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ABC13 Anchor Melanie Lawson donates $43,000 to HABJ student scholarships

02 Feb

The Houston Association of Black Journalists’ Sneaker Ball Scholarships and Awards Gala was more than a night of fashion and celebration — it was a powerful reminder of legacy, mentorship, and community.

Held at The Ensemble Theatre, the annual gala brought together journalists, leaders, and supporters to honor excellence and invest in the next generation. The evening was co-hosted by HABJ board member and anchor Erica Simon, alongside fellow journalist Alexis.

One of the night’s highlights was honoring ABC13 Houston anchors Melanie Lawson and Gina Gaston — trailblazers whose careers helped pave the way for so many journalists who followed.

“I can’t do what I do on the anchor desk unless they did it first,” Gatson said, crediting the women for leading with beauty, class, intelligence, professionalism, and grace.

The room was filled with familiar faces as colleagues from across the Houston media landscape — including a strong showing from her station family — came out in support, turning the gala into a true reunion and celebration of shared purpose.

Then came the mic-drop moment.

In honor of her 43 years in television, Melanie Lawson stunned the crowd by announcing a $43,000 donation to the Houston Association of Black Journalists. The gift, designated to support scholarships and programming, left attendees — including HABJ board members — visibly moved.

The donation underscored the heart of the evening: honoring those who built the path, while ensuring future journalists have the support to walk it.

For many in the room, the Sneaker Ball wasn’t just an event — it was a testament to the power of representation, generosity, and the responsibility to give back.

And judging by the reaction inside The Ensemble Theatre, it’s a night Houston’s journalism community won’t soon forget.

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Vicky Heileman Pink

Vice President, Photojournalism

Vicky Heileman Pink, a native Houstonian, is the owner of an independent photography and video company known as VP Productions with over 21 years of experience. She is the chief photographer at Houston Style Magazine and her work has been featured in several local and national publications. She is co-founder of IF (International Focus) Magazine and serves as Director of Operations of The Coalition of Community Organizations (COCO) in Houston, Texas .

Vicky was the first of 7 siblings to attend college. Her freshman year, she was the Engineering Honors Program at Tuskegee University. Due to finances, she transferred to the University of Houston. She eventually moved to California and obtained her Associates degree in English from West Los Angeles College. She then attended Cal State Dominguez Hills and changed her major to Communications. After moving back to Houston, she graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications Radio and Television. Her documentary on “The Jaybirds of Fort Bend County” aired on PBS and is now part of the Kendleton Historical Society.

Vicky worked 7 years in Computer Operations at Exxon Upstream Technical Computing, then taught Montessori classes, but decided in 2002 to venture out on her own and pursue her passion as a videographer. In 2008, she began working with Houston Style Magazine as a contributing writer and photojournalist.

As a small minority business owner, Vicky has worked with a variety of corporate and individual clients on many projects. She currently serves on the board of the Houston Association of Black Journalists as VP of Photojournalism, the University of Houston Black Alumni Association and as Co-Chair of the Lectors at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. She is a member of Sisters in the Spirit, The Core (Bo Porter), Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce, the North East Cultural Arts Council and the East End Chamber of Commerce.

Vicky holds a Certificate of Achievement from the Houston Area Urban League’s Small Business Development University, a certificate for the Climate Reality Leadership Training, a certificate of completion for the MAPPS Environmental Health Leadership Training, and a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She has been honored with a Global Achievement Award, the Diamond Award for being a Catalyst for Change and many others. She also has received recognition for volunteering as a guest speaker at events and career days, and for teaching photography workshops and classes.

Vicky’s work has been published in Forbes Magazine, Modern Luxury, The Houston Chronicle, Texas Small Business Magazine, Culture Map, Paper City, Ebony and others. She currently shoots the cover photos for International Focus Magazine, which features a Consul General from a different country each month. Her work has allowed her to travel nationally and abroad. In 2012, she was the hired photographer for a reception in River Oaks with President Barack Obama.

