Wednesday night is already giving Thursday a run for its money to be the night for promoting non-profit thank yous and announcements.
Cattle Baron’s Excalibur Reception
Last week it started at Brook Hollow for the Cattle Baron’s Ball ‘s Excalibur gathering hosted by Caron Texas and Aston Martin. You know it’s going to be a special evening with Aston Martins lounging along the driveway and Caron Texas’s Amara Durham in still another “white puffy blouse” and Michael Fowler front and center.
It also helps that the annual event is aimed right at contributors with big hearts and pocketbooks. CBB Co-chairs Skye Brewer and Kristen Johnston were more than thrilled about their progress is selling everything from raffle tickets to sponsorships. They admitted that beating the 2007 goal was gonna be a stretch even for them. You remember those days. People were riding high on the hog back then and money was falling out of every orifice. But the challenge of the 39-year-old CBB still exists — beating cancer. Both Kristen and Sky have personal grudges in battling this disease that doesn’t play fair. The gals are determined to make a ultra-major contribution to the war chest.
Joining the fight and being celebrated in the Oak Room of BHGC were Dr. John Gill, whose weight loss is due to a plan. He’d better be prepared for a workout following the 2012 CBB. Wife Mary is co-chairing the 40th event. . . Michael Fowler said he and mom Lee Ann White were getting ready for their talk at the September 28th Caron Cares — A Day of Discovery and Recovery. It’s the day before Cattle Baron’s, so Michael and Amara are going to be busy. . . Cara Gravely French revealed that the Equest luncheon/fashion show that she’s co-chairing with mom Prissy is sold out. There is a waiting list of 30. The mother/daughter team is close to hitting their goal of $200,000. . Lana Andrews was surprised that husband Barry hadn’t taken her up on her offer to attend the Ranger game. Barry opted for a simple dinner with Lana at home. You just gotta love that guy. . . Speaking of the Andrews, Barry revealed that Andrews Distributing will be sponsoring this year’s CBB main stage. . . Alas, poor Kristen. In addition to working on the CBB gala, she’s also planning an October wedding with attorney Ladd Sanger in the California wine country. . . Aston Martin’s Managing Partner Kurt Fegraeus arrived after associates Zach Kent and Rachel Fox. Spotting Bill Brewer, Kurt headed on over for a chat. Seems he’s sold Astons over the last 10 years to Bill’s Bickel & Brewer’s 25 top equity partners. . . Holt Haynsworth was excited about being president of Youth for Human Rights group, and that he’s arranged to have human rights be part of the Highland Park Independent School District’s 8th grade curriculum. . .One gal who wore a nifty soft blue nail polish on her fingers and toenails admitted that she had decided that the darker-than-dark nail polish of seasons past made her nails look like she had slammed her nails in a car door or she had a severe fungal infection.
Junior League of Dallas Announcement Party
Next stop on the Wednesday night circuit of non-profits was the Junior League of Dallas‘s announcement party for the 2013 gala theme. Let’s face it. The theme should have been obvious. Gala chair Bunny Cotten was all in fluffy, shiny white with a “Marie Antoinette” hairdo, and the party was at a Briggs-Freeman property a la château on Versailles.
Yup, you guessed it. French! It seems to be the theme du jour of the upcoming season. Shoot! Why don’t we just buy the Louvre and move it to Fair Park.
Before the announcement was made, 2012 JLD Chair Elizabeth Gambrell sauntered down the walk barefooted. She just lives a few mansions down and moseyed on over. While putting on her sandals, Amanda and Lloyd Ward arrived and the threesome entered just in time for the announcement.
Bunny with chair-elect Wendy Messman at her side reported the JLD-er’s are returning to the Hilton Anatole this year after 2012’s soiree at the Omni Dallas. Why? Was the 2012 event at the Omni not so great? Nope. They were already booked and, besides, the Anatole is home-sweet-home for so many fundraisers. They’re expecting 800 to attend the 51st JLD ball on Saturday, February 23.
That should be a snap to have 800 in attendance with Caren Prothro as the honorary chair. Wherever Caren goes, everyone follows.
Good thing CBB and JLD had their parties early. A passel of the gals were headed to Anne Stodghill‘s for her 25th anniversary friendship party with Angela Nash. The girls’ friendship started before either of the gals married their husbands. With their spouses being sent to the Rangers game, the girls partied with 125+ of their buds. Anne later sent a follow-up email offering to take any and all CBB raffle requests that were made during the party.