The Zoo Brothers are not a new all-boy rap group. Nor are they Pokémon critters. They made their official debut at at the Zoo To Do patron party on Thursday, September 22 at Mary McDermott Cook’s Dump Top home. With the Margaret Hunt Hill and Margaret McDermott bridges in the background, the Brothers (Hal Brierley, Don Glendenning and John Levy) reported on their co-chairing efforts for the Dallas Zoo fundraiser on Saturday, October 1.
Being gents, they first tipped their chapeaus to the previous chairs of the Dallas Zoo fundraiser. Then they fessed up that despite their manning up for the event, there were ladies behind the scenes attributing to their already earning more than $1.1M. Gals like the wives (Diane Brierley, Carol Glendenning and Carol Levy), Honorary Chair Mary McD (Don claimed that he considers the zoo to be Mary’s Zoo), Decoration Chair Ellen Winspear and Committee Co-Chairs Ruth O’Donnell Mutch and Christy Berry.
But when the rubber hit the road, Hal admitted that, in the past, the boys had always taken the role of showing up, sipping drinks and behaving. They now had greater respect for what their better halves and female pals had pulled off for so many fundraising events. Cracked Hal: “It’s a lot easier to be a spouse.”
The top lady of admiration was Mary, who in addition to hosting the patron party (“the hostest with the mostest”) was serving as the Silver Safari honorary chair and heading up the Eugene McDermott Foundation that is the presenting sponsor.
Other gals being recognized by the Zoo Brothers were Dallas Zoo Board of Directors Chair Joan Walne and Live Auction Chair Barbara Daseke, who has produced one of the most incredible collection of live auction items. Like what? How about a behind-the-scenes, meet-and-adore for six people to see the Dallas Zoo’s Swaziland elephants, including the new baby elephant and mama? Then the six will board a private jet to Kansas for a catered lunch and another behind-the-scenes tour of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo to check out their Swaziland elephants. Once again the six will board the jet and fly to Wichita, to see the last group of Swaziland transplants and enjoy cocktails at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Then they’ll head on home to Dallas. And they won’t have to pack a single trunk.
Another junket is on board American Airlines (first-class, of course) to Washington, D.C. “for an up-close viewing of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park’s newest panda, Bei Bei. You will be hosted by Executive Director Dennis Kelly and enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Zoo. Later in the day, visit a second Smithsonian museum for another VIP behind-the-scenes tour.”
And that’s just a couple of the packages!
As soon as the presentation on the third level was done, guests were directed to the ground level to check out Winspear the cheetah. Gee, that guy doesn’t need an agent. He’s a vet at posing for photos without a bribe.
In the crowd were Kathy and Richard Holt, Tiffany and Paul Divis, Ellen and Don Winspear, Diane and Mike Gruber, Jan and Fred Hegi, Matrice Ellis-Kirk and Ron Kirk, Kim and Greg Hext, Cindy and Chuck Gummer, Lois Finkelman, Dan Branch with daughter Sarah, Gregg Hudson, Sean Green and Holly Bock Deason.
The Dallas Zoo’s Laurie Holloway was like a proud parent showing video of 7-year-old Amahle taking a dip in the Giants of the Savanna pond. It seems that some folks are mistakenly thinking Amahle is the Swaziland baby who was born at the Dallas Zoo just after his mom arrived.
Regarding the new five-month-old calf and his mom, they’re doing wonderfully. Word has it that if baby boy is separated from mom, he is known to raise his trunk and let the world know that he’s a mama’s boy.
As for his public debut, it’s due to take place soon. BTW, he’s weighing in at around 300 pounds.
