Well, Mother Nature just couldn’t hold back any longer and she let the winter weather blow up a lot of plans for the weekend. But some groups rallied the troops, like the Dallas Festival of Ideas in the Performing Arts District and the Resource Center’s Toast to Life Voodoo on the Trinity at The Empire Room on Saturday, February 28. Here are a couple of field reports about other goings on:
Genesis Young Leaders’ Masquerade
Despite the frigid temps and Uber surge rates, the Dallas YP set headed across the bridge to 3015 at Trinity Groves for the second annual Genesis Young Leaders Masquerade, presented by Stonelake Capital Partners and Texas Capital Bank. Event co-chairs Marybeth and Kevin Conlon and
beautifully transformed the space by using unique touches from Garden Gate Floral and Fauxcades to create an art deco feel of golds, blacks, and whites.
With a “Masquerade Mule” or other festive drinks from Deep Eddy Vodka in hand, partygoers —draped in masks, party beads, and cocktail chic—chatted and captured memories at the photo booth or Slo-Mo video station. The silent auction and raffle grabbed attendees’ attention by offering items like Arteriors lamps, a Yeti cooler filled with Four Corners Brewing Co. beer, and a staycation at Hotel ZaZa. After table games and bidding, guests kept warm on the dance floor with help from entertainment Cuvee.
Thanks to the generosity of guests and underwriters, the party surpassed goals and raised more than $135,000 for Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support to provide services free of charge for battered women and their children.
Spotted on the YP scene: Kamela and Kenneth Aboussie, Ashley and Matt Kellogg, Whitney and Preston Zapffe, Allison Vanderwoude, Blake and Eve Wiley, Abby and Drew Evans, Jessica Killough, Blake Rogers and Holly Heft, Ashley and Marcus Allen, Andrea and Eric Earnhart and Matt and Jamie Miller.
Genesis Young Leaders was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to promoting domestic violence awareness and to supporting Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support and its clients.
19th Annual Slipper Club Gala
Slipper Club, a not-for-profit organization and the first women’s social club of Dallas that fosters charitable giving programs to support charities serving women and children, hosted its 19th annual fundraising gala, a “Bubbly Affair” at Belo Mansion. An evening of cocktails, live music by Time Machine Band, Vegas-style casino games, an extensive silent auction, raffles, photo booth by DTX Media, champagne tower and gourmet chicken and waffles, brought together more than 500 members and supporters to benefit Slipper Club’s 2015 beneficiary, Camp John Marc (CJM).
Before the expected guests arrived on one of Dallas’ coldest nights in 2015, Slipper Club President, Susan Deasy Conway, hosted the annual President’s Dinner that included Belo Mansion Caesar Salad, fork-tender beef short rib with a Cabernet demi-glaze served with garlic mashed potatoes and winter root vegetables and flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce.
Highlighting Slipper Club’s 2015 achievements, Susan presented CJM Executive Director Vance Gilmore to enlighten guests on the impact the Slipper Club’s donation will have toward the campers and organization in months to come.
In addition to the extravagant evening, the silent auction was complete with more than 200 items in categories including great escapes, sporting events, entertainment and more. The total amount raised on Saturday night will be announced in late March with a check presentation to Vance. This year’s gala would not have been such an amazing success without Gala Chair Erika Burton, Auction Co-Chairs Haley Donald and Blair Nelson, the gala team, Slipper Club board members and Slipper Club’s wonderful sponsors.
Camp John Marc, a nonprofit organization founded in 1991, inspires confidence for life through high-quality camping programs for children, teens and families. Year-round programming and specialized camp facilities are uniquely designed in partnership with Dallas-Fort Worth pediatric hospitals, community volunteers and health organizations dedicated to serving campers living with chronic, medical and physical challenges. Almost 25 years later, CJM currently hosts eleven week-long summer camps and more than 25 weekend camps. On average, more than 3,000 children, teens and family members attend a CJM camp every year.
* Photo credit: Amy E. Frost ** Photo credit: Jessie Wallace, DTX Media