Wilkinson Center announced its 2022 Can Do! Award recipients at a recent kick-off coffee held at the home of Nancy Cain Marcus.  In addition to the 2022 awardees, Nelda Cain Pickens will serve as luncheon chair with Margot Perot as honorary chair.  

The 2022 Can Do! Luncheon, which will be held Monday, April 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Dallas Country Club and will also serve as the official launch of Wilkinson Center’s 40^th anniversary. The event will include a reception, a seated luncheon and recognition of the 2022 recipients of the Can Do! Award, given to those who exemplify entrepreneurship in philanthropy and the “can do” spirit that makes great things happen in our community. 

Chaired by Nelda Cain Pickens with honorary chair Margot Perot, the 10^thannual Can Do! Luncheon will include a reception, a seated luncheon and recognition of the 2022 recipients of the Can Do! Award.

This year’s award recipients include:

• Can Do! Individual Award – Liza Collins and Rachel Stephensare being recognized for honoring the legacy of the late Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler by continuing her long-standing food drive benefiting Wilkinson Center and three other Dallas nonprofits.  These entrepreneurial women collect food at their children's schools, their homes and in partnership with the Girl Scouts, their sorority and social circles. The impact of their dedication to alleviating hunger is twofold, not only are hungry bellies filled with nutritious food, but their children have come to understand what it means to care for their neighbors.  

• Can Do! Organization Award - Texas Mutual Insurance. The generous team at Texas Mutual Insurance truly embodies the philanthropic spirit. Like many non-profits, Wilkinson Center was faced with a critical dilemma when the COVID-19 pandemic hit - how would we continue to serve our clients without physical classes and services? Texas Mutual, already a generous supporter, swooped in to assist with a tremendous gift that allowed the Wilkinson Center team to advance our technology and allow both clients and staff to move forward with classes and services, safely from our homes. Texas Mutual Insurance continues to support the work of Wilkinson Center and many other area non-profits working hard to serve our community.  

• Can Do! Client Award - Ana Ramirez. Ana enrolled in Wilkinson Center’s high school equivalency class in 2019. She was introduced to financial coaching and worked with a case manager on her financial goals. Ana worked as a housekeeper at a hospital, but wanted a more advanced career in healthcare. She began classes in our Patient Care Technician program at Arcadia Park Annex in 2020 while studying for the last section of her GED test. Through the Working Families Success program, Ana was provided additional income support such as food assistance, holiday assistance for her children, and scrubs for class. Ana completed the Patient Care Technician program in addition to earning her GED. Ana’s next step was to prepare for her citizenship test, and she is proud to say she is now a US citizen, currently studying to take the National Patient Care Technician exam.  

• Kids Can Too! Award  - The Guthrie Kids - Felix, Joseph & Judith. Joseph, Felix and Judith are not your average kiddos. Their mother Emily, like many parents, was met with both excitement and pause when her first child's school aged birthday came about. She wondered if the birthday celebration at school presented an opportunity to make a difference. She asked Joseph if he would like to invite his friends to bring shelf-stable food instead of gifts to his party so they could share with other kids that do not have enough food. To her delight he said "yes!” The tradition began nearly 10 years ago and has continued with the two younger Gutherie kids, Felix and Judith.

“Since 1982 Wilkinson Center has provided hope through food and emergency services, workforce training and free adult education for thousands of Dallas County residents. It is through the ongoing support of our community that we have been able to serve our clients for 40 years,” remarked Anne Reeder, Executive Director of Wilkinson Center. “We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s award recipients for the impact they have made, and continue to make, in our community.”

Past recipients of the individual Can Do! Awards include Anne and Terry Conner, Larry and Kathy Helm, Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, John and Ellen McStay, Carolyn and David Miller, Regina Montoya, Carlin Morris and Dr. Joyce Pickering.

Sponsorships begin at $5,000 and tables begin at $3,000.  Individual patron tickets are $500 each and include an invitation to the Sponsor Party at the home of Nancy Cain Marcus, and luncheon tickets are $300 each.  For information contact the Wilkinson Center, 214.821.6380 or visit https://www.thewilkinsoncenter.org/event/can-do-luncheon-2022/.

About Wilkinson Center: 

Wilkinson Center is just that – a center. A starting point for pathways that lead to better things. Since 1982, we’ve helped transform the lives of Dallas families in crisis by setting them on their paths. Whether it’s a path that leads to employment. Or a path that puts food on the table every day. We’re here to give them the brightest green light they’ve ever seen, signaling the beginning of their journey to self-sufficiency.

Our formula for success is case management, a compassionate staff, dedicated volunteers and effective, individualized programming that provides food, adult education and jobs. We believe that everyone deserves a little hope and encouragement, especially in times of adversity. And we can all get from where we are to where we want to be much sooner if we move Forward, together.

For more information, visit wilkinsoncenter.org.

VolunteerNow® announces Charles Knight and Peter Jacobson as co-chairs of its15^th annual Hearts of Texas Luncheon, with the Hoglund family as honorary chairs.

