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Legacy Of Love Was A Family Affair With Darren And Tiffany Woodson And Plano’s First Family
By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment
This year’s Legacy of Love Luncheon on Saturday, April 22, was a true family affair at the Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel. The Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano fundraiser not only had former Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl tackler Darren Woodson and his wife/entrepreneur Tiffany Woodson on the stage chatting with NBC 5’s Laura Harris, but Luncheon Co-Chairs Jenna Maynard and Whitney Digges had Plano Mayor John Muns as part of the event. No surprise, since Jenna and Whitney are John’s daughters. Here’s a report from the field:

Year after year, the Legacy of Love luncheon features chic and colorful outfits, fine dining, inspiring speakers and exciting auction items – and this year’s 11th annual Legacy of Love was no exception.
The Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano put on another amazing event on Saturday, April 22, featuring an intimate conversation with Dallas Cowboys legend and all-time leading tackler Darren Woodson and his wife Tiffany Woodson, commercial interior designer and managing partner of INK + ORO. NBC 5 award-winning journalist Laura Harris moderated and emceed, seamlessly walking attendees through inspiring patient stories and exciting updates at Children’s Medical Center Plano and its expansion.

This was the first time the Woodson’s shared a stage together and discussed how they balance work and family, what they want their legacies to be and why they’re passionate about giving back to Children’s Health. One of their main focuses for their family is prioritizing their health, especially after one of their children was seen at Children’s Health at a very young age. They are passionate about making sure they stay healthy and that others in the community are aware of places, like Children’s Health, that provide world-class care for kids.
The Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano helps raise funds to meet the needs of patients at the health system’s Plano campus, which officially opened its doors in August 2008. To date, the Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano has raised more than $2 million for the Children’s Health mission to make life better for children.
Children’s Medical Center Foundation President Brent Christopher praised the Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano for the members’ contributions to making life better for children in North Texas. He noted, “We love their passion for kids! During the last thirteen years, the Women’s Auxiliary has been with us in Plano – every step of the way – tirelessly raising funds, supporting hospital programs and serving as advocates for children and families.”
Plano Mayor John Muns, whose daughters Jenna Maynard and Whitney Digges were this year’s Legacy of Love co-chairs, also shared his excitement for Children’s Health expanding care to North Texas. “When it came time to expand Children’s Health to Collin County, like so many of you, our family jumped at the opportunity to do whatever we could to help bring the finest pediatric health care to our own backyards,” said Mayor Muns. “What an incredible resource and a gift Children’s Medical Center Plano has been for our entire community.”
* Photo provided by Women's Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center Plano
Troy, Dak, Romo, Hilton, Rothschild, Miss Texas Rallied For Children’s Cancer Fund Munchkin Super Heroes
By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment
As the Children’s Cancer Fund model kids were gathering in the Hilton Anatole’s Wedgwood Room and its foyer on the evening of Friday, April 21, one little fellow was opening a bag of goodies. To the delight of family and friends, he pulled out a plane for a perfect cellphone shot.
While the kids would be on the runway later, the event’s top sponsors were being directed across the way to the West Wing’s DeSoto Room. On the far wall was a Gala backdrop for photo opps with the men of the night — CCF Gala Honorary Co-Chairs Troy Aikman and Dak Prescott. When asked what the game plan was… in other words, were Troy and Dak going to show, and what was going to be the protocol for the meet-and-greet? … one go-to-know type admitted they didn’t have a clue.


Inside the room, the VIP gathering was a cornucopia of ages, personalities and philanthropists. Gala Co-Chairs Heather Randall and Blake Stephenson laughed about their glittering gowns that were in keeping with the theme “Light It Up.”… Across the way was former KXAS Sports Anchor Scott Murray with his Carole Murray… Holding their own in the all-dressed-up department were Julie Brown, Banjo Blevins and Jubilee Blevins.


As the crowd in the DeSoto swelled, the action seemed to be taking place in the adjacent hallway. Children’s Cancer Fund Executive Director Jennifer Arthur and her husband D’Nard Arthur II were awaiting the arrival of the honorary co-chairs, while Miss Texas Allison Drake was adorably showing the custom-made “purse” in which she carried her crown… Nearby Communities Foundation of Texas Senior Vice President, Chief Giving and Community Impact Officer Monica and Children’s Medical Center Foundation President Brent Christopher were receiving congratulations on their recent first anniversary. When asked who does the cooking in the household of heady fundraising, all fingers pointed to Brent. If you ever want to meet up with Brent, head to Central Market on Lovers Lane on a Saturday morning where he shops. The one rule? He always buys something that he’s never tried before.


