The weather play nicely for fundraising on Wednesday, October 21, and the nonprofits were taking full advantage of it all over town.
Scripps Society
Mary McDermott Cook’s Dump Top has become the hot showplace for nonprofits to wine, fundraise and gaze at the Dallas skyline complete with the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, the Continental Avenue Pedestrian Bridge and the soon-to-be-completed Margaret McDermott Bridge.
Why just days before, around 1,100 people toured the multi-level, Bill Booziotis-designed home as part of the Oak Cliff Home Tour.
Scripps Society table
Scripps Society table
But it had never been the scene of a seated supper for more than a handful of Mary’s pals. That was until the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute’s Scripps Society. This elite group, including Spring Wen, Woo-ping Ge, Bob Chereck, Alan and Randy Engstrom, Christina and Chris Durovich and Marnie and Kern Wildenthal, that believes and supports the Children’s programs to the tune of $1M or more were the first to have place cards at dining table in the outdoor terraces, in the living room and the in the dining room, as well as the enclosed terraces.
Bob Chereck, Christina and Chris Durovich and Mary McDermott Cook
Randy and Alan Engstrom
Spring Wen and Woo-ping Ge
The treetops views alone were spectacular, as was the Cassandra meal that included a first course (baby greens salad, butternut squash ribbons, pomegranate arils, shaved manchego cheese, pumpkin seeds and sage vinaigrette), a second course (pan-roasted loup de mer, petit zucchini, fava bean-artichoke salsa, shaved carrots and com foam) and dessert (raspberry lemon mousse tower, tuile cookie raspberry compote and exotic fruit coulis).
But such privileges come with restrictions. As guests arrived, the ladies were asked to check in their purses. Parting with her handbag, one guests inquired, “What if I need my lipstick?” The Children’s staff was Johnny-on-the-spot assuring her not to worry. They would have her purse delivered pronto.
Junior League Past Leadership Reception
Over at Debbie and Nickey Oates’ handsome home, meantime, about 65 guests gathered for the Junior League of Dallas’ Past Presidents and Past Ball Chairs Reception. Attendees including Christie Carter, Pam Perella, Lydia Novakov, Isabell Novakov, and Paige Nash enjoyed the Wolfgang Puck canapés and caught up before the traditional presidents’ and chairs’ photos were taken. At one point they all gathered in the living room to hear the latest Junior League news, including a report about the upcoming annual Ball.
“Tonight is all about celebrating you,” said Meredith Mosley, the league’s current president. She talked about one of her favorite expressions—“I learned it in the league!”—and told how important it was for all members to attend league events, such as the upcoming Milestones Luncheon on November 12. Soon Mosley gave way to Ashley Allen, who’s chairing the league’s James Bond-themed, 54th annual “To Dallas With Love” Ball at the Hilton Anatole on February 20.
“It reminds me, looking around here tonight, that we have big shoes to fill,” Ashley began. So far, she said, the league has raised more than $700,000 for the annual ball, but “there’s a lot of work left to do” to reach the fundraising goal. “As I told the development committee,” Ashley quipped, “it’s like losing that last five pounds!” She then introduced Debbie Oates, who’s serving as the event’s honorary chair. “Dallas is a lot more competitive now,” Debbie advised the guests. “We need to be on top of our games. Not only do we support the [beneficiary agencies financially,] but we send them our volunteers. No one else does that!”
KIPPster Kick Off
The night was beyond perfection. So, the guests for the “Are You Smarter Than A KIPPster?” kick-off party handed over their cars at Lexington and Lakes. Then they strolled across the bridge over the Turtle Creek Dam past the Teddy Bear statues to the Pumphouse to hear plans for the Thursday, April 28, fundraiserfor KIPP DFW at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
And, of course, The Starlight Singers (aka KIPP Destiny Elementary’s show choir) will return!
According to KIPPster Co-Chairs Barbie Cobb and Sarah Weinberg, the adult know-it-alls will include Texas State Representative Rafael Anchia, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas President/CEO Jennifer Sampson, Editor-in-Chief of Modern Luxury Dallas Kristie Ramirez. Byron Sanders will serve as emcee. And they reported that it will be a tad bit more interactive with the guest participation.
Barbie Cobb and Sarah Weinburg
Dawne Tribolet
Lael Brodsky
Jennifer and Tom Karol
The host committee so far includes Lydia and Bill Addy, Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Lindsay and George Billingsley, Lael and Peter Brodsky, Barbie and Steve Cobb, Macey and Steve Davis, Koshi and Arun Dhingra, Berkeley and Jason Downie, Kristine and Mike Dozier, Betsy and Richard Eiseman, Natalie and Rick Fielder, Rebecca and Barron Fletcher, Cassidy and Ben Hummel, Libby and David Hunt, Amy and Andrew Jent, Jennifer and Tom Karol, Jen and Kevin Lavelle, Fay and Brian Lidji, Michelle and Bill Lockhart, Janie and Cappy McGarr, Phyllis and Steve McKnight, Nicole Musselman, Sharon Lyle and Mark Mutschink, Susan and Steve O’Brien, Karen and Richard Pollock, Kate Porter, Stephanie and John Roberts, Catherine and Will Rose, Abigail and Andrew Sinwell, Dawne and Pat Tribolet, Carol and Ben Vig, Angela and Brian Walsh, Nicole and John Weeldreyer, Sarah and Russell Weinberg and Michelle and Peery Wood.
This event is one of the really, absolutely, truly fun events. It’s also the fundraiser that makes most adults realize they’re not quite as smart as they thought they were.
LaunchAbility Reveal
Over at the Brad Oldham studios off Ross Avenue, about 65 guests gathered to hear LaunchAbility announce the performer at its annual Special Evening With bash April 5 at the Meyerson Symphony Center. The answer, it was soon disclosed: Martin Short, the Canadian comedian who’s starred in movies (“Three Amigos”) and on TV’s “Saturday Night Live.”
Launchability CEO Kathryn Parsons said that the event would be chaired by Hilda and Mike Galvin—they were hand-picked by last year’s chairs Regina Montoya and Paul Coggins, Kathryn revealed—and that guests would “fill the house,” which seats 1,800. Tickets will go on sale in January.
The selection of Short was sort of a natural, Kathryn added, since comic Dana Carvey was such a smash hit at the LaunchAbility fundraiser last year.
The reveal party also gave attendees an excuse to quaff Dynasty Spirits’ Nue Vodka and visit the studio and retail shop of Oldham, who creates the LaunchAbility awards. Brad and his wife Christy Coltrin have been in the 10,000-square-foot space for about a year.