02-04-2025
2025 Central Texas ‘Remarkable Woman' Winner Revealed
WACO, TX (FOX 44) — The founder and executive director of a Waco nonprofit is our Central Texas Remarkable Woman of the Year!
Inez Russell started Friends For Life, a nonprofit that helps older and disabled adults live their best lives independently and safely. She started the charity in September of 1989. Since then, Friends For Life has expanded to 82 Central Texas counties.
On April 1, FOX 44 showed you the exact moment Inez learned she had won the 2025 Central Texas Remarkable Woman of the Year award — as well as her reaction, and several close friends' reactions, as well as the FOX 44 family's reaction. We also caught up with Inez and Christine Smith, the woman who nominated Inez, for a conversation about being the winner of the 2025 contest.
'I'm just really stunned. And now that has had a few moments to sink in,' Inez said. 'Well, I'm a really very grateful. I don't feel like I deserve it. I think everything that's happened, Friends for Life was God. And I've been blessed to get to follow Him and do what I feel He's called me to do.'Christine Smith told FOX 44 she moved across the nation to volunteer for Inez and Friends for Life, and jumped at the chance to nominate Inez to be the 2025 Central Texas Remarkable Woman of the Year.
'I am so grateful that I heard about it when I did that. I could finish it in such a short amount of time, because it just poured out,' Christine said. 'I knew that I was feeling drawn to move to Waco, and I already had a history with elderly, with people with challenges and coming alongside them. And I met a lady who was bringing in coffee and kolaches. Turned out she was the keynote speaker, as well. I reached over to my husband and I said, 'Now I know the reason why I'm moving to Waco so that I get to volunteer with her organization.' She was she was the reason. Friends for Life was the reason.'
Part of winning the Central Texas Remarkable Woman of the Year is a $1,000 donation from the Nexstar Charitable Foundation for the nonprofit of her choice. She's also eligible for the National Woman of the Year, and will travel to Hollywood as well – where she'll be among other Nexstar station's Remarkable Women winners.
The National Woman of the Year will be revealed on April 14.
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