In another part of the hallway was Dallas fashion godfather Brian Bolke, who was the man of the hour for the ladies who love fashion, chatting with longtime CCF supporter Kimberly Schlegel Whitman in shimmering silver, and then with TV personality Kathy Hilton and her daughter Nicky Hilton Rothschild.


But the hands down show-stopper of the hallway action was the Hilton gals’ pal Alice and Olivia founder Stacey Bendet. Draped in one of her own creations — a parrot-green gown with layers of godet skirting with sunburst sleeves — it was the action above the shoulders that topped off the look. From the neck up it was an accessory feast with a multi-strand pearl necklace and glittery choker and a matching hairband that held her thatch of blonde hair atop her head while she checked her cellphone with her raccoon eyes. Think Barbie and Edward Scissorhands having a daughter who got Ghostbuster slimed.
But even this head-turning vision and other hallway beauties were sidelined by the arrival of Troy and Dak surrounded by friends, families, fans and associates. Not to worry. The beauties hardly noticed the football players and their entourage.
After a couple of quick shots in the hallway, Troy and Dak were herded into the DeSoto Room for an anything-goes, meet-and-greet.

Unlike other meet-and-greets/step-and-repeats where there’s an organized arrangement of guests queued up for an event photographer to officially capture the momentary relationship, this one was what legendary sportswriter Blackie Sherrod would have described as a “scattershot.” Troy and Dak were lined up on a blue carpet against the Children’s Cancer Fund backdrop facing a wall of guests looking a bit like the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense. The quarterbacks kept their cool smiling as the squad of friends and volunteers aimed cellphones and fired at guests like Graham Johnson, Noah Johnson, Luke Martin, Madeleine Martin and Emma Johnson. As KXAS Anchor Meredith Land and her husband Xander Moore and their kids Alexander Moore and McCall Moore along with kid pals Searcy Mae Ferguson and Wynne Horton were being shot, another well-known couple stood on the sidelines watching in amazement. Finally a new-found friend offered to cellphone the couple … if they could manage to slip in.

And then there was that blue carpet. Due to the bank of onlookers and the jostling for guests vying for a place with Troy and Dak, a ripple in the carpet had developed into a stumbling wave. A team effort of the guests and quarterbacks rallied to flatten the bulge down.
Eventually an event photographer was drafted from another part of the room. Somehow s/he squeezed in among the wall of cellphoners and started shooting away at the revolving doors of guests.
Within minutes the pop-up shots were done and Troy and Dak were ushered away. The crowded room simmered down in head count.


But the boys weren’t going into hiding. They headed to the Wedgwood Room through a gauntlet of well-wishers and fans, signing autographs and smiling for selfies with the young models.
It was a true jam with kids, parents, volunteers, celebrity models and videographers for a chance to shoot the perfect moment of the night.
As Dak was directed by handlers to head straight to the back hall of the Anatole, he stopped dead in his tracks when he spied a golden retriever service dog. Looking at the pooch, Dak made a sound that was foreign to all but the dog who immediately wagged his tail. They immediately shared a come-together moment.
Just as quickly Troy and Dak were gone.
But perfectly timed in the Wedgwood foyer, a scruffy faced Tony Romo was talking with the kids like Christopher Villarreal and providing more footage for the videographers.


But the football players weren’t the only ones being perfect celebrities for photos, as “Future Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader” A’zyriah “Za-Za” Brown huddled with current Cheerleaders and Rowdy.
As the VIP-ers moseyed past the bar that was hosting an EarthX private party, they discovered a 2023 Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure SUV and a Super Air Nautique G23 literally showboating the CCF fundraising gusto.
One young EarthX supporter accidentally wandered into the CCF reception. Surrounded by the black tie set and spying the Bentley and six-figure luxury ski boat, she realized that just perhaps she had taken a wrong turn and headed to the bar.
Inside the Chantilly Ballroom, the scene was beautiful with staging that wasn’t so high as to intimidate the young models.
As guest like Katy and Parker Brooks, Kristen and Ladd Sanger, Myrna and Bob Schlegel and Kristin Gibbins with son Greyson Gibbins found their tables, a touching video honoring the late Izzy Martin was shown, with dancers celebrating both Izzy’a love of dance and her effort to help other youngsters facing cancer.


