Mavis Leno Shares Tips On Being An Activist At 26th Annual Dallas Women’s Foundation Luncheon

Oct 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Dr. Catalina Garcia

Remember last Monday when Dallas looked more like London with the fog? The Dallas Women’s Foundation didn’t let a little thing like heavy mist slow them down for their 26th Annual Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole. But it came close. While many flew in that morning from the coasts, honoree Dodee Crockett was stuck in Austin encouraging the fog to lift and her plane to take off. Luckily, honoree Dr. Catalina E. Garcia was present to receive the “Philanthropist Award.”

Roslyn Dawson Thompson and Dodee Crockett

When Dodee didn’t show and didn’t show, the show had to go on without her. Luncheon Co-chairs Dawna Richter and Shawna Wilson, Foundation Board of Directors Chair Diana Dutton and DWF President/CEO Rosalyn Dawson Thompson regretfully reported the situation and invited all to start lunching. Just as the gals picked up their forks, word went through the Chantilly Ballroom that Dodee was hustling down the main aisle.

Whew!

Corporate types Chase’s Elaine Agather and AT&T’s Holly Reed thanked and congratulated DWF for their years of impacting women’s lives and pointed out that Dodee had arrived. Elaine dropped a tasty tidbit for the crowd — over 50% of the work force at Chase is comprised of women.

Mavis Leno and Maria Ebrahimji

Then it was on with the main act — a conversation between activist Mavis Leno and Maria Ebrahimji, director and executive editorial producer for network booking at CNN Worldwide.  

If Mavis’ last name sounds a bit familiar, it’s because her husband, Jay, has a night job of entertaining America on the Tonight Show. But she’s no botoxed doll in a low-cut outfit. She’s also not a celeb royal. Quite frankly, she blended into the crowd easily and within minutes she made everyone feel like they were at a huge coffee klatch. But she’s also a savvy lady.

First she “told” her husband they were going to give $100,000 to start a foundation to spread the word about the apartheid in Afghanistan. Alas, it wasn’t as easy as Mrs. Jay Leno thought it would be. Despite her husband’s publicists’ best efforts, the mainstream media was non-plussed about the subject. Then People picked up the story of women who were denied the basics of American women like education, human rights, communication, etc. Wham! Those “major news group” like the New York Times suddenly perked up and scampered to Mavis to learn about the subject. One of the first questions they asked was, “Why do you think this has gotten so little coverage in the main news?” Some of the reporters told her that their publishers told them the American people are:

  • Not interested in human rights issues.
  • Really not interested in human rights issues in Islamic countries.
  • Absolutely not interested in human rights issues involving women in Islamic countries.

When asked about the effect of 9/11 on her effort, she shuddered at the thought of the possibilities. “I was in tears because I was terrified that our government would simply assume that Afghanistan was responsible. . . that they would not realize that the Taliban took control of governing. Very many Afghan men were angry at what had happened to the women.” She was scared that the Afghan people who had been victimized by the Taliban would be blamed for the event.  According to Mavis, the Bush administration realized that there were innocent people in the country. “My nightmare didn’t happen.”

She pointed out that one source said that women are more at danger in Afghanistan than in any other country in the world. According to Mavis it is because more women die during pregnancy or in childbirth there than in any other country in the world.

Mavis said the major reasons for Middle East countries loosening their control on women are:

  1. They don’t want to look like “yokels” to the rest of the world with women living in such backward situations.
  2. Money. When a woman has rights and works, she brings more money into the household and becomes valuable to the community.

In summing up her experience in activism, Mavis said, “One of the biggest things I’ve learned in doing this is that we live in a democracy and democracy works. And It works because no matter how rich or how important or how connected a politician is, if you don’t vote for him, he’s not getting in again. . . or she, if the case may be. And if you have an issue that you’re angry about, this is the first task you should take: Start sending letters, emails, petitions to the part of the government that could address this problem. In our case it was the State Department. And you should start trying to harass your friends to do the same thing. After a while, the politician you’re trying to impact is going to say to himself or herself, ‘Whoa, I’d better look into this. I’d better do something about this because everybody is really mad.’”