Both Knight and Jacobson currently serve on VolunteerNow’s board of directors. Knight has also been a long-time community volunteer and is vice president of technology solutions company, Pariveda Solutions. Jacobson is product manager at the innovative educational technology company Istations, and is also the grandson of the late Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler, one of VolunterNow’s first supporters. The Hoglund family was last year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for their spirit of volunteerism and support of Dallas’ non-profit organizations for more than 30 years.

Planned for Thursday, April 28, 2022 at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Dallas, the fundraiser will also celebrate the organization’s 50^thanniversary. In addition to a seated lunch, the event will include recognition of five organizations, to be announced at a later date, that have contributed to VolunteerNow’s 50 years of success.

“Fifty years ago, four Dallas leaders saw the need for a centralized place to connect volunteers with Dallas nonprofit agencies. Now one of the largest volunteer centers in the country, VolunteerNow is celebrating five decades of transforming lives through volunteers,” said Tammy Richards, VolunteerNow CEO. “Helen Boothman, prominent civic volunteer; Mitch Jericho, co-founder of Big Thought; Jan Sanders, educator and philanthropist; and Annette Strauss, 55^thmayor of Dallas and philanthropist, laid the foundation for this community cornerstone that has grown into a national technology nonprofit organization. We look forward to commemorating this significant milestone with the community.”

VOLY.org™, powered by VolunteerNow and first implemented in 2013, has allowed VolunteerNow to increase its volunteer ranks from 10,000 to 310,000 in seven years. By consistently updating and adapting the technology platform, VolunteerNow plans to mobilize one million volunteers and serve 100 school districts across the country in the next five years. 

Table and sponsorship information will be announced in early 2022. 

About VolunteerNow®
With 50 years of experience, VolunteerNow transforms lives through volunteerism and community engagement. In a typical year, VolunteerNow mobilizes more than 310,000 volunteers who give 1.6 million hours to 3,500 local nonprofits, driving a $46 million economic impact. VOLY.org, powered by VolunteerNow, is the 24/7 connection between volunteers and local service opportunities. As a national thought leader in volunteerism and one of the largest volunteer centers in the country, VolunteerNow provides a wide range of programs and servicesthat build capacity for school districts, nonprofits, and municipalities. www.volnow.org

The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) League announces the 22^nd annual Art in Bloom on Monday, March 7, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Dallas Museum of Art.  Proceeds support the Dallas Museum of Art’s exhibition and education programs, as well as the DMA League’s Floral Endowment Fund.

Chaired by Sila Grogan and co-chair Pat McDonough, with honorary chair Peggy Sewell, the 2022 theme, Art of the Jewel, is inspired by the first Art in Bloom event and Margaret McDermott’s love of fresh flowers. Believing that a beautifully arranged floral arrangement was like a piece of art, she founded the Floral Design Committee and motivated the members to interpret the colors and feel that they observed in the Museum’s paintings through flowers.

Art of the Jewel will further enhance this concept by highlighting nature’s gems and minerals with featured speaker Paula Crevoshay, an internationally acclaimed jewelry designer renowned for her botanical collection of bespoke jewelry.  

Crevoshay has been recognized as one of the most influential jewelry designers of our time and is considered by many knowledgeable critics to be among the very best of all time. The jewelry press has dubbed her “The Queen of Color” for her painterly approach to gemstone use and students in fashion and design schools write reports on her and her work.  Crevoshay’s work is currently on exhibition at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science through March 2022.

Art in Bloom will begin with a reception, followed by a presentation by Crevoshay in the Museum’s Horchow Auditorium.  At the appointed time, attendees will return to the Hamon Atrium for a seated luncheon. 

An exciting addition to the day will be a presentation of the inaugural members of the “Circle of Gems.”  The circle will honor the efforts of individuals whose contributions for this year’s Art in Bloom have bolstered the League’s ability to support the Dallas Museum of Art.  Those recognized will serve as models during the luncheon, showcasing the fabulous jewelry of Paula Crevoshay.  (For more information regarding the Circle of Gems, visit our website.) Guests will then enjoy dessert while bidding on one-of-kind luxury live auction packages, followed by an announcement of raffle prize winners. 

Sponsorships range from $5,000 - $20,000 and are available now.  For more information about Art in Bloom 2022: Art of the Jewel, contact Edwina Gonzalez at the DMA’s Office of Special Events at 214.922.1800, or visit www.dmaartinbloom.org.

About the Dallas Museum of Art League

Founded in 1938, the League is celebrating 83 years of contributions through volunteer work for the Museum, art acquisitions and the support of key endowment funds.  

The League has participated in the acquisition of approximately 100 works of art for the Museum.  In addition, the Dallas Museum of Art League has supported special exhibitions, education, exhibition endowments, Late Nights programs, and it contributes to the Endowment Fund.

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. With a free general admission policy and community outreach efforts, the DMA 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 25,000 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 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. The DMA is an Open Access institution, allowing all works believed to be in the public domain to be freely available for downloading, sharing, repurposing, and remixing without restriction. For more information, visit?DMA.org. 

