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2019 Can Do! Luncheon Plans For The Wilkinson Center Fundraiser Revealed
2019 Can Do! Luncheon Chair Linda Secrest has been hard at work lining up plans for The Wilkinson Center’s annual fundraiser. It will return on Monday, March 4, to the Dallas Country Club.
This year’s awardees include:
- Can Do! Couple Award — Kathy and Larry Helm for “their support of the Dallas non-profit community, most recently The Senior Source, a Wilkinson Center partner.”
- Can Do! Organization Award — The Junior League of Dallas for “the entrepreneurial way the League served the Dallas community by training generations of women leaders, many of whom have gone on to create influential non-profit organizations where they saw unmet needs.”
- Kids Can Too! Award — Jesuit College Preparatory School for “their many years of service to Wilkinson Center as weekly volunteers in the Food Pantry and participation in the Toy Drive.”
According to The Wilkinson Center Executive Director Anne Reeder, “We are delighted to recognize these outstanding individuals and organizations at our 2019 Can Do! Luncheon. They have each set the standard for leadership, generosity and service and their contributions to the Dallas community, as well as The Wilkinson Center, are immeasurable.”
Joining Linda as underwriting chair is Capera Ryan.
Information for tickets and sponsorship is available now. And don’t you know that sponsorship has its perks? There will be party for the sponsors at Lisa and Clay Cooley’s.
A Simple Thank You To … Lyda Hill And The Moody Foundation
From VNA President/CEO Katherine Krause,
“On behalf of The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, I am honored to thank two incredibly generous philanthropists. In late December VNA received not only one, but two truly transformational gifts at year end, making the way for a healthier, happier new year for vulnerable seniors in Dallas County.
“Long-time VNA supporter and Life Board Member Lyda Hill added an extra-special Christmas bonus to her already generous #PitchDaySuprise gift of $110,000 to help VNA purchase a much-needed server. She surprised the VNA team with an additional and exceptional Christmas bonus of $2.5 million to feed 625 homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels currently waiting list for this vital service.
“This generous surprise came in on a Monday and the following Friday, the Moody Foundation joined the efforts by committing $1.6 million to the ‘Drive Away Hunger Campaign‘ for Meals on Wheels, removing another 400 seniors from the waiting list. In all, 1,025 homebound, hungry seniors are getting the call they’ve been hoping to receive for far too long. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Lyda Hill and The Moody Foundation, these seniors will get hot, nourishing meals and comforting friendship.
“As the senior population continues to grow, resources are not keeping pace. The result is waiting lists for Meals on Wheels and other vital services seniors rely on to safely age in place. In fact, one in six Dallas County seniors struggles with hunger and more seniors need support every day. With 12,000 seniors turning 65 every day in the United States, Dallas County is no exception and the number of homebound, food-insecure seniors is growing rapidly.
“VNA is eternally grateful to Lyda Hill and the Moody Foundation for their inspirational generosity and commitment to seniors in our community. It is our hope that this will encourage others to advocate for our growing senior population and working together, we can ensure our elderly neighbors are not left hungry, alone or forgotten behind the closed doors of their homes. If you’d like to brighten a senior’s day by giving to VNA or volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels, please visit www.vnatexas.org to learn more.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Recalls Days Of The Past And The Years Since Then
Back in 1929 things were really happening. The stock market cratered and The Great Depression engulfed the world in an economic crisis that lasted for years. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre took place in Chicago. The first Academy Awards were presented at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Museum of Modern Art opened to the public in New York City. Born in that year were Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Arnold Palmer, Grace Kelly, Dan Jenkins and Michael King.
Who was Michael King? So, the story goes that when he was born on January 15, 1929, his original birth certificate read “Michael King.” The baby’s father, Rev. Martin Luther King Sr., insisted it was a mistake by the attending physician and had the document revised to read “Martin Luther King Jr.”
Perhaps that was just the first sign that the younger King was destined to be associated with change during his 39 years of life. During that time, he became the face and voice of the civil rights movement. What many take for granted today was verboten then. There were “colored” bathrooms and drinking fountains, “whites only” facilities, segregated schools, etc.
Combining his own Christian beliefs and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, King rallied people from all walks of life to bring attention to the then-accepted inequities and make a change using the tools of nonviolence and civil disobedience.
His leadership was recognized not just within the United States; it also earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Just the day before his assassination on April 4, 1968, he gave what many consider to be one of his most memorable speeches — “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.”
Days later, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 that legally ended residential discrimination.
In the following years, his widow Coretta Scott King followed in her husband’s footsteps to keep his mission alive. Among the many tributes honoring King, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was made a federal holiday by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. As part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed into place that the King holiday would be held on the third Monday in January.
Taking place this Monday, the holiday will mean there will be no postal service and schools and banking institutions will be closed. There will be many occasions to celebrate King’s legacy like the The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture‘s 14th Annual MLK Symposium: Pursuing Racial Justice in 21st Century America. But it will be an opportunity to reflect on how one man led the country to the basic understanding that all people are entitled to the most elementary of civil rights.
Communities Foundation Of Texas Starts 2019 With Three New Trustees, One Retiring Trustee And A 2018 Year-End Report
Communities Foundation of Texas has added three new members to its board of trustees — Matrice Ellis-Kirk, Gunjan Jain and Debra Brennan Tagg.
According to CFT Board Chair Jim Bass, “We are fortunate to have outstanding business and community leaders who [have] accept[ed] the call to be trustees. The varied experience and knowledge that Matrice, Gunjan and Debra are bringing to our board will help guide CFT as we work together to strengthen North Texas and improve lives across our entire state and beyond.”
The new trio will be joining other trustees including Jim Bass, Richie Butler, Michael Dardick, Jose (Pepe) Guevara, Ken Hersh, Chris Kleinert, Sarah Losinger, Bobby Lyle, Tom Montgomery, Alfreda Norman, Connie O’Neill, Florence Shapiro, Nicole Small and Stacy Smith. BTW, Carlos Gonzalez Peña has just retired after serving on the board for the past 10 years.
According to CFT President/CEO Dave Scullin, “Our community is a special place with a long history of caring citizens, rapid growth and economic opportunity. But as it continues to grow, so too do the needs of those facing imbalances in income, racial equity and education. Data suggest these needs are increasing. These new board members will help guide CFT as we work to build thriving communities for all.”
Other news coming from CFT includes Alfreda Norman being named board chair-elect and that CFT provided $106M in grants during 2018 fiscal year.
BTW, the distribution of the grants resulted in the following breakdown:
- Education: 26%
- Health and scientific research: 18%
- Housing and human services: 12%
- Community improvements: 12%
- Religious activities: 12%
- Arts and culture: 9%
- Other: 9%
- Youth and recreation: 3%
Dallas Theta Alumnae Chapter Scored Bingo With Fundraiser And National Founders Award
The Kappa Kappa Gammas had the elegant two-day Tablescapes in October at the Dallas Country. The Chi Omegas were hosting the three-day Chi Omega Christmas Market shopping extravaganza at the Centennial Hall at Fair Park from November 14-17. The Kappa Alpha Thetas took over Brook Hollow Golf Club on Tuesday, November 13, to play Theta And Friends Bingo.
Unlike the Kappas in cocktail attire and luncheon outfits or the Chi Os in red aprons, the Thetas were strictly casual in woolly sweaters, jazzed up sneakers and slacks. After all, there was no need for satins and pearls to play games.
Last year’s putting the toe-in-the-water bingo fundraiser resulted in such a success that it had almost grown to epic proportions. Even the Brook Hollow staffers were amazed about the turnout and the fun.
As a result, national Theta Foundation President Victoria McCluggage, Foundation Executive Director Kelley Hurst, Foundation VP Cathie Cardelucci and Foundation Director of Advancement Justine Thomas were on hand to watch and play and applaud the Dallas KAT Alumnae chapter on two counts.
In addition to heaping praise on the Dallas Theta Alumnae Chapter for the new Theta house on SMU campus, they congratulated Alumnae Chapter President Anne Besser and the chapter for being awarded the Founders Award. The national award is presented “to the chapter that has maintained or grown their membership, offers programs for Alumnae of all ages, supports the local CASA with volunteers and financial contributions, makes an impact on its community and annually makes significant donations to the KAT Foundation.”