Filed Under: Events, Fund raiser, Luncheon, Results, Women Tagged With: ,

From “First Night” To Diane Al-Habid, The Arts District Rocks And Rolls Along

Oct 31, 2011 by 2 Comments

Let no one tell you that the Arts District is a ghost town. Perfect example was Friday, November 21, with the foodie trucks of every flavor lined up on Flora Street like Highland Park Belles. Okay, so maybe the fumes puffing from the trucks’ exhaust compromised the yumminess of the offerings, but take one bite and you’re sold.

Dallas Opera’s “First Night”

Just east of the gourmet truckers was the Dallas Opera’s “First Night” gala at the Winspear Opera House with a red carpet tra-la-la. There’s definitely a energy pulsating at the DO nowadays. It’s not the blue-haired-and-multi-millionaire’s baby only. Thanks to General Director Kevin Cerny and his staff, they’re expanding their efforts and reaching a younger audience who prefers a more casual environment. But more about that later.

Marisa Huckin and Rhonda Sargent Chambers

Gala Chair Kaki Hopkins was determined to make this red carpet splashier that the norm, so she recruited two experts in the world of splash — Marisa Huckin and Rhonda Sargent Chambers. They put their coiffed heads together and came up with a novel game plan — have a local designer create a costume representing the diva of each of the 2011-2012 operas and have them modeled by a socialite.

No small challenge, but they rose to the occasion with

  • Geoffrey Henning and D'Andra Simmons

    “Tragic Obsessions” with designer Geoffrey Henning and model D’Andra Simmons

  • Liz Kimple and Khanh Nguyen

    “Lucia di Lammermoor” with designer Khanh Nguyen and model Liz Kimple

  • Tanya Foster

    “Tristan & Isolde” with designer Abi Ferrin and model Tanya Foster

  • Shannon Skokos

    “La traviata” with designer Michael Faircloth and model Shannon Skokos

  • “The Magic Flute” with designer Nicolas Villalba  and model Linda Ivy

And what is a red carpet anywhere without fans? So, Rhonda arranged to have area students on the sidelines taking photos and applauding as all the black-tie guests arrived. The frosting on the red carpet was having WFAA-CH.8′s Ron Corning on the carpet doing interviews with key guests. No, you didn’t see it in your home media room. But anyone in Sammons Park could watch it on a bigger-than-a-food-truck screen. (Remember the screen. It’s part of the “more about that later” segment.)

Linda Ivy

While all the ladies magnificently presented their designer gowns, the showstopper of the night was Linda Ivy. As Ron described the look, “It’s a little Technicolor dream coat” as Linda turned again and again to the delight of the band of photographers. Linda’s husband Steve Ivy was watching from the sidelines. Steve chuckled, “I just made the cover of D CEO and yet I’ll be known as the man who escorted Linda Ivy to the opera.”

Emily Wyly and Niven Morgan

Other action on the red carpet included: Don Winspear showing off his one-of-a-kind boots designed by his wife Ellen; Emily Wyly glowed in a gold gown on the arm of Niven Morgan; Margaret McDermottin her environmentally correct vehicle (a wheelchair) had to wheel backwards

Mina Chang

down the steps of the red carpet entry; Mina Chang held her own on the carpet wearing one of a Nha Khank; as one fan got a bit winded from clapping and found herself sprawled on the ground, another started showing wear and tear and headed into

Colin Duchin

the Winspear for relief; D’Andra’s fiancée, Colin Duchin, looked like a model for GQ as he waited for his girl to complete her runway stroll.

