Barbara Van Postman is a businesswoman and dynamic philanthropist who champions the rights of children and animals and believes in everyone’s right to a good education. She is a fourth-generation Texan and was born in Houston. Her fund-raising days began back in high school, when, with her take-charge attitude, she lead the magazine and candy drives to benefit her school.

 

Barbara studied interior design at the University of Houston. Barbara's first business was The Arrangement specializing in interior design and high end floral design. When she decided to make a career change, Barbara joined the petroleum industry and worked as a landman, someone who focuses on mineral rights, including oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production, for the next 25 years.

 

Barbara has served on the boards of many organizations, including the BARC Foundation, the City of Houston’s animal shelter and adoption center, to which she was appointed as director by the mayor, and as both chairman and vice chairman of the University of St. Thomas Performing and Fine Arts Society, which provides deserving students with scholarships. She also served on the executive board of the Houston Fire Museum for over ten years. As well, Barbara served as Incarnate Word Academy Alumnae board president for two consecutive terms, on the executive board of University of Houston Moores School of Music, on the board of The Partnership for Baylor College of Medicine, on the board of the Alliance of Pan American Roundtables, and on the board of the Los Angeles Opera.

 

As a hands-on member of so many successful organizations, Barbara has chaired and cochaired a number of their special events, including The Houston Fire Museum’s Rescue Me Gala for four consecutive years; Medical Bridges’ One People, One World Gala for four consecutive years; the Celebrity PAWS Gala benefiting Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP); and the St. Thomas University Annual Performing Arts Society Fundraising Tea numerous times. In May 2019, Barbara had the pleasure of chairing the inaugural Changemaker Award Luncheon for the Next Step Academy honoring leading Houstonians who make a difference to the great City of Houston. Next Step Academy provides life-changing benefits that assist children with autism as well as their families. In May 2020, Barbara will chair the Tickled Pink Luncheon benefiting American Cancer Society breast cancer research.

 

The remarkable contributions Barbara has made to Houston have resulted in her being the recipient of many honors and awards by the Houston Opera patrons board, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) international committee, the HLSR wine committee, the HLSR chicken auction committee, the Houston Zoo Asante Society, the Houston Symphony League, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Opera Guild, MOMA New York, the American Hospital of Paris, and numerous other boards both nationally and internationally.

 

In 2015, Barbara was named an ABC13 Woman of Distinction. She has also been honored by Medical Bridges for her extensive volunteer work with them, honored by CAP for her dedication to animals for 25 years, and honored by the University of St. Thomas at the Association for Fundraising Professional’s Luncheon. In 2019, Barbara was selected as one of Houston’s 25 Most Beautiful by H Texas magazine.

 

Barbara’s love of her native city is evident in her generous and heartfelt service to it. She continues to give back tirelessly to the organizations she supports, believing it is her duty, but also receiving great joy from doing so.

 

It is for all the reasons mentioned above, and many more, that Barbara Van Postman has been named a Top 20 Inspiring Woman Impact Maker for 2020.