She is very proud of her two daughters, son and two grandchildren. Being a single parent for many years, she strives to instill a legacy of faith, determination and entrepreneurship in all of them. Her future endeavors include creating historic documentaries on disadvantaged communities and informing the public about Sickle Cell Disease.

Joy Sewing

VP, Print

Joy Sewing is Houston Chronicle’s fashion and beauty editor, covering fashion, beauty, fitness and other lifestyle topics. She is one of a handful of full-time fashion editors at major newspapers around the country.

An award-winning journalist, Joy holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from University of Houston, a master’s degree in business management from Webster University and taught journalism at Central Missouri State University. She has received several prestigious national journalism fellowships on issues concerning Latin America and the African Diaspora; one in which she lived and worked in Mexico and another in which she traveled to Cuba with a team of U.S. journalists to study racism in the country.

Joy has worked for the Kansas City Star and the New York Post and has written regularly for Money, People, Vibe, Shape, Time, Town & Country and other magazines. She has interviewed hundreds of famous faces, from Oscar de la Renta to Houston’s own Beyoncé. She also is a regular TV fashion commentator and often speaks to corporations and groups about workplace dress issues, style trends and other topics.

In 2018, she debuted her first book, “Ava and the Prince: The Adventures of Two Rescue Pups, in celebration of Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog month. The children’s picture book chronicles the true-life story of her rescue boxer dogs, Ava and Prince. Joy has a passion for rescue animals. When Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston in 2017, hundreds of animals were lost, abandoned or homeless in the weeks following the storm. Joy became the go-to Houston Chronicle reporter for “animal rescue and reunion” coverage. Her children’s book was selected for the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation home-library program and was a bestseller on Amazon.com.

Joy also has a passion for helping children and is founder of Year of Joy, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides joyful experiences for children from underserved communities. Since December 2016, nearly 700 area children, ages 5 through 16, have participated in the organization’s cultural, educational and empowering experiences, including the annual Year of Joy Holiday Ice Skating party at Discovery Green.

Joy is also a former competitive ice skater and became Houston’s first professional African American ice-skating coach while in college.

Bridgett S. Holden

Secretary

To date, Bridgett S. Holden is the Principal Owner of Houston based Public Relations Firm, SHE Bridges PR (SBPR), whose slogan matches its purpose of “Bridging the Gap Between You and the Media!” Bridgett has evolved her company by strategically branding her clients in the industries of Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment, Sports, Nonprofits, and Politics. She has successfully secured Brand Placements for her clients via media outlets through television, radio, print, and podcasts on International, National, Local and Digital platforms! Always keeping on trend to grow her company, Bridgett became certified with the City of Houston, The Port of Houston, METRO, the State of Texas and the Federal Government in 2016; qualifying SHE Bridges PR to do business with local/state and government entities as an MBE, WBE, SBE, HUB and WOSB Minority Owned Business. For the past 20 years, Bridgett has successfully managed the roles of being a business owner, entrepreneur, volunteer, board member, speaker, cohost on several podcast, Host of Bridge Talk TV Podcast, Content Creator, YouTuber, Fashion Enthusiast, and an active participant in the Houston community. In 2009 Bridgett was named volunteer of the year by the West Orem YMCA for leading the board in exceeding their fundraiser goal of $50,000 during their Partnership Campaign to the tune of $64,000. She has served on (and is a member) of the Houston Association of Black Journalists (HABJ) Board which raises scholarships for college students majoring in Journalism as the Media Monitor. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), has served on the Men of Style Steering Committee which raises funds to find a cure for Sickle Cell Anemia, and has served on the Texas Drowning Prevention Alliance Board which brings awareness to local communities around drowning prevention. Bridgett currently serves on the Dreams UnleaSHEd She Networks Board, a nonprofit organization whose Mission & Vision is to grow and develop young ladies for holistic success. She is often seen on Fox 26’s Isiah Factor Uncensored as a commentator lending her expert opinion on various news stories from a PR perspective. Bridgett is a proud mom of one son (Kamren) who is currently
getting his MBA in Criminal Justice at the University of North Texas. Bridgett’s philosophy in life is to be intentionally happy every day because Peace is Priceless!