The Dallas Museum of Art is supported, in part, by the generosity of DMA Members and donors, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the citizens of Dallas through the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture. 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, with Lisa Loy Laughlin, 2022 St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show chair, proudly announce Dallas-native and renowned fashion designer Lela Rose as the 2022 ICON Award recipient. The award will be presented at the February 7, 2022 luncheon at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

The ICON Award is given to a beloved individual from the Dallas-Fort Worth community who is considered an ICON through philanthropic efforts, in addition to their contributions to fashion.  Past recipients include Jan Strimple and Patsy Donosky.

“Lela Rose, one of Dallas’ true treasures, has been a featured designer in the St. Valentine’s Day fashion show for many years in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,” said Laughlin, luncheon chair. “We are so thrilled to honor her philanthropic commitment to our community and her hometown.  As fellow icon Jan Strimple said so perfectly, ‘Lela is a beloved daughter of our great city’ and we could not agree more!”

Rose, who was born and raised in Dallas and now based in the New York City, is an American fashion designer widely regarded for her elegant aesthetic and fresh point of view, continues to redefine a sophisticated, yet modern lifestyle with her expanded, designer ready-to-wear-offering. Formally trained as a painter and sculptor prior to pursuing fashion design, Rose employs a brilliant use of color, rich fabrications, sculptural silhouettes and handcrafted details. Her artistic background is evident in her work and adds unexpected dimension and breadth to each season’s collection.

The spirit of the brand and company is driven by the entrepreneurial designer and her passion for style, design and décor, which infuse all that emanates from the studio. Rose, now a published author, released her first book, Prêt-à-Party, with Rizzoli in 2015, which focused on her love of style and entertaining while creating a new platform for future opportunities and products.

As a principled, female business owner, wife and mother, Rose is committed to supporting and giving back to the community. Since the inception of the company over 20 years ago, Lela Rose has proactively supported a proven network of artisans, sewers, pattern-makers, manufacturers, and small business owners in New York City, maintaining all possible apparel production locally of her ready-to-wear and dress collections.

The Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Showwill be held on February 7, 2022 and will include a champagne reception, recognition of all 2022 award recipients and a runway fashion show produced by Jan Strimple and featuring fashions by Highland Park Village – all followed by a seated luncheon. In addition to spring fashions by Lela Rose, additional featured Highland Park Village designers include, Alice & Olivia, Carolina Herrera, Etro, Hadleigh’s, MARKET, St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange and Veronica Beard.

Sponsorships and tables for the Saint Valentines Day Luncheon and Fashion Showare available nowat https://events.lls.org/pages/ntx/vday2022.  For additional information, contact Jamie.Thom@lls.org.

Founded by Janet Evans and Rusty Duvall, the Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Showhas raised more than $13.4 million in its 38 years, funding research in Texas, including UT Southwestern Medical Center.   Since its inception some patient survival rates have doubled and countless advances have been made with new safer treatments for patients.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. 

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Family Compass announces Toni McReynoldsand Erin Pope as co-chairs for its North Star Luncheon presented by North Dallas Bank & Trust, an annual fundraiser to raise awareness on how to stop child abuse before it occurs, on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Dallas Country Club. 

“We are so thrilled to announce this amazing duo as the co-chairs for the fourth annual North Star Luncheon,“ said Ona Foster, CEO, Family Compass. “Both bring their incredible leadership, as well as a true passion for our mission to build healthy families and a strong North Texas community by preventing child abuse and neglect.  We look forward to welcoming the community in person for this important fundraiser that stops child abuse and neglect from happening and creates permanent, sustainable change and hope for a new and better future for children and parents in our community.”

Reynolds is executive vice president and director of finance for North Dallas Bank & Trust, in addition to serving as secretary on the Family Compass board of directors.  Pope is an active community volunteer and also serves as chief compliance and privacy officer at Golden Living.

The North Star Luncheon benefiting Family Compass, which coincides with April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month, will be held on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at Dallas Country Club, located at 4155 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas 75205. The luncheon will include a seated lunch, a featured speaker to be announced in January and recognition of the 2022 North Star Award recipient.  Sponsorships and tickets are available starting January 27, 2022at https://family-compass.org/events/. 

For more information regarding sponsorships, contact Chad Black, cblack@family-compass.org or 214.370.9810 x103.

About Family Compass

Family Compass is a non-profit agency that believes that every child has the fundamental right to a healthy family and environment, the opportunity to succeed in school and the capacity to experience life without violence. The mission of Family Compass is to build healthy families and a strong North Texas community by preventing child abuse and neglect.  This is accomplished through our two in-home mentoring programs and community based, educational programs for families that have elevated risk for child abuse.  These families often reside in the poorest communities throughout Dallas and Collin counties.  All of our programs are evidence-based, voluntary and free of charge.  Last year alone this organization kept 568 high-risk children out of the CPS system, which, at a cost of $830,000 per case of child abuse and neglect (according to the latest CDC research) resulted in a $472-million-dollar savings for our community. These children didn’t have to spend a single night on the floor of the CPS offices or enter the over-burdened foster-care system. For more information, visit family-compass.org.