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Orietta Strickland, an employee with MBNA of Dallas since 1980, is currently a Senior Computer IO Operator.  Inspired by her co-workers at MBNA, Orietta joined “Meals on Wheels.”  Once a week, for five years, Orietta delivered meals, prepared by R.H.D. Hospital, to the homes of the elderly.  To commemorate a special occasion she would often include a balloon, a fruit basket or a stuffed animal.  Orietta experienced first hand their personal struggle to preserve their independence.  

In addition, Orietta volunteered as a Candy Striper, for one year, at the Scottish Rite Hospital.  Once a week, for two hours, Orietta read books to terminally ill children. She took classes to become a registered Clown named “Happy,” the children loved her antics and they looked forward to her weekly visits.  Orietta gained insight into a family’s hardship, but most importantly, she developed compassion for the children she encountered each week.          

Currently, Orietta is the Founder and Coordinator of the Sixth Annual Genesis Women’s Shelter 9-Ball Charity Tournament.  Orietta chose The Genesis Women’s Shelter, a non-profit organization in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, because of the shelter’s strong commitment to ending domestic violence. In addition, the shelter provides food, personal necessities and counseling to over 700 women and children annually.  

Orietta’s talent as a billiards player (she was crowned Hunter Classics Tour Champion in 1996) garnered her instant support from players, Corporate and individual sponsors and volunteers to participate in a fun way to help increase public awareness of domestic violence and at the same time promote billiards as a dynamic sport. Orietta created contracts for sponsorships, designed plaques for the players and scouted local talent for entertainment during the two-day event held each year at Hawley’s Billiards. Orietta encouraged magazine editors to donate space to write about the Genesis Women’s Shelter and a web-designer donated her time to create a website dedicated to the event.        
 
Orietta took on the task of organizing a charity event without prior leadership skills and in the five years since the tournament’s inception helped raise $35,000 dollars, funds needed for the operation of The Genesis Women’s Shelter, but most importantly, she was getting the message out that “domestic violence will not be tolerated.”