The Friends of Wilkinson Center announce The Spirit of Taos Online Auction, presented by American Airlines, available for bidding now through Friday, September 25, 2020.  

While this year’s Spirit of Taos fundraising event has been cancelled due to the current health crisis, the community is invited to continue to support Wilkinson Center by bidding on a curated offering of three exciting auction packages including:

• The Great Treasure Chest, sponsored by SHM Architects: Your treasure awaits with a cornucopia of gift cards from popular eateries and favorite stores including Bird Bakery, Chili’s, Dugg’s Burger, El Vecino, Flower Child, La Madeleine, Maggiano’s, Mesero, Oriental Trading, Target, The Juice Bar and Tiff’s Treats.

• Dreamscape:  The Great Staycation! Decorate your patio area with creative yard art from Yard Art Patio & Fireplace, and light things up with Landscape Lighting Supply.  Spend time planting seasonal flowers donated by Ruibals Plants of Texas and learn how to create your dream yard from Master Gardner Dave Forehand at the Dallas Arboretum.If you need something fixed, call ABC Home Services offering a wide range of home services.  For the kiddos, watch birds at home with a beautifully handcrafted birdhouse designed by Charles Myers and plan a yard party with Pinky’s Personalized Yard Cards. When you are finally ready to travel, enjoy 100,000 American Airlines miles.

• Bonanza Extravaganza featuring a “little something for everyone” for the winning bidder.  Learn how to unleash your potential in a Master Class offered by Brave Leadership taught by TEDx speaker, author and leadership guru Kimberly Davis; and attend a virtual workshop with 9 of your friends and develop vision boards by Creative Oasis coach Jill Bryan.  To capture special family moments enjoy packages from Gittings Photography and Parkhill Fine Portraits.  Top it all off with travel using your 100,000 American Airlines miles.

• For those wishing to make a monetary donation to help Wilkinson Center continue to evolve to meet the challenges of poverty while keeping the same commitment to dignity and self-respect Gifts of Love in any amount are important and greatly appreciated.

The Spirit of Taos Online Auction would not be possible without the following sponsors: Presenting Sponsor- American Airlines; Kick-Off Sponsor – Sewell; The Great Treasure Chest Sponsor – SHM Architects; Wall of Fame Champion Sponsor – Cohen Electric; and WFAA-TV’s Dale Hansen.

Click hereto register to bid; or for more information contact Andrea Jones, andrea_jones@wilkinsoncenter.org.

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. Our formula for success is case management, a compassionate staff, dedicated volunteers and effective, individualized programming that provides food, adult education and jobs. And we believe 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.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) announces Melinda Knowles as chair and Louise and Guy Griffeth as honorary chairs of the 2021 Saint Valentine’s Day Fashion Show & Luncheon. The annual fundraiser will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

“Plans are already underway for the 2021 St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon, which I am thrilled to announce will include amazing live auction items and inspired fashions from Highland Park Village,” remarked Knowles, luncheon chair.  “I am so grateful to the Griffeths for their leadership as our honorary chairs, as well as our hard-working event committee for their dedication to ensuring the event’s success.  The luncheon raises important funds to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission to find cures for cancer and help improve the quality of life of patients and their families, something very near and dear to my heart having lost my own mother to cancer.”

“Guy and I are so honored to be a part of the 2021 luncheon and to continue to support the work of LLS,” said Louise Griffeth, honorary co-chair.   “Through our participation, we hope to raise awareness of the importance of research and the great strides being made by the organization for all cancers, including multiple myeloma, which Guy has been battling for 5 years. We hope the community will join us!"

Event highlights will include a champagne reception, a raffle, recognition of 2021 award recipients, a live auction, and a runway fashion show produced by Jan Strimple and featuring fashions by Highland Park Village – all followed by a seated luncheon.  The inimitable Clarice Tinsley, Fox4 anchor, will return as mistress of ceremonies.

The 2021 luncheon committee includes: advisors Nancy Gopez and Maggie Kipp; underwriting chairs Roz Colombo, Angie Kadesky, Dee Dee Lee, Lisa Shirley and Shelle Sills; “Fund the Fight” chair Jennifer LeLash; kickoff and patron party chairs Mason Custard, Pilar Henry, Marcia King and Sara Stroud; table sales chairs Dianne La Roe and Alison Pearl; live auction chairs Jennifer Davis Long and Jen O’Neal; raffle chairs Zoe Hart and Jennifer Lake; children’s chair Nikki Webb; and design chair Katherine Coker.

