ANNOUNCING THE JOCELYN AWARD – STATEMENT FROM THE STRAUS FAMILY

SAN ANTONIO’S JOCELYN “JOCI” STRAUS TO BE HONORED POSTHUMOUSLY WITH DISTINGUISHED AWARD AT INAUGURAL THE CELESTIAL AWARDS™

“The Jocelyn” Award Will Be Presented On November 12th At The Celestial Awards™ Show At The Historic Majestic Theatre In Downtown San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, October 20, 2024 – Today, Women in Film & Television San Antonio (WIFT SATX+) unveiled exciting updates about The Celestial Awards™ with the announcement of “The Jocelyn” Award for Excellence in Producing. This honor will celebrate Jocelyn Straus’ remarkable legacy in the performing arts, media and entertainment in San Antonio. A tribute to Jocelyn Straus will be presented by ATG Entertainment’s Emily Smith who is also a co-producer and co-host of The Celestial Awards™ presented by the San Antonio and broader Texas region’s chapter of the media and entertainment industry organization Women in Film & Television. The inaugural recipient of “The Jocelyn” is producer Jaselyn Blanchard-Pace who serves as the executive director of The Majestic-Empire Foundation. The Celestial Awards™ evening commences with red carpet arrivals under the mar will receive the award on November 12, 2024, at The Charline McCombs Empire Theater in downtown San Antonio.

STATEMENT BY JOE R. STRAUS, JR., THE HONORABLE JOE STRAUS III, LYN SELIG, SUSAN STRAUS:

“We are deeply honored to have an award named after Jocelyn “Joci” Straus, in the inaugural Celestial Awards from Women in Film and Television. The Jocelyn Award, celebrating the art of producing and ‘making the magic happen,’ perfectly captures her vision and lasting legacy. This recognition highlights the profound impact she had in transforming San Antonio’s cultural landscape, a legacy that continues to inspire future generations.

Joci was a true force of nature. From saving the Majestic Theatre from demolition to leading the renovation of the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, her passion for the arts lives on through the Joci Awards, which have awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships to young performers, opening doors to national stages and successful careers.

Her fearless leadership, boundless creativity, and belief in the power of the arts will inspire generations to come. We are honored that the Jocelyn Award will celebrate women who, like her, are trailblazing forces shaping the cultural legacy of South Texas.”

ABOUT JOCELYN LEVI STRAUS

Jocelyn Levi Straus was a trailblazing community leader and one of San Antonio’s most accomplished fundraisers, who dedicated her life to enhancing the cultural, educational, healthcare, and political landscapes of San Antonio and South Texas. Renowned for her leadership, Joci raised millions of dollars for causes that spanned the arts, healthcare, and education, leaving an indelible mark on the region.

Her passion for politics stemmed from a desire to create a more balanced political landscape in Texas. Joci began her journey as the chair of the Nixon Girls, advocating for Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign, before moving on to serve as precinct chair, where she became well-known for her commitment to registering voters. Her fundraising prowess took off when she served as finance chair for John Tower’s successful 1961 Senate campaign, making him the first Republican U.S. Senator from Texas since Reconstruction.

Over the next four decades, Joci played pivotal roles in more than 30 political campaigns, including those of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Senators Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutchison, and numerous Republican governors and U.S. Representatives. She was a trusted and influential figure, serving as Texas campaign co-chair for George H.W. Bush’s presidential bids and head of his national finance committee.

In the early 1980s, she was asked to be the first chair of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). She held that position for 17 years. During the 15-year tenure of the Health Science Center’s president, John P. Howe, III, Joci worked tirelessly under his leadership to recruit and build the Center’s donor base and quadrupled research spending from $32 to $124 million. “She was directly responsible for the excellence we now appreciate at the Health Science Center by inspiring philanthropy focused on faculty recruitment and scholarship,” said Francisco Cigarroa, former UTHSCSA president and Chancellor of the University of Texas System.

Founding Chairman of the Foundation for Cultural Arts in San Antonio, then known as Las Casas Foundation, now The Majestic Empire Foundation, Joci was also Founding President of the San Antonio Performing Arts Association and the driving force behind the restoration of San Antonio’s historic Majestic and Charline McCombs Empire Theatres, focusing attention and resources for their continuing preservation.

In addition to being Chair Emeritus of Texas Cultural Trust, Joci has served time on numerous boards such as the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on the Arts; National Council on the Arts and advisory member of the National Endowment of the Arts; the Army Community Council; The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Fine Arts and the Humanities; Bexar County Hospital District, Cancer Therapy and Research Center; Texas Research and Technology Foundation Advisory Board; the Chairman Development Board of the University of Texas at San Antonio as well serving with numerous other committees and organizations. Joci served on the National Advisory Board of Jim Cullum’s Riverwalk Jazz and was one of six members who serve on the State Preservation Board being the only citizen member since the others are all elected State officials. This committee oversees preservation, maintenance and restoration of the State Capitol and other buildings. She was the former Chair and served on the Board of Trustees of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County as well as being the Founder of the Woman’s Leadership Council of the United Way.