Oh, you were wondering about “that more about that later” issue. While the swells were gathering in the Winspear and taking their places in the hall, families with children, single young people in shorts and elderly couples were seated in Sammons Park watching and listening to the opera’s simulcast for free and made possible with AT&T Performing Arts Center. It was a beautiful evening to love and learn about an art form that has been passed down for centuries and endures.

Sightings: Diana Al-Hadid

Jeremy Strick, Diane Al-Hadid, Jed Morse

Just a couple of blocks west, the Nasher was hosting a sneak peek at “Sightings: Diana Al-Hadid’s” Gradiva’s Fourth Wall in its Corner Gallery. Perfect timing on the part of the Nasher staff. On the eve of the Two x Two weekend, it provided out-of-towners with a place to “hang” and hang they did.

Nasher Director of External Affairs Jill Magnuson said they invited 100 of the out-of-town Two X Two “gallerists” and artists because they had a “night off” between Thursday’s First Look and Saturday’s gala. It gave them something to do and the visitors took advantage of the invitation.

Naime Haine and Kathryn Andrews

Naïme Haïne in from Paris was comparing notes with Los Angeles artist Kathryn Andrewson the terrace. . . Inside

Phil Grauer, Michael Williams and Jackie Stewart

Jackie Stewart was checking in with New Yorker Phil Grauer, who has a gallery called Canada, and NYC artist Michael Williams, who hadn’t been in Dallas in 10 years, when “my car broke down here.”

Jon Lott

After Diana Al-Hadid checked other parts of the gallery with New York architect Jon Lott, she got together with Marianne Boesky, whose New York gallery represents her, and Serra Pradham in front of her dramatic sculpture that she had been working on just minutes before the doors opened.

Gradiva's Fourth Wall

One person passing by the window and trying to see what all the hubbub was about commented, “It looks like a convention of ghosts.” His companion muttered, “Reminds me of white chocolate covered pretzels.”

Oh, well, everyone sees art differently.

Filed Under: Arts, Events, Music, Opera, Visual art Tagged With: , ,

Dogs And Humans Celebrate Howl-O-Ween At Dallas Animal Services

Oct 29, 2011 by 2 Comments

Just back from the Howl-O-Ween contest at the Dallas Animal Services. Yes, as you guessed, the dogs looked humiliated, while their human escorts proudly paraded them before the judges.

While pet boutiques were open in the parking lot and the contest was being held, the lobby of the DAS was jammed with folks taking advantage of the weekend special — $30 for any adoptable critter complete with spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchipping.

DAS Division Manager Jody Jones was not only thrilled about the turnout but also boosting the plan to make Dallas a no-kill city. That’s quite a task, but Jody said she likes a good challenge.

Here were some of the prize-winning costumed pets:

Filed Under: Animals, Events Tagged With:

Dallas, Get Shopping!

Oct 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The Partners Card

Sure, the Rangers may have lost the World Series, but Dallas’s favorite sport is underway — the legendary Partners Card shopping spree.

If you haven’t gotten your card, get it now!

You can shop at Dallas best retailers, benefit The Family Place and get amazing discounts until November 6. So, get shopping.

Filed Under: Announcement, Children, Community, Fund raiser, Shop, Women Tagged With: ,

A Passing: H. Ward Lay Jr.

Oct 29, 2011 by 7 Comments

H. Ward Lay Jr.

We regret to report that H. Ward Lay Jr. died Friday morning after a two-year battle with cancer. While many knew Ward as a member of the Lay family that has supported numerous causes and efforts in the area, Ward personally was responsible for stepping in to help others quietly and with no fanfare.

For instance, in 1990 he chaired the then-nationally televised Cotton Bowl Parade. At a point in the coverage when a high school marching band from a little town in the Midwest was to appear, the director cut to a commercial break. The musicians’ parents were not pleased at all and wanted to let their feelings known. After all the parade volunteers, parade participants and VIP’s left to attend the Cotton Bowl football game, Ward headed to his home and took call after call from the parents to let them vent long into the night. Despite the fact that he had nothing to do with the kids not being shown, he felt it was the right thing to do. Why didn’t he just give them the name and number of the network’s point person? According to Ward, it was a holiday and the parents didn’t need a run-around. They needed to talk to someone. He took on the task of being that someone.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 1, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 1928 Ross Avenue.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Culver Education Foundation, 1300 Academy Road, Culver, Indiana, 46511, or a charity of your choice.

Filed Under: A Passing, Philanthropy, We Regret Tagged With:

Center for BrainHealth 2011 Legacy Award Is Lovingly Presented To Dee Wyly

Oct 27, 2011 by 3 Comments

Dee Wyly and her daughters (Emily Wyly, Jennifer Lincoln, Dee and Martha Miller)

Earlier this month a “celebration of life” was held for Charles Wyly Jr. by his family for his friends. Last Thursday Dee Wyly was given a group hug by hundreds at the BrainHealth 2011 Legacy Award Dinner at Brook Hollow for the countless causes that she has supported through the years. Planned long ago, it turned out to be bittersweet as the extremely well-known and intimate friends of the entire family helped the Wyly family slowly adjust to life without their patriarch.

Dinner table decorations

But don’t for a second think that the evening was teary-eyed. Heavens, no. That’s not Dee’s style. It was one of twinkles in the eye (an ice-carved alligator longer than a six-foot table), beauty (Junior’s floral arrangements were simply breathtaking in the ballroom), thoughtfulness (fabulous favors from Niven Morgan) and benefiting a great cause — the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas.  But what else could you expect with Debbie Francis as the board chair and Gloria Martindale chairing the event.

Kay Hammond

And this was a crowd that knows their events. Need names? OK, how about Lana and Barry Andrews, Lydia and Dan Novakov, Margot and Ross Perot, Barbara and John Stuart, Ramona Jones, Mickey and Bill Lively, Lee Bailey, Kay (sporting a surgical boot) and Jim Hammond, Dr. Bobby Lyle with Lottye Brodsky, Dianne

Lana Andrews

Cash, Patsy Donosky, Jill and Dr. Bob Smith, Marilyn Augar, Billie Leigh Rippey, Shelle Sills, Lynn and Allan McBee, Aileen Pratt, Betsy and Richard Eiseman, Fay Briggs with

Mickey and Bill Lively

Ralph Gorman and her daughter Pebble McKenzie, Toni Brinker, Carole and Scott Murray, Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones, Anne and Larry Nixon, Carmaleta Whiteley and Kenneth Craighead and, of course, Dee’s Saturday lunch

Mayo Crum, Rob Aikey and Yvonne Crum

buddies (Yvonne and Mayo Crum, Carolyn Lupton, Jill and Tracy Rowlett, Terry Van Willson and Gregory Dunbar).

And Brook Hollow Executive Chef David Sokol‘s menu was equally stellar including a green salad with spicy cornmeal fried okra topped with Creole balsamic dressing, Cajun rubbed beef tenderloin served with dirty rice and apple wood bacon-wrapped asparagus, mini-biscuits and sourdough baguettes, praline soufflé and chicory and decaffeinated coffee.

Did you sense a Louisiana feel to the menu? Perhaps it was because the evening’s theme was “Best of the Bayou” with Louisiana-born Dee being the Belle of the Bayou.

University of Texas at Dallas President Dr. David Daniel welcomed the group and told them how Dee had made the Dee Wyly Distinguished Chair possible.

Dr. Sandra Chapman

Later Center for BrainHealth Founder/Chief Director/Dee Wyly Distinguished Chair Dr. Sandra Chapman listed the previous recipients of the Legacy Award —Dianne Cash, Debbie Francis, T. Boone Pickens and James Huffines.

But enough with the serious stuff. Sandi went on to say of Dee, “She’s as pretty in sweatpants as she is in a ball gown.”

Going on and lauding Dee for her courage, love, playfulness (being photographed on a motorcycle, dressed as a rock star, etc.), compassion, generosity, etc., Sandi got a chuckle from the 300 filling the ballroom when she reported that Dee says things like, “It’s a brain thing,” or, “It’s a no brainer.”

On a more serious note, Sandi told how the chair was to be the Dee and Charles Wyly Chair, but Charles said, “No, I want to honor Dee. When it comes to philanthropy, I take my cues from Dee.”

Then the dreaded moment came. Dee was to accept the award. It was dreaded because despite her being a driving force in so many aspects of charitable giving, she hates being on stage and in the limelight. But she handled it like a trouper, starting off by saying she was going to keep her remarks short and sweet like Cicero. And that she did.

With her children (Martha Miller, Jennifer Lincoln, Emily Wyly and Chip Wyly) and other family members seated just inches away, Dee admitted, “The last couple of months have been pretty hard, but thank you all for being there for me. I’m kind of out of words, and I’m not usually out of words.”

She added that Sandi Chapman and John Hart (the center’s medical science director) were the true BrainHealth awardees. Dee also thanked “my gang over here.”

Debbie Francis

In making the closing remarks, Debbie Francis told Dee, “I can’t tell you how your early support brought me to the Center. . . you and Charles gave us a great gift.”

Last Wednesday night it might have been a “brain thing,” but it was turned out to be a “love thing” for Dee Wyly.

Filed Under: Awards, Dinner, Events, Fund raiser, Health Tagged With: ,

Barbara Bush Foundation For Family Literacy And The Dallas Children’s Theater Team Up To Present Awards Today

Oct 27, 2011 by 2 Comments

Each year the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy holds an essay writing contest just before “The Celebration of Reading.*” This year BBFL joined up with the Dallas Children’s Theatre to host the announcement of the winners today. With an audience filled with students from West Dallas Community School, it was far more than sit still and listen to grown-ups drone on and on.

Instead Robyn Flatt and her DTC crew presented the stage adaptation of “Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Go, Very Bad Day.” Gee, haven’t we all had one or two of those?

Ah, but back to the essay-writing contest. After learning about former first lady Barbara Bush‘s love for reading, the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students read “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” and were challenged with a question from Mrs. Bush:

“Please write a letter to Alexander telling him about a bad day you have had recently. What did you learn from your bad day?”

Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy presentation

Mrs. Bush herself selected three winners, and her grandson George P. Bush and his gorgeous wife Amanda announced the winners and presented them with “The Barbara Bush Magic of Reading Award.” And, the winners were:

  • 3rd grade — Tama Flores
  • 4th grade — Ajalon Washington
  • 5th grade — Hailey Williams

As each winner was announced, the audience went wild. You would have thought it was the winning run for the Rangers in the World Series.

It was interesting to see the students’ reaction. They were so excited about their classmates winning, even though it meant that they didn’t.

So, Mrs. Bush, sorry you couldn’t make the presentation today. Not only did you inspire children with the importance of reading, you provided an opportunity for adult members at the ceremony to see children celebrating genuine happiness for their friends.

* If you haven’t gotten your tickets for the November 7th “A Celebration of Reading,” hit this link and order your tickets.

Filed Under: Awards, Children, Events, First Family, Literacy Tagged With: , ,

A Sale To Howl About This Saturday and Sunday

Oct 27, 2011 by 2 Comments

Sweet Cherry T

The cute pooch to the left is the MySweetCharity mascot. Her name is Sweet Cherry T.

Pretty darn cute. Looks like one of those designer breeds that cost as much as a couture blouse and has better pedigree that the British royals.

Wrong!

Cherry was found at the Dallas Animal Shelter when she was six months old.

Oh, but you’ve heard tales about “those pound dogs.” They have problems.

Wrong again! Gee, that’s not like you.