Founded by Janet Evans and Rusty Duvall, the Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Showhas raised more than $13 million in its 37 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.

The Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show will be held on February 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, located at 2301 Flora Street in the Dallas Arts District.  Sponsorships start at $5,000, tables are $3,000 and tickets are $300 each, and will be available August 1, 2020 at www.SaintValentinesDayLuncheon.org.  For additional information, contact Jamie.Thom@lls.org.

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.

The 14th annual Change is Good is going virtual this year! Please join Community Partners of Dallas and honorary family Barry and Sandy Moore with children Ryan and Kennedy, on Sunday, August 2 at 3:00 p.m. for this year’s re-imagined fundraiser where kids collect change to change the lives of abused and neglected kids.

"The spirit of kids helping kids at Change is Good is truly one of our favorite, and most inspiring, times of the year at CPD,” remarked Paige McDaniel, president and CEO of Community Partners of Dallas. “We know that these are unusual times, but we also know that COVID-19 hasn't slowed the hearts of the amazing kids and families who support Dallas County's abused and neglected children in this special way.  We are so thrilled we can still carry forward the spirit of this fun day and provide a way for kids to make a positive impact for others."

Participating families will pre-purchase a box that includes all the supplies for everyone’s favorite Change is Good activities, which will then be done at home during a fun, afternoon Zoom event.  Box pickup will be held from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. on August 2 at a Park Cities location to be disclosed upon registration. Two levels of boxes are available: the $100 boxes will include all supplies needed for kids to participate in the Zoom activities, as well as the official event shirt for registered kids; or there will be a limited number of $250 VIP Boxes, which will include all of the activity supplies, the official event shirt for registered kids and extra summer fun treats for both kiddos and parents.  Both boxes include supplies and t-shirts for two children; additional supplies and shirts can be added for $20/child to accommodate larger families.   Families are encouraged to decorate their cars for a box pick-up parade, bringing the spirit of “kids helping kids” at social distance.  

The virtual event will start at 3 p.m. with a welcome by McDaniel with vice president of development Joanna Clarke, as well as an announcement of this year’s t-shirt artwork winners.  An afternoon of activities will follow including the Rad Hatter hat making, balloon twist lessons, paper airplane designing, craft time and more.

As in past years, participating children and teens will begin collecting change prior to the event, although this year, all change collection will be done virtually by setting up a personalized page to send to friends, neighbors, grandparents and more for support.  Each $10 raised online will get change collectors a prize drawing ticket, with additional prize drawing tickets also available for purchase on the CPD website.  The Weems Family, this year’s Virtual Change Match sponsor, has made it possible for those who raise the first $5,000 through their online pages to receive double prize drawing tickets.  Prizes include a Rollplay VW Beetle; Apple AirPod Pros; Nintendo Switch Lite (gray); American Girl package featuring Joss, the 2020 Girl of the Year, with an array of accessories; and a Backyard Fun package including a Ninja Warrior obstacle course, Spikeball competition set, bumper balls, inflatable sunshine sprinkler and a rocket ship play tent.

To set up an online fundraising page, visit https://cpdtx.networkforgood.com/projects/104104-change-is-good-2020for more information.  Awards given to the top “change-raisers” will be: Most Change Raised: a$500 VISA gift card sponsored by Sewell; 2^nd Place:  a $200 Toy Maven gift card and 3^rd Place:a $100 gift card to Toy Maven.

The Zoom event will end with the announcement of the 2020 top three online fundraisers and the drawings for the prize winners.    

Change is Good 2020 would not be possible without the generosity of the following sponsors: Katy and Kyle Miller Family Foundation; Barry and Sandy Moore; Sewell; Thanksgiving Tower; The Weems Family; Kerrie and David Johnson; Shawn Cleveland/BakerHostetler; and Marybeth and Kevin Conlon—Luke and Quinn.

For more information about Change is Good, visit communitypartnersdallas.org.

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.orgfor more information.

Please join Wilkinson Center for “Throwback Thursday Food Drive” on Thursday, June 18, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., at its Food Pantry, located at 3402 N. Buckner Boulevard, Suite 302 in East Dallas.

