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MySweetCharity Opportunity: Silver Supper 2020
According to Silver Supper 2020 Chair Patty Huffines,
Please join me, along with Honorary Chair Nancy Dedman, for Silver Supper 2020 benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art’s Decorative Arts program.
The event will be held on Friday, February 7, in the Museum’s Hamon Atrium, which will be transformed by Garden Gate Floral Designer Junior Villanueva. Guests in black-tie attire will enjoy a cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner, where displayed pieces of silver from the DMA’s renowned collection will be beautifully featured on each table. Each piece will be carefully selected under the guidance of The Margot B. Perot Senior Curator of Decorative Arts and Design Sarah Schleuning.
I am also thrilled to announce special guest David Clarke, one of Britain’s most highly creative silversmiths. His work is widely sought after both in the UK and internationally, and it is featured within a number of prominent museum collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; The National Museum of Northern Ireland, The National Museum, Oslo; and the Dallas Museum of Art. Silver Supper patrons will have first view of a specially commissioned work by David, made possible by donations of personal objects from members of this community as well as decorative arts and contemporary art enthusiasts.
Originally inspired by the DMA’s unmatched holdings of silver, the Silver Supper has raised more than $1 million for the Decorative Arts Acquisition Fund. Silver Supper 2020 will continue this celebration of the Museum’s exceptional international collection of decorative arts and design, and we hope the community will support this special evening.”
Tables for Silver Supper 2020 begin at $10,000, with individual tickets at $1,000; both are available now. For tickets, visit dma.org or e-mail [email protected] or 214.922.1800.
* Photo credit: Misael Rodriguez ** Photo credit: Charlotte Sexton
North Texas Giving Day Booster: Just Say YES
According to Just Say Yes donor and youth advocate Dick Blaylock,
For 10 years, my wife Barbie and I have actively supported Just Say YES – Youth Equipped to Succeed – on North Texas Giving Day. The concept of having one day dedicated to raising funds for nonprofits in our community is incredible, and something we have enjoyed participating in over the years. I am honored to share with you why we say “YES” to youth through this campaign, and hope it will inspire those who also share a heart for kids in our community.
The Need — Each year, public schools become more strained for time and resources, while under immense pressure to perform academically, making it challenging to incorporate any sort of programming into the school day. If a child’s academics and social-emotional needs are disconnected, more harm than good is done, and it can lead to the risk behaviors we see too often reported in the news, including: bullying/cyberbullying, drinking and alcohol abuse, depression and suicide, teen dating violence, etc.
Why Just Say Yes — Just Say YES fills the social-emotional learning gap by providing K-12th grade programming to schools in North Texas. Through high-impact assemblies and peer-to-peer mentoring programs, Just Say YES creates life-changing connections with students of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances in order to help them achieve better and brighter futures.
Whether it is a classroom of 30 students or a gymnasium of 1,000, Just Say YES speakers have an incredible gift of meeting students right where they are in life. The speakers share their unique personal stories of achieving success by overcoming adversity (e.g. drugs, abusive families, homelessness and poverty), and can cover any topic specific to a school’s needs.
What truly stands out among the rest is the Just Say YES Peer-to-Peer Mentoring program, which is currently implemented at six DFW area high schools. Each school year, the Just Say YES team invests social, emotional and leadership support to 42 students per campus so that each student receives over 130 hours of engaging instruction. The students in the program are identified by administrators as “at-risk youth” with little-to-no connection with their peers or positive adult influences. By the end of the school year, participating students transform into confident campus leaders, become goal driven, and develop strong character traits that equip them to make right choices in peer pressure situations.
To have resources like Just Say YES accessible to our schools, programs that effectively equips students to succeed both in the classroom and in life, are vital to the future of our community. Investing in today’s youth is one of the most important things we can do in preparing the next generation, and I ask that you please consider saying YES to youth this Giving Day. Any size donation helps to further the Just Say YES mission of empowering today’s youth into becoming tomorrow’s leaders.
