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CitySquare’s Block Party To Celebrate What Started Only As A Vision To Overcome Poverty
It appears that Saturday, October 1, is going to be a very busy night. The black-tie crowd will be fundraising at the Meyerson for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala and the Hyatt Regency Downtown Dallas for the SPCA’s Fur Ball.
But for those whose tuxedos are on sabbatical, there’s another event whose very name brims with non-stuffy festivities. It the 2022 CitySquare Block Party.
Event Co-chairs April and Mark Anthony have not only arranged to have the party take place at The Empire Room, they’ve also locked down philanthropists Betsy and Jim Sowell as honorary co-chairs.
It wasn’t a hard ask. After all, it was back in 1988 that Jim was so moved by the problems associated with poverty that he “worked with friends to launch the Central Dallas Food Pantry in a strip shopping center at Henderson and Central Expressway.”
Two years later, after receiving 501(c)3 status and due to a growing demand, the Pantry was moved to larger quarters on North Peak in East Dallas.
By 1994 the program had been rebranded as Central Dallas Ministries, with Larry James coming on board in an executive role and an additional building on North Haskell being acquired.
Still another name change took place when the group became CitySquare, “in order to better reflect the commitment to equality, inclusiveness and recognition that fighting poverty involves bringing the entire community together in the heart of the city.”
Four years later the little pantry that had started in a strip shopping center was relocated to the 53,000-square-foot Opportunity Center at Malcolm X Boulevard and I-30.
Thanks to Jim’s ongoing “concern for the problems associated with poverty,” 56,000 adults and children have benefited from CitySquare’s six primary areas of impact: housing, food, healthcare, legal support, financial empowerment and youth services.”
Presented by AMN Healthcare, the 2022 CitySquare Block Party’s night of dining, bidding and partying will “honor some of the most innovative CitySquare poverty fighters, including CEO Emeritus Larry James.”
Sponsorships are available here.
* Graphic/photo provided by CitySquare
Texas Women’s Foundation Adds Three New Members To Its Board For Three-Year Terms
Texas Women’s Foundation Board Chair Hilda Galvan has just announced that three new members have joined the organization’s board for three-year terms starting Friday, July 1.
Joining the board’s 41 members will be Connie Kleinert Babikian, Jana Etheridge and Cris Zertuche Wong.
Holding her position as chair until June 30, 2023, Hilda will head up the executive committee including Carrie Freeman Parsons, Bonnie Clinton, Sara Garcia Duran, Debra Hunter Johnson, Cynt Marshall, Neena Newberry, Laura Nieto, Melissa Orth, Holly Reed, Gowri Sharma, Rachel Vinson and TXWF President/CEO Miki Woodard.
According to Miki, “Under the thoughtful leadership of Hilda Galvan, our Executive Committee and our Board, we have an amazing group that helps us advance our mission of investing in women and girls to drive positive change. These new board members will add their experience and passion to help us even further, and we appreciate their service.”
* Photo provided by Texas Women's Foundation
2022 Spirit Of Taos Is Gonna Be On The Levee With Beauties, Beaus And Boots For Wilkinson Center
As part of the Wilkinson Center’s celebrating 40 years of helping area residents to transform their lives, Friends of Wilkinson Center President Ellen Estee has just sent word about the Ninth Annual Spirit Of Taos fundraiser.
Co-chairing the ever-popular night will be 2022 Spirit Of Taos Co-Chairs Shannon Hanberry and Ashley White, who have arranged for the Southwestern-inspired night of boots, beauties and beaus to be held at On The Levee on Friday, October 14, complete with cocktails, a seated supper, a silent auction and The Jimmy Stadler Band providing the sounds of the night to fill the dance floor.
According to Wilkinson Center Executive Director Anne Reeder, “For 40 years Wilkinson Center has offered hope to the community we serve, through our food and emergency services, support of vulnerable seniors, and adult education and workforce training for adults seeking a better life. We are so delighted to commemorate this exciting milestone at The Spirit of Taos, in addition to raising important funds which enable us to continue our mission of transforming the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect. We hope the community will join us on October 14 for what promises to be a spectacular celebration!”
With sponsorships starting at $5,000 and tables going for $2,200, there are two types of tickets available — $500 for patron tickets and $275 for individual tickets. And they’re all available here!
Until then, shop for that Taos look.
* Graphic/photo provided by Wilkinson Center **Photo credit: Lisa Means
Friends Of Katy Trail’s Spring Support Campaign Goes The Extra Mile In Meeting Its Goal
Leave it to the Friends of Katy Trail to exceed expectations. For its 25th year of providing one of the outdoor treasures of North Texas, Spring Support Campaign Honorary Co-Chairs Lizzie and Dan Routman had set their sights on a goal of $100,000. Well, they didn’t just do it… they and hundreds of Katy Trail-loving supporters hauled in $170,000.
According to Friends of the Katy Trail Major Gifts and Membership Senior Director Ann Whitley Wood, “Thank you to Honorary Co-Chairs Lizzie and Dan Routman and to so many in Dallas for their participation in the Katy Trail’s Spring Support Campaign. More than 400 individuals and companies donated to the campaign—what a wonderful gift from the community during the 25th Anniversary year of Friends of the Katy Trail. We have recognized all donors of $1,000 and more with a sign on the Trail that will be up through mid-July.”
Now that the check is in the bank, the Friends are “busy planning this year’s Katy 5K presented by Michelob Ultra on Thursday, September 8,” for which the Hallam Family will serve as honorary chairs.
Equest Residents Need High-Velocity Fans To Stall Away Staggering Summer Temperatures
Unlike San Carlos de Bariloche, where the day’s high is 34 degrees, North Texas is continuing to swelter. One can’t help but wonder how the early residents handled summer heat before air conditioning came along.
But not everyone has air conditioning, swimming pools or even fans to deal with the stagnant temperatures and humidity.
While The Senior Source is still trying to meet its Beat the Heat’s Friday deadline to provide 300 AC units for the area elderly, there is another group in need of help — the Equest therapy horses and volunteers.
Despite the Equest barn being meticulously maintained, the current box fans are just blowing out of steam and it’s not even July! What’s needed is the gusto of High-Velocity Barn Stall Fans.
Not only will the big-boy fans help create a breeze to cool the horses like Bob, Thorin, Dutch and the human volunteers, but they will dissuade those dang flies and mosquitoes that seem to go along with summer heat even after the sun goes down.
In search of help, the mini-ambassadors Dare and Ranger have sent out, “SOS: It’s hot out here! Please help us keep our horses and volunteers cool by donating a new High-Velocity Barn Stall Fan (we need up to 40!). These last a lot longer than box fans, which we burn up frequently. Order from one of the vendors below and have it delivered to Equest, 811 Pemberton Hill Road, BLDG 4, Dallas, TX 75217.”
The super-duper fans range from $39.99 to $64.99 and can be found at Big Lot, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Amazon.
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