Tyler

By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer

All Saints Episcopal School will honor Drs. Svetislava Vukelja and Lawrence Anderson with the Flame of Excellence Award at the 18th annual Founders' Day dinner.

The dinner is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 in the Davis Sports and Multipurpose Center at All Saints.

Henry Winkler, an award-winning actor, director, producer and best-selling author known for playing "The Fonz" on the television show "Happy Days," will be the guest speaker at the event. Winkler, who struggled in school with what was later diagnosed as dyslexia, will share his story of overcoming personal obstacles, according to All Saints.

Drs. Vukelja and Anderson are "faithful supporters of All Saints Episcopal School" as well as parents of fourth- and eighth-grade students Boris and Maxi Anderson. Donating their time, leadership and resources, they have been actively involved on behalf of the faculty, staff and students since 1999, according to the school.

"They have been such great, dear friends of the school for a long period of time and supported numerous projects in the school," Headmaster Arthur Burke said of Drs. Vukelja and Anderson, noting their generous donations but also, "more importantly they capture the spirit of what All Saints is all about.

"They recognize that an All Saints education can make a difference in people's lives," he said.

"They've done all they can do to broaden that. They capture the spirit and they want to reach out and help other folks."

Drs. Vukelja and Anderson served as co-chairs of the All Saints 2005 annual fund campaign. Their contributions have helped create the Learning Enrichment Center and helped make those resources available to all students, according to All Saints.

To help the school effectively increase student diversity, Dr. Vukelja, Dr. Anderson and their colleagues at Dermatology Associates initiated a tuition assistance program to extend the value of a Christian education to minority applicants with financial challenges, according to All Saints.

"They have been very generous to every aspect of the school, but have particular interest in our scholarship program and they also have a true passion for our Learning Enrichment Center," Eddie Francis, director of development at All Saints, said. "That's why we have brought in Henry Winkler. He is going to talk about overcoming the challenges of dyslexia to becoming the star he is � We think that his speech goes hand in hand with the passion of Dr. V and Dr. Anderson."

About 400 to 500 people are expected to attend the Founders' Day Dinner, which raises money for the school's tuition assistance program. Tickets to the event are $150.

For ticket information, call All Saints Episcopal School at 903-579-6073.

All Saints Episcopal School will honor Drs. Svetislava Vukelja (left) and Lawrence Anderson with the Flame Of Excellence Award at the school’s 18th annual Founders’ Day Dinner on Sept. 23.
(Courtesy Photo)