark N. Howard and Dr. Mayra Thompson have been elected to The Catholic Foundation Board of Trustees under the leadership of Board Chair Aileen Pratt, who is serving her second year of a two-year term. The new trustees will serve two, three-year terms ending in 2027.

“We welcome Fred, Mark and Mayra to The Catholic Foundation Board of Trustees. Our board continues to grow in diversity and expertise, and we are thankful for the valuable time and effort our trustees give to The Catholic Foundation. Their strategic leadership will continue to propel the Foundation’s legacy of successfully serving donors and the Catholic community,” said Matt Kramer, president and CEO of The Catholic Foundation.

Fred Bangs is a managing director at Marsh Wortham, a division of Marsh USA Inc. and a director of the Texas Historical Foundation. Fred and his family were members of St. Rita Catholic Community where he and his wife Mary Lynn ushered for 25 years. Their children Allenna, William and Caryn attended St. Rita Catholic Community School, and Allenna and Caryn graduated from Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Fred is a grandfather to seven grandchildren, member of the St. Rita Bread Ministry helping feed those in need, and a member of The Knights of Columbus. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Fred and Mary Lynn reside in Irving and recently joined St. Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell.

Mark N. Howard is a sales management, marketing and business development executive at Momentum Wealth Strategies. He graduated from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He also earned a master’s degree from both the University of Illinois and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Professionally, he extends his skills in launching new business ventures and financial planning. Mark serves on the boards of Bishop Lynch High School, Dallas Catholic Diocese Inter-Racial Task Force, the Dallas Business Club and is currently president of the Kellogg Alumni Network board. He has been a contributing business writer for Black Enterprise Magazine and Franchise Magazine. Mark is a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and has three adult children – Gabrielle, Sean and Ayden.

Dr. Mayra Thompson has recently retired as Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center as well as a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, Parkland Health and Hospital System, Medical City Dallas and Zale-Lipshy Pavilion – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. Her scholarly endeavors are vast and include serving as Chief Robotic Faculty for MIGS Fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She earned her medical degree and served her residency at the University of Illinois Medical Center. Committed to giving back to the Hispanic community, she has served as a radio host for Spanish-language stations and was part of the 2020 Panel de vacunacion contra el Covid-19 created by the Dallas County Health Department. Mayra has been honored with the Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Si Se Puede Award from Mexican American Professional Women’s Association of Dallas. She currently has a private practice in North Dallas. Mayra and her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, are members of St. Rita Catholic Community and have four children and two grandsons.

With the addition of three new trustees, The Catholic Foundation Board is comprised of 19 trustees. The 2022 Board of Trustees is as follows: