As Lesley Chambless’ dining room table was covered with sheets of letterheads, envelopes and pens on the morning of Tuesday, June 14, a group of gals settled down to personalize letters announcing plans for the Trinity River Mission fundraiser 17th Annual Mission Olé on Thursday, October 27.
As pens hit paper, a question was raised, “So, why did you all get involved with Trinity River Mission?” All fingers point to interior designer Ann Schooler in a killer white blouse that Ann fessed up came from Tootsie’s.
Without losing a beat, Anne continued applying her “Johan Hancock” to the letters and told how seeing the kids’ education program had been the driving force.
Cindy Turner laughed that it was a partnership of Ann and her husband Matt: “Ann makes the call to come to dinner and Matt makes the close.”
After last year’s “Dia de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead)” theme success, the decision was made by Co-Chairs Lesley, Ann and Margaret Spellings to keep it going and bring on board Gail Fischer as the honorary chair.
But the group decided to move the evening of auction items, loads of food, unique face painting and Trinity River Mission students dancing in period costumes with Day of the Dead painted faces. Speaking of made-up-faces, Anne pulled out her tablet revealing that invitations were being created that could double as masks just in case guests didn’t have time to have one designed or to buy one.
This year it will be held at Chicken Scratch. The reason? In addition to its being a great venue, the co-chairs felt its West Dallas location brought greater support and awareness of the TRM neighborhood. A volunteer-based community learning center, TRM is “dedicated to supporting the development of education success in the children, youth and families of West Dallas.”
If you haven’t gotten your letter in the snail mailbox, gee. Call 214.744.6774 and they’ll make it happen pronto!