Joci was appointed during the Reagan-Bush years to the National Council on the Arts where she serves as member emeritus. She has served as President of the Development Board for the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for twenty years. Joci has been honored with numerous honors and awards some to include: Recipient of San Antonio Junior League Award for “Volunteer Extraordinaire” 1982, San Antonio Light nomination for “Today’s Woman” 1983, Elected to San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in Volunteer Service Category 1984, “Visionary Award” given by Texas Society to Prevent Blindness 1988, Award for “Outstanding Community Service” from American Heart Association 1989, Recipient of first “Star Award” given by San Antonio Performing Arts Association 1990, “The Yellow Rose Award” given by Juvenile Diabetes Association of San Antonio 1990, Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor Award 1994, Battle of Flowers Parade Grand Marshall San Antonio Fiesta 1996, U.T. Austin School of Architecture Interior Design Award for the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre 1999, AVANCE “Mother of the Year” Award 2000, Girl Scouts of San Antonio and Bexar County Trefoil Award 2001, Junior Achievement of South Texas “San Antonio Business Hall of Fame Laureate” 2002, “Downtowner of the Year” Award 2003 The Downtown Alliance, “2005 Laura Bush Service & Education Award” from Republican Business Women of Bexar County, City Year Champion Award 2007, Jocelyn and Joe Straus Endowed Chair in Trauma Research established by The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio in 2007.

Joci’s involvement with United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County allowed her to continue her passion and advocacy of health care, education, and women in business. After serving on the board and chairing the United Way’s annual campaign, Joci created and served as the founding chair of the Women’s Leadership Council to tap into women’s vast ownership of private wealth and encourage their roles as business executives and owners. The council started with a dozen women leaders and 500 members and today has more than 3,000 members. Now known as Women United, the organization has become part of United Way in every major city.

Perhaps her most public legacy was visible with the preservation and restoration of the Majestic and Empire Theatres, which were scheduled for demolition in the mid-1980s. Joci created the non-profit Las Casas Foundation to raise money for the restoration after she was asked to become involved with a public-private partnership, including Arts Center Enterprises and the city of San Antonio. In spite of the 1980s real estate crash, Joci raised $4.5 million for Phase I of the restoration, and the Majestic reopened September 19, 1989, for the fall season of Off-Broadway shows and the San Antonio Symphony. From 1989 to 1998, under Joci’s leadership, Las Casas raised $13.9 million for Phases I and II of the Majestic, and Phase III, the restoration of the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. Following the first major restorations, Joci encouraged The Majestic Empire Foundation to create an annual scholarship competition. Now in its 17th year, The Majestic Empire Foundation’s Performing Arts education and Scholarship Program has given more than $1.7 million to talented students pursuing higher education degrees–regardless of their field of study. MEF named their awards the “Jocis,” which are given annually to the top winners in each category.

Joci also received a presidential appointment from Ronald Reagan to serve on the National Endowment for the Arts, where she met artists from all over the country, and brought several to the Majestic, including legendary Blues performer, B.B. King. She was a member of the Texas Cultural Trust Council and the founder of its Texas Medal of Arts Awards. Throughout her years, Joci has been awarded with numerous recognitions for her fundraising, but perhaps the highest honor she received was the opportunity to meet Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks. Barbara Bush invited Joci to the White House for a private tea she was having with Parks. They were invited to the Lincoln Bedroom where Parks quietly studied the Emancipation Proclamation. Joci recalled spending that time with Parks was a moment she would always cherish.

Despite her numerous accolades, Joci believed that her true legacy was not in the awards, but in the relationships she built and the communities she impacted. Her vision and dedication continue to inspire generations of leaders in San Antonio and beyond.

ABOUT WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION SAN ANTONIO

WIFT SATX+ is proudly an official chapter of Women in Film & Television International “WIFTI” (Women in Film & Television International), a global network of more than 13,000 members and 70 partners and chapters located on six continents that for more than 50 years has been dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women working in all areas and expertise in the Media & Entertainment industry including film, video, journalism, performing arts, live entertainment, law, and more.

Women in Film & Television San Antonio was founded by native San Antonian and Media & Entertainment veteran Ceslie Armstrong on November 11, 2023, at the invitation of the global organization.

The Women in Film & Television San Antonio mission and programming are dedicated to promoting equity for women in the Media & Entertainment industry, and the organization offers memberships for all people who want to advocate, align with, and show support. College students from across the state, individuals with an interest in learning about the industry, partner organizations, and corporate members comprise the membership and team. The WIFT SATX+ mission includes building community across the industry while collaborating with other WIFTI chapters and partners globally and organizations in the region we serve.

To learn more about becoming a member, supporter, partner, and the programming slate including The Celestial Awards™, visit WIFTSANANTONIO.ORG or email hello@wiftsanantonio.org.

To Contact our CEO Ceslie Armstrong directly: ceslie@ceslie.com

Media Contact, The Celestial Awards™:

Erin Moody: erin@wiftsanantonio.org

Mary Moore: editorial@wiftsanantonio.org