Cindy Brinker Simmons was appointed to the Oversight Committee by Speaker Tom Craddick on March 14, 2008.  Ms. Simmons also serves as the Secretary for the executive committee of the Oversight Committee.  She works closely with CPRIT on communication strategy and is a strong advocate for childhood cancer research.  Ms. Simmons co-founded the public relations firm of Brinker, Jeffett & Associates which has now merged and is Levenson & Brinker Public Relations. Ms. Simmons serves as president of the award-winning, full-service strategic communications company.

In 1980 Ms. Simmons founded Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer, one of Dallas’s largest pediatric cancer organizations, in memory of her mother, the late great tennis champion Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly Brinker, who died of cancer in 1969 at the age of 34.  She is also the president of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest and most esteemed non-profit organizations furthering junior tennis development worldwide.

Devoted to philanthropic concerns, Ms. Simmons currently serves on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations including Dallas Theological Seminary and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She has also served on the boards of the Greater Dallas Metroplex Salvation Army, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Dallas Chapter), Children’s Medical Center Dallas, North Texas Food Bank, and Dallas Christian Leadership. She helped establish the Women’s Advisory Board of the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers.

Ms. Simmons is the author of the popular book, LITTLE MO’s LEGACY: A Mother’s Lessons, A Daughter’s Story. She enjoys a distinguished reputation as a motivational speaker.

Ms. Simmons has received numerous civic awards including the 2004 philanthropy award from the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center; the 2003 “Roaring Lambs” ministry award as a woman of great faith; the 2003 “SAVVY” award for community leadership; the Miss Dallas 2002 “Woman of Achievement” award; the 2001 “Dallas Mother of the Year” award; the 2000 “Loving Kids” award from Meeting Planners International; the 1996 “Volunteer Leadership” award from Children’s Medical Center Dallas; and the 1994 “Woman of the Year” award from Today’s Dallas Woman magazine.

Ms. Simmons’ husband, Bob Simmons, passed away from a very rare form of abdominal cancer in 2005.  She resides in Dallas with her son.