Despite being picked up on the streets of Dallas, Cherry was perfectly housebroken, elected Miss Congeniality her first day at MSC and has never had a sick day in her life.

There are lots of “Sweet Cherries” at the DAS just waiting for adoption and, quite honestly, the DAS would like to move them on to their forever homes. For this reason, the DAS is having a Howl-O-Ween special. This Saturday and Sunday all pet adoptions will be $30. No, you read that right. Not $300. . . $30.

And it gets better. Not only is this an amazing bargain, it includes vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchipping and more! 

Filed Under: Animals, Announcement, Events, FYI, Really!!!!!, Shop Tagged With: ,

Tomorrow’s “Steel Magnolia” Joanne King Herring Got “Heart-To-Heart” With The Thetas Today

Oct 26, 2011 by 2 Comments

Joanne King Herring

If you didn’t get a chance to hear Joanne King Herring today at the Heart-to-Heart luncheon benefiting CASA at Brook Hollow, you missed a Texas legend. Her life makes Forrest Gump look like a stay-at-home. Never taking herself too seriously, Joanne told of her many lives — Houston hostess, television host, driving force in Middle East politics and the main character of an award-winning movie.

Then while everyone else was eating lunch, she visited each table thanking them for having her.

Ah, but if you indeed did miss her today, you still have a chance Thursday when she is the featured speaker at the “Steel Magnolia” luncheon at Aldredge House.

Here are a couple of questions to ask her:

  • Who is more handsome Charlie Wilson or Tom Hanks?
  • Did Charlie Wilson ever get “serious” with her?
  • What did Sean Connery do to her during dinner?
  • What did she say to Prince Philip about her sleeping habits?

And if you can’t make it tomorrow, buy her just off the press book “Diplomacy and Diamonds.” It’s with a blonde hairs breadth of being on the best seller list.

BTW, the only thing guests didn’t believe about Joanne was her age — 82-years young.

Filed Under: Author, Celebrity, Events, Film, Fund raiser, History, Luncheon, Women Tagged With: ,

Tonight’s Event Planners Are Breathing A Sigh Of Relieft

Oct 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Game 6 of the World Series has been canceled due to inclement weather in St. Louis. So, no need for flatscreens at events tonight. 

Alas, tomorrow night is possibly going to be another story. TV’s may be in high demand.

Filed Under: Announcement, Cancellation, Really!!!!!, Sports, Texas Rangers, Weather Tagged With:

Collin County Humane Society Raises $100,000+ For 10,000-Square-Foot New Doghouse

Oct 26, 2011 by 1 Comment

Molly Peterson and Arthur E. Benjamin

Collin County Humane Society President Molly Peterson and her tireless volunteers have done simply remarkable things up in Collin County. Without a permanent facility, the Collin County Humane Society has saved hundreds and hundreds of dogs and placed them in loving homes.

Cheeseburger

MSC’s Queenie worked with them in placing a Great Pyrenees that a homeless man sold on the streets of Dallas for a cheeseburger. The pooch ended up on death row, but Molly and her bunch not only rescued the dog, they found him a forever home. He is now residing in a huge home with a Standard Poodle and an enormous backyard and loving-arms owner. He is no longer known as Cheeseburger.

Scotlund Haisley

Friday this bare-bones groups raised $100,000+ at their GIVE A DOG A HOME gala. It wasn’t just the walk-your-dog-in-the-afternoon types in attendance at the City Place event. Nope. Very special animal-loving guests included philanthropist Arthur E. Benjamin, Animal Rescue Corp founder Scotlund Haisley and Gus Hinojosa, the architect in charge of designing the new 10,000-square-foot adoption center due for completion in 2015.

Arthur, who puts his money where his heart is, helped achieve this monumental financial goal. However, that completion won’t take place with Arthur’s help alone. In planning your budgets, why not put some money aside for this project.

Photo provided by the Collin County Humane Society

 

Filed Under: Animals Tagged With: