When you hold an announcement party to reveal the honorees for an upcoming event, you usually hold the “big news” until the party. But The Family Place took a chance and sent out invitations including the names to be “officially announced” for the 2012 Texas Trailblazer Awards including:
- Texas Trailblazer — Liz Minyard and Kathryn Hall
- Man of Influence — Dr. Kenneth Cooper
- Real-Life Hero — Lynn Goldstein
- The Family Place Advocacy Award — Verizon
Would people show since the news was out on a warm August evening?
Last Thursday they turned out big time. The to-be-honorees had hardly arrived before the cars were lined up around the block. And why not? The party was at the Goss-Michael Foundation showcasing works of art by The Family Place clients. Some paintings were for sale and other items like T-shirts were there to build awareness about folks going through very rough times. Alas, sorry to report that it was a one-night-only show, but beautifully displayed with both Kenny Goss and Joyce Goss supervising.
Event Chairs Anh and Loc Trieu and Amanda and Lloyd Ward hardly made it down the hallway leading to the main gallery before they were surrounded by guests. Amanda told PlainsCapital’s Ronnie Berg that her competitive nature had gotten the best of her. Seems she was a semi-finalist in D‘s Best Looking Women in Dallas and had sent out email blasts to remind friends to vote before the Saturday deadline.
Not to worry. Family Place mother hen Paige Flink was all over the place juggling guests and pointing out the works of art. One group that Paige especially emphasized were in the hallway. There were life-size, red wooden cut-out females with Texas-shaped plaques engraved with a victim’s name and the day she was killed. Paige hinted she had additional plans for the silhouettes in October. Isn’t that National Domestic Violence Month?
Regardless, Paige and The Family Place gang will be celebrating at the Texas Trailblazer luncheon on Wednesday, September 19, at the Omni Dallas. While it may be a celebration of local heroes/heroines, it will also be a major fundraiser and awareness builder of a deadly issue facing all parts of society.