* Graphic/photo provided by Just Say YES
In ten years, Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day has pumped more than $240 million into the North Texas community. In 2018, more than $48 million was raised through more than 157,000 gifts benefiting over 2,700 area nonprofits.
On Thursday, September 19, support Just Say YES by linking here and spreading the word. #NTxGivingDay
Children’s Butterfly Atrium Turned Into A Diamond In The Ruff For Little Players And Pooches
Despite Major League Baseball’s All-Star game being in the rear-view mirror, baseball was rockin’ and rollin’ on Thursday, August 1, at “Dog Park” (aka Children’s Medical Center’s Butterfly Atrium). And it literally was going to the dogs.
For the annual celebration by PetSmart Charities, Children’s munchkin patients along with Children’s therapy dogs rounded the bases for home runs.
PetSmart managers Andi Perkins from the Inwood store and Krystal Mocida from the Lakewood store were vets at the annual get-together. The event was a team effort with the therapy dogs being provided thanks to a PetSmart Charities grant and the theme and orchestration of the event being handled by Children’s Child Lifers. For more than 40 years, the Child Life Department says it has “worked alongside the medical staff to ensure a positive experience for our patients and families.”
Throughout the year PetSmart Charities Pet-Assisted Therapy Dog program at Children’s Medical Center helps deliver the comfort of home to patients’ hospital rooms, playrooms and the ambulatory clinic. The power of an animal to promote positive coping in an unfamiliar or even scary environment during challenging situations is amazing. The goal for Children’s Medical Center Foundation is to build a $5M endowment “to sustain the program in perpetuity.”
But on this day, it was strictly kids, fun and hot dogs.
Some like Miguel hit all the bases toting IV’s, and others like Bentley made the rounds being chauffeured in red wagons. At one point players threw balls at virtual batters on screen and compared notes with former Rangers David Hulse and Justin Ruggiano.
In the stands were stuffed dogs all ready to be adopted by the kids. In one corner of the room popcorn was being bagged and handed out non-stop.
It was the perfect opportunity to wear something other than traditional hospital attire. Matthew was dressed from head to toe in a dog robe… The hot-dog look was definitely in with both Brittany Herring and five-year-old Golden Doodle Badger, dressed in a hot-dog costume near the concession stand that provided ice cream and edible dogs. Everybody wanted a photo with a two-legged and a four-legged dog!
New to the PetSmart team was rookie Corkweenie (Chihuahau, Yorkie and Dachshund) Jake, who made a great showing as the smallest team player to the delight of brothers eight-year-old Juan and 12-year-old Aaron. Aussie Cookie proved to be a pushover for tummy rubs. Her coach Robynn Brinkley admitted that “she knows how to get attention and belly rubs and head pats.”
When six-year-old Golden Retriever Van wasn’t working out with David Hulse, he was in a chair at a table with his coach Amanda to score points with 10-year-old Jose.
After hitting all the bases of games and activities, the little players headed to a table commandeered by Child Lifers Jensen Anderson and Paige Goodman for their final take-home prize of the day.
As one event vet put it, “It’s summertime and the annual event provides a break for the patients, as well as the staff, to celebrate the dog days of summer.”
MySweetCharity Opportunity: 2019 Cattle Baron’s Ball
According to 2019 Cattle Baron’s Ball Chairmen Wendy Messmann and Lisa Haddow Shirley,
The Cattle Baron’s Ball relies on the spirit and generosity of the Metroplex to fund the fight against cancer. Since 1974, we’ve raised more than $81 million for cancer research, the majority of which is conducted in North Texas. True to Texas’ history of rising to the challenge, we’ve become the world’s largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
This year, we have been given an incredible opportunity to raise much-needed funds for pediatric cancer research by hosting Poker Night on Thursday, September 5, at Crozier Hall. Tickets are only $250 per person and one hundred percent of the proceeds stay in North Texas. But if playing isn’t your game, non-poker players, who want to come hang out at Poker Night, can come for $100.