Looking at the arriving guests, Bingo Chair Kristi Sherrill Hoyl, who pledged Theta at Texas A&M, was not just thrilled over the turnout, but also the diversity in the generations. Not only were there plenty of SMU Theta alumnae like Carmen McMillan, Jane Pierce, Peggy Zadina and Janie Condon on hand, there were plenty of non-Thetas like Pam Perella and Nancy Gopez. DeeDee Lee, who got her kite at the University of Kentucky, said she saw “Thetas young and old (like me), some with their cute husbands, some with other Thetas and some with mothers of Thetas” like Amy Hughes and Ann Adams.
The gathering also provided a coming-together for women who had pledged the first Greek-letter fraternity for women from around the country, like Oklahoma State’s Kristi Bare and Patti Flowers from Texas Tech.
Even the guys got into the swing of the night. Dale Johnson was at Jane Pierce’s front row table along with Phil John, who was solo. Seems his wife Sue John was overseeing the Dallas Knife and Fork Club’s fall get together.
One of the players was also a recipient of the night’s proceeds. It was Dallas CASA Executive Director/President Kathleen LaValle. In addition to the national KAT beneficiary being the CASA, Dallas CASA is supported with funding and volunteers by the local alumnae chapter and actives.
And if anyone thought it was going to be strictly number calling and bingo shouting, with folks sitting on metal folding chairs, they were in for a surprise. There were other surprises that jazzed up the night, like getting everyone to stand up and check the underside of their chairs’ cushions for prizes.
At one point in the evening, when a table of “young” girls got on a winning streak, one Theta alumna at another table suggested it would be great if they would donate their winnings to CASA. Without missing a beat, her tablemate said, “No, let them keep it for Botox.” Bingo!
A Writer’s Garden Patron Party Was A Designer’s Dream With Beautiful Surroundings And Those-In-The-Know
Luckily, interior designer/author Betty Lou Phillip’s home overlooking Turtle Creek was big enough to easily accommodate the 100 guests like Emilynn and Claude Wilson for the 12th Annual Writer’s Garden Symposium and Luncheon patron party on Tuesday, November 13. The sizable crowd was to be … Read More...
JUST IN: ORIX Foundation Provides $1,415,000 For 72 North Texas Area Nonprofits
ORIX Foundation has just released its funding for North Texas nonprofits and, boy, did their bookkeepers have their hands full. They cut checks totaling $1.415M for 72 North Texas nonprofits in the following six categories:Education - $467,400 to 25 organizations that prepare children for … Read More...
A Simple Thank You To … SPCA Of Texas
According to SPCA of Texas Former Board Chair Katy Murray,“The SPCA of Texas has had a lot to be thankful for this past year, from saving thousands of animal’s lives, expanding community services and initiatives to celebrating their 80th anniversary. But, none of it would have been possible … Read More...
Approaching Frigid Temps Provide The Perfect Time For Souping Up And Dumping Pills
Thursday’s Soups On! Luncheon at the Anatole could not be better planned. Sure, those wonderful weather guessers are almost giddy over the fact that the temperatures just might be hitting the upper 60s on Friday.But, alas, overnight a wall of cold air is going to be collapsing on North Texas. … Read More...
Plans Revealed At Tavia And Clark Hunt’s Home For 2019 AWARE Affair’s Celebrate The Moment
Just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving on Friday November 9, Tavia and Clark Hunt opened their home for AWARE President Sharon Ballew to reveal the plans for the organization's annual fundraiser, Celebrate the Moments. In addition to telling the details of the spring event, there was a touching … Read More...
National Philanthropy Day Luncheon Was Filled With Awards, Inspiration And Mistletoe
For a sold-out crowd at the Hyatt Regency, the AFP Greater Dallas' 33rd Annual National Philanthropy Day on Friday, November 9, was a cornucopia of local philanthropic champs. From veteran fundraiser Kaki Hopkins providing food for thought to the Mistlecrew's Stella Wrubel, Quinn Graves, Isabella … Read More...