Chris Ponder has been chosen as the 2026 recipient of the Guardian Services Inc. (GSI) Colleen Colton Award, which recognizes those who make a big impact in supporting the community’s most vulnerable members. With his leadership and commitment, he’s played a key role in strengthening protections for vulnerable adults and families across the area.
The award is named for Colleen Colton, GSI’s founder and longtime executive director, who led the organization for 27 years and grew its services to assist adults of all ages facing abuse, neglect, or exploitation due to cognitive, developmental, or other disabilities.
GSI’s mission is to provide guardianship, support, and services for at-risk adults in Tarrant County. Since becoming independent in 1998, the organization has served adults of all ages, launching its Money Management program in 2000 to offer flexible alternatives to guardianship. In 2016, it established the Financial Exploitation Prevention Center to combat rising rates of fraud and financial abuse targeting older adults and people with disabilities.