And speaking of being well fed, Zoo To Do Chief Chef Chris McDord of Abacus has arrange for the following chefs to prepare feasts throughout the Zoo including Chef Brad Phillips of Asador, Chef Matt Balke of Bolsa, Chef Omar Flores of Casa Rubia, Chef Lan Nickews of Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House, Dallas Affaires Cake Company, Chef Brandon McCann of Dallas Zoo Catering, Chef Dan Landsberg of Dragonfly at Hotel Zaza, Chef Meaders Ozarow of Empire Baking Company, Chef Jacob Williamson of Five- Sixty by Wolfgang Puck, Chef Chrysta Ordonez of Hypnotic Doughnuts, Chef Nico Sanchez of Meso Maya, Chef Paula Lambert of Mozzarella Company, Chef Anita Hirsch of Neiman Marcus, Kathy Rogers of Nothing Bundt Cakes, Chef Janice Provost of Parigi, Chef Blythe Beck of Pink Magnolia, Chef Michael Scott of Rosewood Ranches, Chef Abraham Salum of Salum, Chef John Coleman of Savor Gastropub, Chef Kevin Spencer of SER Steak + Spirits, Chef Jim “Sevy” Severson of Sevy’s Grill, Chef Carlos Capistran of Shinsei Restaurant, Chef Lisa Garza of Sissy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar, Chef Gilbert Garza of Suze, Chef Michael Morabito of Tillman’s Roadhouse, Chef Jesus Olivares of Via Real and Kelly Buckley of 7-Eleven Inc.
Here is a list of the folks and companies on board for the festivities:
Anniversary Presenting Underwriter ($100,000) — The Eugene McDermott Foundation
Platinum Underwriters ($50,000) — American Airlines (Official Airline of Zoo To Do), Diane and Hal Brierley, Carol and Don Glendenning /Locke Lord LLP, Carol and John Levy, Ruth O’Donnell Mutch and Gayla and Jim Von Ehr.
Silver Underwriters ($25,000) — Serena and Tom Connelly, Durham Family Foundation, Jennifer and John Eagle, Melissa and Trevor Fetter/Tenet Healthcare Corporation, Kara and Randall Goss, The M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation and Overhead Door Corporation.
White Gold Underwriters ($15,000) — 7-Eleven, Inc. (Party Favor Sponsor), Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Bank of America (Photo Booth Sponsor), Kate and Lane Britain, Barbara and Don Daseke, Diane and Mike Gruber/Gruber Elrod Johansen Hail Shank LLP, Cindy and Chuck Gummer, The Craig and Kathryn Hall Foundation, Highland Capital Management LP , Al G. Hill Jr., Lyda Hill, Oncor , Edgar A. Robinson Family, Lori and Chuck Whitten, Ellen and Don Winspear and Wendy and Gary Wojtaszek/CyrusOne.
Sterling Underwriters ($7,5000) — Lee Bailey, Connie and Denny Carreker, Debbie and Gerald Barnes/Gilian and Steve Baron/Susie and Joel Carp/Mary and Neil Dorflinger/Lisa and Neil Goldberg, ESCADA, The Hegi Family, Highland Park Village (Valet Sponsor), Jennifer and Doug Houser, Jackson Walker LLP, Dana and David Kleiman/Beth and Larry Konig/Elaine and Trevor Pearlman/Jackie Sherman/David Weinreb, Friends of Carol and John Levy, Vicki and Brian Miller, Dawn E. Moore/ Allegiance Title Company, Stephen Penrose, Caren Prothro, PwC, Nancy and Doug Rabe, Dr. R. Lynn and Cynthia A. Rea and Friends, The Rosewood Corporation, Service Systems Associates, Lisa K. Simmons, Texas Capital Bank, Texas Instruments, Tolleson Wealth Management, Turner Construction Company, UT Southwestern Medical Center/ Southwestern Medical Foundation, Walne Family/Herb’s Paint and Body Shops, Westwood Trust and Jane Williams and Ron Williams.
VIP Underwriters ($3,000) — Michael D. Anderek, RosenBerry Real Estate Group, Carol Braden and Vera Locurto, The Burnett Family, Ana and Don Carty, CLR Design Inc., Julia and Louis Dorfman, Cheryl and James Drayer, Karen and Phil Drayer, Betsy and Richard Eiseman/Eiseman Jewels NorthPark, Alina and Ruben E. Esquivel, Leland Burk and Thomas Feulmer, Lois and Ross Finkelman, Denise and Steven Glazer, Steve Hargrove/ Hargrove Electric Co., Kim and Greg Hext, Holmes Murphy and Associates, Tavia and Clark Hunt, Margo and Jim Keyes, Matrice Ellis- Kirk and The Honorable Ron Kirk, Pat and Charles McEvoy, Deborah and David Michel, Winstead PC, Janiece and Jimmy Niemann, Nancy Perot and Rod Jones, PlainsCapital Bank , Jeff and Darrel Rice and Mary and Mike Terry.
Media Sponsors — PaperCity, Park Cities News/ The Waters Family, MySweetCharity.com and Downtown Business News.