Then Troy and Dak arrived on stage, with Troy recalling how 25 years ago the original Honorary Chair Roger Staubach had invited Troy to come on board as an honorary chair. In turn with Roger stepping down this past year, Troy had made a similar call to Dak, who not only came on board but said, “We must beat cancer. We will beat cancer. … I’m here for the next 30 years.”
Funds raised by the evening of wining, dining, modeling and celebrity ogling will support the research and efforts against pediatric cancer at Children’s Medical Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
JUST IN: Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation Gala Scores $1.9M To Empower Those Facing Adversity
By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment
Years ago when Roger Staubach was leading the Dallas Cowboys to the Super Bowl, he admitted all that attention was a bit challenging. For instance, when he would take his family on vacation to Disneyland, he would wear a baseball cap and dark sunglasses, so the Staubach clan could just blend in with the rest of the crowd.
Today Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott can relate to Staubach’s effort at being one of the “rest of the crowd.” Wherever he goes even the most proper type becomes a kind of groupie, shouting out Dak’s name or gravitating to him like their old chum. Perhaps it’s because Dak has a way about him that makes him so approachable.
That admiration is due to his professional reputation of facing adversity both on the field and off.

Instilled by losses in his life with the deaths of his mother Peggy Prescott to cancer in 2013 and his brother Jace Prescottt to suicide in 2020, Dak created the Faith Fight Finish Foundation focusing on colon cancer research; mental health and suicide prevention; bridging the gap between law enforcement, youth and the community they serve; and offering assistance to those facing life-challenging hardships.
Dak has done everything from supporting little-known programs and serving as 2023 Children’s Cancer Fund Gala honorary co-chair with former Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Troy Aikman to working with New York Jets Defensive Tackle Solomon Thomas to create the newly established National Suicide Prevention Hotline — 988.
His efforts have earned him such a reputation that he was named the 2022-2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year honoring his “outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on it.”
To help fuel the Foundation’s mission, Dak hosted the Faith Fight Finish Foundation Gala on Friday, May 12, at the Thompson Hotel for 500 guests.
Thanks to Presenting Sponsor White Rhino Coffee and Kitchen and its founder/attorney Chris Parvin, a slew of Cowboys teammates, Solomon, family, friends and a performance by recent ACM award-winning Hardy, the Gala netted $1.9M for Dak’s Foundation to keep “faith” in the “fight” against hardships to the “finish” line.
* Photo provided by Faith Fight Finish Foundation
Jill And Grant Henderson Donate $1M To Fund Retina Foundation’s New Ocular Stem Cell Laboratory
By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment
While the recent the Retina Foundation of the Southwest‘s Visionary Luncheon co-chaired by Barb and Steve Durham and Honorary Chair Doug Hawthorne neared the $1M mark, a very impressive announcement was made.
Retina Foundation CEO/Medical Officer Dr. Karl Csaky revealed that thanks to Jill and Grant Henderson‘s $1M donation, a new lab will be funded to “find solutions for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and inherited diseases.”

Leading the new lab will be Dr. Srinivasa Sripathi, PhD, recently recruited from John Hopkins.
In addition to providing the funding, Grant offered Srinivasa some advice on acclimating to North Texas. Evidently, Srinivasa took the suggestion to heart and said, “Hi, y’all!” when he was introduced at the luncheon.
In honor of the generous donation, the program will be called the Henderson Ocular Stem Cell Laboratory.
* Photo credit: Kristina Bowman Photography
Break With The Usual: MySweetCharity Published The 10,000th Post This Morning

