The Nature Conservancy in Texas announces $298,000 was raised at their annual fundraiser, the Dallas Spring Party, heldon Friday, April 15, 2016 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.     

Honorary chairs Jane and Pat Bolin were joined by 286 guests for A Brush with Nature: Alex Beard’s Adventures in Art, Travel and Conservation, which began with a reception at 6:00 p.m. outside on the Ginsburg Plaza. As musician “Red” performed, partygoers mingled over cocktails, including the evening’s signature cocktail, Coastal Breeze, and hors d’oeuvres while getting a sneak peek at artist Alex Beard’s original art work on display, which was up for bidding for one lucky winner.  A reception highpoint were the wild birds brought by Window to the Wild co-founders Lindsey and Simon McNeny including a great horned owl, screech owl, kestrel and Harris’s hawk.

At the appointed time, attendees progressed into Rosine Hall for the seated dinner.  Dining tables were dressed with linens in the evening’s signature color, green, with centerpieces of paint cans filled with hydrangeas and accented with paint brushes in honor of the evening’s theme, “A Brush with Nature.”  Guests began a salad course of shingled red and gold heirloom tomatoes, organic field greens, and asparagus spears with champagne vinaigrette, while viewing a short video highlighting the Conservancy’s work.  Laura Huffman, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Texas, followed with a brief welcome, a thank you to all in attendance and an update on conservation in Texas.

Dinner resumed with an entrée of tenderloin with wild mushroom demi-glace, sautéed tiger shrimp with lemon beurre blanc, whipped potatoes, roasted root vegetables and warm rolls, followed by a dessert trio of mini molten chocolate cake with bing cherry, mini crème brulee ginger cookie and a lemon bar. 

As guests finished their dessert, Ms. Huffman returned to introduce guest speaker, Alex Beard, painter and illustrator, adventurer, best-selling author, world traveler, filmmaker and animal conservationist.  Beard captivated the audience with stories of his upbringing in New York and experiences with his uncle Peter Beard, the acclaimed wildlife photographer and conservationist, and his mother, Patricia Beard, an accomplished author and magazine editor, who both encouraged his interest in art and nature.

Utilizing photographs from his early travels as a youth in Africa to his travels today throughout the world, Beard shared his long-standing interest in conservation which inspired not only his work, but also his current efforts in conservation through his own foundation, The Watering Hole Foundation, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving and protecting endangered wildlife and the environments in which they live. 

From his love of nature, Beard began drawing and painting at an early age, telling the crowd about creating his first drawing meant for a frame at the age of seven. He has that work framed in his studio today.  As the creator of a unique method of painting called “abstract naturalism,” Beard spoke about his work as a combination of abstract expressionism and naturalist environmental art.  As an example of his style, Beard’s Moonrise Over the Roosting Tree, which he had created exclusively for the evening, was displayed at the front of the room.  Beard encouraged all to bid, with proceeds benefiting The Nature Conservancy in Texas and The Watering Hole Foundation. 

Beard then answered questions from the audience, which included inquiries about his art work and the inspiration behind each piece, his recent travels and interest in conservation, and the current conservation efforts of his foundation. 

Following remarks, patrons returned to the Ginsburg Plaza for post-dinner cocktails featuring music by “Red.”  As guests departed, they received cookies frosted with the Dallas Spring Party logo.

Dallas Spring Party attendees included, honorary chairs Jane and Pat Bolin; Laura Huffman, state director, The Nature Conservancy in Texas; Lyda Hill; Emily and David Corrigan; Peggy Dear; Suzanne and David Holl; State Senator Don Huffines and Mary Catherine Huffines; Trisha Wilson and Jeb Terry; Jeanne and Berry Cox; Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Ann and Matt Schooler; and Vera and Bob Thornton.

Community Partners of Dallas (CPD) celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Chick Lit Luncheon presented by Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel, on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Hilton Anatole.  With record-breaking attendance of over 1100 attendees, the annual fundraiser, benefiting CPD, featured keynote speaker Tim Gunn, best selling author andEmmy-winning co-host and mentor of Lifetime’s Project Runway.

The celebration began on the evening of Thursday, March 31 at a reception hosted by Forty Five Ten and honorary chair Brian Bolke.  Over 100 Chick Lit Luncheon sponsors and supporters, including Kristi Hoyl, Chick Lit Luncheon chair, mingled over cocktails and light bites as they shopped Forty Five Ten’s beautiful collections, with 10% of sales benefiting CPD.   Luncheon keynote speaker Tim Gunn quietly arrived and immediately immersed himself in the crowd, greeting patrons and posing for photos.  