The community is invited to donate all non-perishable food items, especially kid’s foods, such as cereal, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, Spaghettio’s, macaroni and cheese, etc.  Donation drop-offs will be contact-free with volunteers and staff unloading directly from cars parked in designated spots.

The Wilkinson Center Food Pantry is experiencing an unprecedented demand due to the current health crisis.  In the first two weeks of May, the pantry served an additional 24% to 47% of households, children, individuals and seniors.

“We are asking the Dallas community to donate these much-needed items on Thursday, June 18,” remarked Anne Reeder, executive director, Wilkinson Center. “Summer is always a time of need for the clients we serve, but our families face even greater challenges this year during the COVID-19 health crisis. We need the community’s support to ensure we collect these essential items for our clients.” 

For information about supporting the Wilkinson Center Food Pantry, contact Laura Ingrim at Laura_ingrim@wilkinsoncenter.org or 972-284-0305 or visit https://www.thewilkinsoncenter.org/get-involved/donate/.

About Wilkinson Center

Since 1982, Wilkinson Center has provided hope for a brighter future for thousands of Dallas County families in crisis. Through the combination of FOOD+EDUCATION+JOBS, families are stabilized and become contributing members of our community.

Wilkinson Center’s mission is to transform the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect. We fulfill that mission by helping families face critical life challenges including food insecurity, lack of education, economic instability, unemployment and underemployment. Our formula for success is case management, compassionate staff, dedicated volunteers and effective individualized programming. For more information, thewilkinsoncenter.org.

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) announces Lisa and Marvin Singleton as chairs of the 6^thAnnual HARVEST.

The annual fundraiser benefiting the North Texas Food Bank will be held on Friday, September 20, 2019, from 7 – 10 p.m., at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s A Tasteful Place gardens and pavilion. Attendees will raise much-needed funds to help provide the 92 million meals that are needed annually to fill the need for food assistance in North Texas – all while enjoying delicious food donated and prepared by some of Dallas’ top chefs and restaurants. DJ Lucy Wrubel will return for another year to entertain and delight the crowd with her signature sounds. 

Sponsors at the Silver level and up will enjoy early entry to begin sampling the more than 20 chef stations, in addition to access to a VIP area featuring specialty cocktails, exclusive chef stations and more.  

“We are thrilled to have Lisa and Marvin Singleton serving as chairs for the sixth annual Harvest,”said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. “This event is critical to our efforts to raise awareness and funds in support of our mission to provide healthy food for hungry North Texans – especially children and seniors. To date Harvest has helped us raise more than $1 million, providing more than 3 million meals for our neighbors in need. With Lisa and Marvin at the helm and the enchanting backdrop of the Arboretum, I know we will move the needle even further for those that are counting on us.”

“It’s a staggering statistic that 1 out of every 4 children in our community lives in a food insecure household,” said Lisa Singleton. “While the NTFB meets food assistance needs across many audiences, this vulnerable population is served through three signature NTFB programs that help identify those in need and provide access to the meals necessary to help them succeed and thrive. Together, these three programs – Food 4 Kids, Kids Café and the School Pantry – serve over 550,000 chronically hungry children annually and distribute another 500,000 pounds of food through school pantries. Marvin and I believe no child should go hungry, and it is our goal to raise more than $300,000 through Harvest this year to help NTFB in their mission of closing the hunger gap.” 

Harvest sponsorships begin at $500 and individuals tickets are $200 each and are available now, https://www.501auctions.com/ntfb.  Or for more information, contact Sarah Elias,214.431.4683 or Sarah.Elias@ntfb.org. 

ABOUT THE NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK (NTFB)

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit hunger-relief organization, serving 13 counties. The Food Bank’s administrative headquarters is located in the Dallas Farmers Market, and its new distribution and volunteer center – the Perot Family Campus – opened in Collin County in September 2018. Each day, NTFB provides access to more than 190,000 meals for hungry children, seniors, and families through a network of more than 1,000 programs and more than 200 Partner Agencies. In fiscal year 2018, NTFB provided access to 72 million nutritious meals. While the NTFB is making steady progress toward closing the hunger gap, much work remains to be done to reach the organization's 10- year goal of providing 92 million nutritious meals annually by 2025. To donate, volunteer or advocate, visit www.ntfb.org