Today was a big day for MySweetCharity. It was what some would say was a milestone occasion. This morning at 11:30, MSC published its 10,000th post.
While there were no champagne toasts nor celebratory luncheons, there were people and organizations that deserve recognition for this feat.
One of the first businesses to support this “orphan blog” was Ebby Halliday. Despite the roller coaster ride of area real estate and the change of leadership over the years, Ebby has been front and center.
And during the two-and-a-half years of the pandemic, when businesses were suffering, advertisers like NorthPark Center, Baylor Scott and White Dallas Foundation and Children’s Medical Center never faltered in staying with MSC. Each said that, more than ever, North Texas charities needed to keep news and communication going.
Speaking of valued relationships, before MSC had even published its first post, Crystal Charity Ball and Cattle Baron’s Ball stepped up as partner sponsorships and have only continued to this very day and have been joined by countless others.
Then there are the people. Two of them are truly behind the scenes. To be honest, they probably didn’t know what they were getting into back in 2010, but they made the website shine and have kept it going through all types of challenges.
Servously website designer Shauna Callaghan managed to create a design that was easy on the eyes and not all convoluted with extraneous bells and whistles. It has been amazing how she’s adjusted to every whim put forward. “What if we created a calendar of events?” She did that. “Could we have a gallery for photos from big events?” She did that. And when she suggested a bit of refreshing might be in order, she gingerly did it in such a way that MSC was improved without being upsetting to the routine.
Dallas Pro IT mastermind Jimmie Catravas has been the powerhouse that has kept MSC going through internet threats, power outages and dumb questions. Because of his round-the-clock understanding of the ever-changing high tech world, he has grown the MSC capabilities to handle the massive materials. His only complaint has been, “Do we have to keep all these photos?” As MSC approaches the 50,000 mark, his complaint is understandable. But his patience is remarkable.
There is an unsung hero by the name of Glenn Hunter, who has never wavered in supporting MSC. Over the years, he’s grown in ways he probably never imagined. He covers events, proofreads copy and on occasion grudgingly will inquire, “Who are you wearing?” But he has also sacrificed weekends and holidays to keep the engine going. His reward has been to have a greater understanding and appreciation for the people and businesses that have drawn so many newcomers to North Texas.
Finally — and most importantly — sincere thanks and gratitude go to the members of the MSC world, who check in throughout the day and get the 6 a.m. e-blast. It is because of you that we “cover the people, organizations and activities that make the North Texas area unique thanks to philanthropic and non-profit endeavors.”
Thank you for being part of the journey to 10,000 posts. Now, let’s get on to the next 10,000.
* Photo credit: Skeeter Hagler

Healing Hands Luncheon Scott Hamilton Scored Golden Inspiration As An “Eternal Optimist”
For 300 guests at the Healing Hands Luncheon, Scott Hamilton's reputation for winning Olympic gold took a backseat after serving as the featured speaker at the HHM Health fundraiser on Friday, April 21, at Dallas Arts District Mansion. As important as his skating accomplishments were, his life's … Read More...

Paige McDaniel And “Down To Earth” Lisa Vanderpump Take Star Turns At Chick Lit Luncheon
It might all have been a reality TV show, except no cameras were rolling. Lisa Vanderpump, the English-born star of Bravo's "Vanderpump Rules" and "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," was dressed in a black coat with gold braiding, black pants, black spiked boots and long gold earrings at the … Read More...

35th Mad Hatter’s Topped Out Despite “Majestic” Challenges And More Than 600 Hatters
By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment
2023 Mad Hatter's Tea Co-Chairs Anne Stodghill and Kristina Wrenn had assembled a team to make the the 35th Women's Council of the Arboretum fundraiser a blowout. The theme was regally in keeping with the times — "Majestic Mad Hatter's Luncheon A Celebration of English Elegance." Ironically, the … Read More...

MySweetCharity Photo Gallery Alert!: 2023 Mad Hatter’s Tea
By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment
While the Brits were gearing up for the coronation of King Charles III (aka Princess Diana’s ex) across the pond, the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum was in high fiddle for the 2023 Mad Hatter’s Tea that wasn’t. Actually, the Women’s Garden fundraiser co-chaired by gal pals Anne Stodghill … Read More...

Blue Ribbon Ball Nears The Finish Line With Music On Wheels, Raffle Packages And Icy Spicy Beverages
By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment
Since taking over the reins of Equest, CEO Myrshem George admitted at the 2023 Blue Ribbon Ball patron party last Thursday at Arlington Hall that all he's heard in the office is "The gala! The gala! The gala!" And with good reason. With tickets and sponsorships moving faster than National … Read More...

Day At The Races Patrons Partied At A Former Presidents’ Getaway Along Windsor Lake
By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment
Preston Hollow's Windsor Lake might not be part of the Turtle Creek waterway, but after Turtle Creek Park Conservancy's Day At The Races patron party on Wednesday, April 19, it just might be a kissing cousin. In addition to Mother Nature being on her best behavior, the 7 p.m. start for the … Read More...