The Nature Conservancy in Texas announces $250,000 was raised at Dallas Spring Party: Adventures on the Wild River, held on Friday, April 7, 2017.
Held at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, over 285 guests attended the fundraiser, which supports conservation initiatives through the state of Texas. The evening began with an outdoor reception on the Ginsburg Plaza. As musician Brannon Barrett performed, partygoers mingled over cocktails, including the signature cocktail, Canyon Sunrise, and hors d’oeuvres. Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. demonstrated the art of hand-tying flies as well as provided guests with fly-fishing instruction.
At the appointed time, attendees progressed into Rosine Hall for the seated dinner. Guests began a salad course of field greens with apples, blue cheese, walnuts and dried cherry balsamic vinaigrette. Laura Huffman, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Texas, followed with a brief welcome and a thank you to all in attendance, including statewide sponsor of events, Mary Kay Inc. and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Huffman gave an update on conservation in Texas, including the latest statistics on the state’s water conservation efforts, successes and challenges.
Dinner resumed with an entrée duet of baked salmon in phyllo with julienne carrots and salmon mousse and beef tenderloin with fried onions and green peppercorn sauce, served with loaded whipped potatoes, roasted squash, broccolini and globe tomatoes followed by a dessert trio of lemon bar, almond tuile and triple layer chocolate mousse.
As guests finished their dessert, Huffman returned to introduce guest speaker, Pete McBride.
As an award-winning National Geographic photographer, author, and documentary producer, McBride has traveled through 75 countries and roamed all seven continents, from the majestic peaks of Mount Everest to the natural wonders in his own backyard. After a decade traveling throughout the world, as a native Coloradan, he began focusing his camera on a subject closer to his home and heart, the Colorado River.
Sharing his own breath-taking photographs, he took the audience on a trip down the 1450-mile Colorado River, showcasing its beauty as well as the many conservation challenges it currently faces.
Following remarks, patrons returned to the Ginsburg Plaza for post-dinner cocktails. As guests departed, they received postcards featuring images taken by McBride, as well as a hand-tied fly from Tailwaters.
Dallas Spring Party attendees included, Laura Huffman, state director, The Nature Conservancy in Texas; Lyda Hill; Suzanne and David Holl; Cecilia and Garrett Boone, Eilzabeth Boeckman; Jane and Pat Bolin; Terry and Steve Casey; Mary and Bo Howard; Ann and Matt Schooler; Vera and Bob Thornton; Joyce and Les Coleman, Stan Graff, Suzanne and Stuart Guthrie, Lesa and John Oudt, Gayle Sands, The Honorable Jeanne Phillips, Terry and John Norris, Sharon and Kip Tindell, Charlotte and Dan Blanks, Rodger Sanders; and Laura and Simon Whiting.
For more information about The Nature Conservancy in Texas, visit www.nature.org/texas.
About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. We address the most pressing conservation threats at the largest scale. Thanks to the support of our more than 1 million members, we’ve built a tremendous record of success since our founding in 1951, including the protection of more than 119 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide.
Since 1964, The Nature Conservancy in Texas has been committed to protecting our state’s sweeping landscapes, from rugged coastline to winding rivers to rich longleaf pine forests. With an expansive network of scientists, staff and partners, The Nature Conservancy is on the front lines, protecting the lands, waters and coasts that we all depend on. Our ambitions are bold, and our commitment unwavering. By 2020, we seek to have an unprecedented 1 million acres in Texas in conservation. We will protect the freshwater systems that provide drinking water to 25 million Texans. And we will restore healthy fisheries, reefs and shorelines in critical locations in the Gulf of Mexico.