The talk at the Wings Luncheon patron party on April 11 was, “Have you seen Barbara?” The Barbara in question was former first daughter Barbara Pierce Bush, who was to be the featured speaker the next day at the New Friends New Life benefit.
April 11 Patron Party
Taking place at Betsy and Jim Sowell’s more-than-perfect home, the statuesque brunette co-founder of and president of Global Health Corps looked fabulous with her brown hair swept back in a long ponytail and longer-than-long bangs and a sea-green, one-shoulder cocktail dress. In addition to high heels, her perfect posture only added to the eye-popping look.
And there’s no doubt where she got that perfect posture. Nearby was former First Lady/First Mom Laura Bush, who has never suffered from a slouch in her life. On this occasion was she was simply “special guest” and proud mom as Barbara proved a perfect VIP to all including the Who’s Who of Dallas ranging from the Honorary Chairs Andrews (Lana Andrews and daughter Natalie McGuire with spouses Barry and Mike, respectively) and Simmons clans (Annette and Harold) to Gail and SMU President Gerald Turner, Luncheon Chair Gina Betts and husband Ken, Kelly and Brock Compton, Jeanne Phillips, plus
- Cedonia and Dallas Police Chief David Brown, who said human trafficking/prostitution is a serious issue, and it’s not a victimless crime. Programs like this are important, to help victims break the cycle, the chief added.
- Roz and Robert Colombo, whose company La Reve Consultants will be opening a new restaurant called Pozo Mercado (“The Watering Hole”) in Uptown soon, next to their Standard Pour.
- Attorney General Greg Abbott told how he chaired the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force and is working with all the legislators to give Texas the toughest laws in the country against human trafficking. It doesn’t matter what your politics are, he said. . . everyone can get behind this important cause in order to help the victims.
- Lee Ann White had just returned from chairing a meeting of the National Advisory Board for the Texas Tech University Health Science’s Center Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health.
New Friends New Life has come a long way with the luncheon’s projected attendance of 900. Betsy admitted, “Ten years ago, we would have been lucky to get nine (guests at the luncheon)! It’s unbelievable.”
NFNL Executive Director Katie Pedigo added that they were hoping to raise $500K from the luncheon.
On a less serious note, one person cornered Laura asking if the Bush family was going to replace Barney, the former first pooch who had recently died. “”We’re not going to get a dog right now. We still have Mrs. Beasley. We have a new cat — Bob — who came up to our barn in Crawford. Then we have Jenna’s (Barbara’s fraternal twin sister) cat, because she’s (Jenna) is pregnant.” [This was just a couple of days before Jenna gave birth to Laura’s first grandchild.]
April 12 Wings Luncheon
The VIP reception for the Wings luncheon at the Hyatt Regency started off a little rocky. Organizers had thought it would be a “grip-and-grin” gathering where Barbara would stand in place and a line would form for photos with her. But within minutes of her arrival, someone whispered that Barbara really preferred to wander through the group and chat with people a little more casually. Alas, too late. The line was formed. That’s when the decision was made to have the hired photographer to walk away and signal that the formal photos were going to take place. Alas, a newspaper photographer kept shooting people with Barbara and soon the line resulted in guests circling her for their photo op with Barbara. Hey, that’s what happens when you have a star attraction. And to add to the star factor, Laura appeared toward the end of the reception adding to ultra-star magnetism.
Problem? Heck, no. The Bushes, like other first families, know how to handle these situations and were gracious to one and all.
On this day, Barbara’s hair still featured the new bangs, but the hair was no longer in a ponytail. Her navy blue dress tended to slip off her left shoulder, the same one that had been bare the night before.
Among this crowd were Laura’s sorority sister Susan Nowlin, New Friends New Life Chair Pat Schenkel, Toni Brinker, Bobbie Sue and Phil Williams and 13-year-old Annalea Pedigo.
As the group moved into the ballroom for lunch, the boldfacers only grew in number, including Jim Francis, Ruth Altshuler, Lisa Troutt, Allie Beth Allman, June and Pete McGuire, Karen Jones, June Hunt, Harriet Miers, Dee Wyly and Jill Rowlett, who was making her first public appearance since foot surgery earlier this year.
After CBS 11’s Brendan Higgins and Gina welcomed the group, a surprise video of Bush matriarch Barbara Bush was shown. Then Katie told of the mission of NFNL “to restore and empower formerly trafficked teen girls and sexually exploited women and their children.” Unfortunately the need for NFNL has grown as the problem of human trafficking has increased.
Following lunch (gazpacho, salad medley of chicken salad, tuna salad, Dallas mozzarella tomato basil, caprese, Mediterranean Greek salad, fresh fruit salad and milk chocolate tulip), Pat Schenkel and Gerald Turner presented the “Protect-Her Awards” to Police Chief David Brown, Attorney General Greg Abbott and former First Lady Laura Bush. In describing Laura, Pat reminded all that the Bush Presidential Center was opening in the days ahead at SMU. Without missing a beat, Gerald added, “We decided to have Pat read the part about the Bush Library, so I wouldn’t hyperventilate.” That drew a big, old laugh from the audience.
In an unusual move, the recipients were acknowledged from their places sans remarks. This development was time saving and allowed the program to move on swiftly.
Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation President Jay McAuley then introduced Barbara, who handled her role to a “T” with mom looking on with a genuine smile of approval. Oh, sure she misspoke the name of NFNL a couple of times, but didn’t matter. The message got across. In her years, both in the White House and at Global Health Corps, she has seen internationally the suffering of others due to poor healthcare. There was the mother with the little girl, whom Barbara thought was 3. The mother revealed that the child was 7. As part of this concern on healthcare, Barbara told how the sex trade was part of the issue. She explained how GHC was tackling the problem by creating a team of an “international fellow” being paired up with a “fellow from the host country.” For a year the pair work “on the front lines of global health,” and eventually create a community by building supportive relationships over the years.
Recently more than 5,000 applied to participate in the program. She told of a recent pair, Emily and Jeffrey, whose ages added up to 51. They worked in an area of Malawi where 25% of the people were HIV-positive. During their year, the team worked to enroll every one of the 7,000 HIV-positive expectant mothers in the healthcare program to assure their getting the medication and attention. The result? 7,000 babies were born HIV-negative, and an entire generation was born saved from the disease.
Tying it back to NFNL, Barbara added that sex trafficking was a source of healthcare issues.
As one person put it, “It’s always gratifying to hear someone speak so passionately about something that involves them personally.”