George Marshall Worthington

Creative Houston was founded by George Marshall Worthington because he saw that Houston's leaders do not recognize or capitalize on the creative economy--the power of creative professionals to build businesses, pay taxes, employ citizens, and attract new enterprises to the city at the same time they ornament the city and improve the quality of leisure time. Most importantly, he saw Houston falling behind as other cities such as New York, London and even Minneapolis leverage their creative assets to compete in the global economy.

For Houston to prosper in the future, the arts can no longer be regarded as some parallel experience its citizens have along the way (i.e., solely entertainment, diversion, leisure, hobby) but rather a powerful source of insight, transformation, possibility and optimism that is directly relevant to how they lead their organizations and this city, said George in his Creative Houston business plan.

George developed this insight during a long career in public service and fund raising, He grew up in Houston and graduated from Lamar High School in River Oaks, but headed to New York City as soon as he finished his BA from Trinity University (San Antonio) with a double major in biology and world literature.

In New York City he obtained a master's degree from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and began 20 years of working in public health, moving from Planned Parenthood of NYC to St. Clare's, a major charity hospital, and eventually the huge Queens Health Network of the NYC hospital system. Along the way he worked on many health-related projects for the United Nations and raised funds for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). In 1991 he obtained a Charles H. Revson fellowship for civic leadership which helped him return to Columbia University to obtain a Master of Business Administration degree. In the late 1990's George traveled and helped social-service organizations around the world, including St. Joseph's Hospital in Uganda and the Ministry of Health in Egypt. He also did projects with the National Audubon Society, Parliamentarians for Global Action, and Pathfinder International.

In 1999 George returned to Houston and began fund-raising for cultural institutions, first at Stages Repertory Theatre, then at the Houston Symphony where he helped restore the Symphony to stability after the flooding of Tropical Storm Allison and other problems.

Now George works as a consultant in both management and fund-raising to a very diverse range of organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southeast Texas, Avenue Community Development Corporation, and Dance Salad. To raise awareness of issues regarding sustainability and environmental protection, he founded the Houston chapter of Net Impact, which champions social and environmental responsibility among business professionals. He also devotes himself to the creation of the Friends of the World Foundation for Medical Research and Prevention, which, among other things, funds AIDS clinics in the most difficult-to-serve parts of Africa.

George's resume

You may email George at worthworldtx [at] sprintmail [dot] com or call (713) 523-5491.