Paige McDaniel, president and CEO of Community Partners of Dallas, gathered the crowd in the boutique’s “T Room” to thank the evening’s host and to recognize the many sponsors in attendance, before welcoming Mr. Gunn to Dallas.  She then shared a client story with the crowd, highlighting the importance of all the funds raised by the Chick Lit Luncheon.

On Friday, April 1, attendees arrived for a pre-luncheon reception in the Anatole’s Atrium, while select sponsors were treated to a special VIP reception with Mr. Gunn in a nearby ballroom.  At the appointed time, luncheon-goers moved upstairs to the Imperial Ballroom for the much-anticipated luncheon. 

As guests took their seats, chairman Kristi Hoyl welcomed everyone and thanked them for their support of the tenth annual Chick Lit Luncheon.  Reverend Elizabeth Moseley followed with the invocation, before luncheon-goers enjoyed a delicious lunch of Mediterranean chicken salad featuring sliced grilled breast of chicken, red and yellow grape tomatoes, orzo with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, currants and capers and lemon Dijon vinaigrette with fresh basil.

CPD president and CEO, Paige McDaniel then took the stage as the attendees enjoyed their dessert of  a “Happy Birthday” strawberry cupcake with berry gelee and fresh berries.  Ms. McDaniel added her thanks to all for ten years of the Chick Lit Luncheon and for their ongoing support as CPD celebrates 27 years of helping hundreds of thousands of abused and neglected children. 

She credited the luncheon’s success to the hard work of chair Kristi Hoyl, honorary chair Brian Bolke and underwriting co-chairs Cindy Stager and Jill Tananbaum, as well as presenting sponsors, Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel.  She then recognized from the stage this year’s Partners for Children Award recipient, long-time volunteer and supporter Jill C. Bee, for her ongoing commitment to the philanthropic needs of our community and years of service meeting the needs of abused and neglected children, followed by Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel with a special tenth anniversary Champions of Hope Award for their unwavering commitment to Community Partners of Dallas and the children they serve. 

McDaniel then shared with Tim Gunn that everyone had been anxiously awaiting his arrival, but that had been worried about “what to wear?”

“So, I know we’re all wondering the same thing right now; who are you wearing today?  As soon as we announced that Tim Gunn was our speaker, every friend of mine said ‘gosh, what are we going to wear?’,” remarked McDaniel.  “I bet salespeople all over Dallas have heard many dressing room lamentations as the ladies who lunch were shopping to impress Tim.   Tim, I hope you felt our pain all the way to New York City as we agonized over our outfits!”

McDaniel then went on to wittily share her own fashion transformations over the years, showing slides of her personal style in middle school, before circling back around to the importance of the services provided by CPD and how through the organization’s many programs, including providing brand new clothes, it too transforms the lives of the children it serves every day.

Ms. McDaniel then asked the audience to consider making an additional contribution to help fund items such as cribs, car seats, coats and emergency duffle bags filled with clothing, hygiene products, a toy and more. 

Honorary chair Brian Bolke followed to introduce the featured luncheon speaker, Tim Gunn.  Gunn is widely known for his role as co-host and mentor on Lifetime’s Project Runway, but he is also the Honorary Chair of Fashion Design  at Parsons and author of four best-selling books:  Tim Gunn:  A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style; Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making it Work; Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible:  The Fascinating History of Everything in Your Closet and Tim Gunn:  The Natty Professor:  A Master Class on Mentoring, Motivating and Making it Work!

As Gunn took the stage, he addressed McDaniel and told her, “Paige, you’re the most beautiful person in the room,” to a roar of applause as all in attendance agreed.  He then sat down with local author, lifestyle expert and one of Dallas’ style icons Kimberly Schlegel Whitman for a much-anticipated conversation. 

Answering questions from how he became an author, his famous catchphrase “Make it work!,” and his TEACH  (Truth-telling, Empathy, Asking, Cheerleading and Hoping for the best) philosophy, to sharing stories from prior seasons of Project Runway and other personal recollections, Gunn completely enraptured the crowd with his thoughtful, funny and sometimes irreverent responses.  Kristi Hoyl then returned to the stage to ask questions on behalf of the audience.  A favorite was his response to the question “what current trend has to go?” in which he answered quickly, “leggings worn as pants,” and went on to share his philosophy on this popular trend, “which is probably not going away soon.”  