The casino gaming tables are provided for entertainment purposes only…but the winner, if attending the ball, will enjoy a private “meet and greet” with Cattle Baron’s Ball headliner Keith Urban at Gilley’s on Saturday, October 19.
Everyone knows someone affected by cancer. From attending the ball to purchasing a raffle ticket, get involved with Cattle Baron’s Ball however you can and help us continue making a difference.
But, we really hope to see you at Poker Night on September 5th and then at Gilley’s on October 19th for an evening of great food, outstanding auctions and award-winning country and western musicians putting a show not to be forgotten. Visit www.cattlebaronsball.com for more information.
* Graphic provided by Cattle Baron's Ball
MySweetCharity’s North Texas Giving Day Booster Series Starts Monday
As hot as it has been in recent days, the Communities Foundation of Texas team has been firing up plans for the 18-hour North Texas Giving Day that has amazed the world of fundraising! Why, within the past 10 years, this amazing undertaken has provided more than $240M for thousands of North Texas nonprofits. They’ve come a long way from the $4M hauled in for 345 nonprofits in 2009 thanks to 6.5K gifts. Just last year 157K gifts provided $48M for 2,690 beneficiaries!
In addition to growing the funding, they’ve created more activities and ways for the nonprofits to rally their supporters.
Returning to the mega-fundraiser buildup will be the MySweetCharity’s North Texas Giving Day Booster, thanks to NorthPark Center. On Monday the series countdown starts. There will be more than 35 North Texas organizations telling their stories over the next month.
The posts will include well-known organizations with new projects, as well as under-the-radar nonprofits that have been working tirelessly for their neighbors. And there are thousands more with stories that can be found on the North Texas Giving Day website.
If you see one that hits a chord with your heart strings, consider opening up your purse strings to benefit them on Thursday, September 19.
* Graphic courtesy of North Texas Giving Day
MySweetCharity Photo Gallery Alert: Dog Days Of Summer
Children’s Medical Center’s Butterfly Atrium was turned into a Dog Park on the afternoon of Thursday, August 1. No, it hadn’t become a free-running playground for pooches. Rather it was the Dog Days Of Summer, the annual get-together thanks to the partnership of Children’s Child Life and PetSmart … Read More...
MySweetCharity Opportunity: 2019 Spirit Of Taos
According to Friends of Wilkinson Center President Meridith Zidell,Please join the Friends of Wilkinson Center for our Sixth Annual Spirit of Taos on Saturday, September 14, from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at The Hall on Dragon, located at 1500 Dragon Street in the heart of the Design … Read More...
JUST IN: 2019 ReuNight To Raise Funds For The Family Place At The Brand New Mansion Lawn
The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek has been buzzing with construction for eons. And it was well worth the wait. If you haven’t been to the Mansion recently, then prepare yourself for new additions and experiences.In addition to Chef Sebastian Archambault impressing diners, there is a totally … Read More...
17 Dallas CASA Playhouse Winners Are Announced At NorthPark Center
"No way!" Daniel Patyrak cried out excitedly. Daniel's wife, Staci Patyrak, had just been announced as the winner of the Imaginasium playhouse, one of 17 playhouses being raffled off at NorthPark Center on Sunday, July 28, to benefit Dallas CASA. The Patyraks had snapped up $40 worth of raffle … Read More...
MySweetCharity Opportunity: North Texas Folds Of Honor 4th Annual Gala
According to Folds Of Honor North Texas Chapter President Mike Beltz,In the folded flag we see the heavy price of freedom, yet it’s also a symbol of hope, representing the enduring ideals that make this country a beacon of democracy. We chose this logo because it reflects our mission – to honor … Read More...
2019 Parade Of Playhouses Closing Party Was A Feast Of Food, Furnishings And Fine Vino
If Dallas CASA President/CEO Kathleen LaValle looked giddy on Thursday, July 25, at the 2019 Parade of Playhouses’ closing party in NorthPark’s Design Within Reach, there were a couple of reasons why.First, the 24th annual fundraiser for Dallas CASA was having incredible results. Thanks to … Read More...