As the celebration came to a close, guests received a favor bag with the latest issues of PaperCity and The Park Cities News, Mary Kay eye makeup remover and black mascara, smart phone power bank, CPD nail file, Forty Five Ten beauty book and ERDOS at Home catalog and cosmetic bag courtesy of Paper Affair with the option for complimentary monogramming.

For more information, visit communitypartnersdallas.org.

About Tim Gunn

Tim Gunn is the Emmy-winning co-host and mentor for Lifetime’s Project Runway, where he also serves as one of the show’s producers. He and co-host Heidi Klum won the 2013 Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program, nabbing the award after his first nomination. In addition to his television prowess, he served as Fashion Dean at Fifth & Pacific, where he was responsible for attracting, retaining and developing the creative talent within the portfolio of brands.

Prior to his office at Fifth & Pacific, he was the Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne Inc. Gunn served as a member of the administration and faculty at Parsons School of Design for 29 years and has a rich and deep history with the institution. In August 2000, Gunn was appointed Chair of the Department of Fashion Design at Parsons with the charge of retooling and invigorating the curriculum for the 21st century. Under his direction, the department was repositioned as the indisputable leader in fashion design education in America and as one of only a handful of leading programs in the world. Upon leaving Parsons, Gunn received the title of Honorary Chair of Fashion Design at the school. In addition, Liz Claiborne, Inc. endowed a scholarship in his name.

Gunn has lectured widely on fashion and lifestyle design and, especially, Parsons’ profound role in putting America on the global design map. His interviews have appeared in a wide range of publications, from Newsweek and The New York Times to Entertainment Weekly and Martha Stewart Living, as well as Women’s Wear Daily, Fortune and Fast Company. In 2009 he delivered the keynote at Harvard Business School’s Conference on Luxury Retail in 2009. He has also covered the red carpet at the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards and Golden Globes for The Today Show and Entertainment Tonight, and he co-hosted the Official Oscar Red Carpet Pre-Show in 2009 and 2011 for ABC. Tim is also the executive producer and star of Project Runway: Under the Gunn, the newest of the Runway franchise on Lifetime.

Gunn is also a New York Times best-selling author penning Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style, Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work, and Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible: The Fascinating History of Everything in Your Closet. Tim released his fourth book, Tim Gunn: The Natty Professor: A Master Class on Mentoring, Motivating, and Making It Work! in Spring 2015.

He has written articles for Elle, Seventeen, People, US Weekly and Fortune and has a monthly feature in People Style Watch and Marie Claire. The now 61 year-old was named one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” in 2006. Finally, Marvel comics made him a superhero in their 2009 revival of Models, Inc. with a special feature, “Loaded Gunn,” in which he dons the Iron Man armor to fight crimes against fashion.

About Community Partners of Dallas

Since 1989, Community Partners of Dallas has ensured safety and restored dignity and hope to abused and neglected children by providing crucial resources and support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services.  Community Partners of Dallas provides items such as winter coats, diapers and formula, holiday gifts, school uniforms, personal hygiene products, food and more,  to send the abused children in our community the message that someone does care.  Please visit www.communitypartnersdallas.org for more information.

The Board of Trustees and Maxwell L. Anderson, The Eugene McDermott Director, are pleased to formally acknowledge Edith O’Donnell, longtime patron of arts and education, for her multiyear $9 million gift made in November 2013. 

Mrs. O’Donnell’s commitment expands access to art and education to all audiences by ensuring free general admission and enabling the Museum to publish its entire collection online.

This multimillion dollar gift is the latest in more than 60 years of unwavering support that began when the Dallas philanthropist became a volunteer in 1952.  Her volunteer leadership, focused support and financial contributions, along with those of her husband and the O’Donnell Foundation, have been ongoing for 62 years, with particular emphasis on audience growth, education and technology.

“I am delighted to publicly thank Edith O’Donnell for the exceptionally generous $9 million gift, and, perhaps more importantly, for over six decades of support of the DMA,” said Anderson.  “Her innovative philanthropy has enabled us to serve as a leading educational resource for more than 60 years.  She recognizes the importance of making our museum accessible to everyone, from childhood through adulthood.  The $9 million contribution removes all barriers to accessing the Museum’s resources by guaranteeing free admission and allowing us to publish our entire collection online—with exceptional images and deep content.  It’s a game changer.  Her lifelong dedication to expanding access to arts education has changed Dallas’s cultural landscape.”

O’Donnell’s $9 million donation has enabled the DMA to become one of world’s most accessible and open museums both on-site and online.  In 2013, the DMA returned to a policy of free general admission.  In fiscal year 2014, it welcomed more than 668,000 visitors, a 37% increase over its 10-year average, the largest in its history.  In addition, the free general admission policy has contributed to record attendance in the Museum’s interactive learning space, the Center for Creative Connections, and the monthly “Late Night” education program.

The digitization of the Museum’s permanent collection is creating one of the most sophisticated online art collections in the world.  It will provide access to the DMA’s entire collection and lead the field in the quality of information available for use by students, teachers and scholars.  The first phase of this initiative launched in August 2014, and the project will be completed by 2016.

Prior to the launch, only 7,000 works of art were published online with images or descriptions.  Of those, approximately 3,000 were illustrated with images.  Today, the Museum’s entire collection of over 22,000 objects is available to the public via DMA.org, and nearly 11,000 of those objects are illustrated with digital images.  Access to high-quality images and accurate data about each object will significantly enhance research and learning about the DMA’s collection in a way that has not been possible until now.

Mrs. O’Donnell volunteered as a DMA docent for 10 years; has served as a member of the DMA Education Committee for 17 years (and acted as Chair in 1992); has served as a DMA trustee since 1989; and participated on a number of other Museum committees from the late 1970s through the present.

This spring, the DMA will host the 17th annual Young Masters exhibition, which features select works created by Advanced Placement® Art History, Music Theory and Studio Art students participating in the O’Donnell Foundation’s AP Fine Arts Incentive Program.   Mrs. O’Donnell created this program in 1994 to support high school students’ interest and success in rigorous college-level arts courses.  In the 21-year history of the program, more than 16,000 arts and music students have benefited from the O’Donnell Foundation’s AP Fine Arts programs.

In May, Edith O’Donnell made a $17 million gift to the University of Texas at Dallas to establish the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History.  In October, the Institute of Art History and the Dallas Museum of Art announced a partnership to create the first PhD degree–granting institute in the U.S. hosted by a major art museum. This latest act of benefaction is a remarkable demonstration of Mrs. O’Donnell’s lifetime of strategic philanthropy in support of her firm belief and dedication to arts education for life.

About the Dallas Museum of Art

Established in 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is among the 10 largest art museums in the country and is distinguished by its commitment to research, innovation and public engagement. At the heart of the Museum and its programs is its global collection, which encompasses more than 22,000 works and spans 5,000 years of history, representing a full range of world cultures.  Located in the nation’s largest arts district, the Museum welcomes on the average over 650,000 visitors annually and acts as a catalyst for community creativity, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds with a diverse spectrum of programming, from exhibitions and lectures to concerts, literary events, and dramatic and dance presentations. In January 2013, the DMA returned to a free general admission policy and launched DMA Friends, the first free museum membership program in the country, which currently has over 80,000 members.  For more information, visit DMA.org.

The Dallas Museum of Art is supported, in part, by the generosity of DMA Partners and donors, the citizens of Dallas through the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Co-chairs Valerie Adams, Cata Cooper and Ann West welcomed more than 150 parents and friends of St. John’s Episcopal School to the recent Zero to Sixty Raffle kick-off, “Bubbles and Brews,” at the home of Ann and Ken West. 

Partygoers mingled outside while enjoying champagne, beer and a delicious dinner donated by Olivella’s restaurant. The special evening celebrated the school’s 60th anniversary, in addition to this year’s signature Parents Association fundraiser, the Zero to Sixty Raffle.

Tickets for the third annual Raffle are on sale now through April 26 with a grand prize of a $10,000 Visa gift card. In addition to the grand prize, other prizes will be awarded including a second place prize of $2,500 of NorthPark Gold and a third place prize of $1,000 of NorthPark Gold. NorthPark Gold may be redeemed at all participating retailers, restaurants, spas and theatres in NorthParkCenter, one of America’s premier shopping centers. 

Raffle proceeds will be used for student financial assistance, classroom technology, professional development for our teachers, and student enrichment opportunities.

Zero to Sixty Raffle tickets are $100 each or six for $500, and can be purchased by visiting www.stjohnsschool.org/raffle. Winning tickets will be drawn at a 60th celebration at The LOT restaurant on April 26, 2014; winners need not be present to win.

About St. John’s Episcopal School

St. John’s Episcopal School is a pre-k through eighth grade co-educational school in East Dallas. Created as an outreach of St. John’s Episcopal Church in 1953, St. John’s is the oldest Episcopal school in Dallas and remains committed to the five tenets of an Episcopal education:

• Academic excellence
• Corporate worship (Episcopal/Christian chapel)
• Religious studies based on basic biblical content
• Meaningful and integrated community service and service learning projects
• An inclusive community where the dignity of every human being is respected