Everyone agreed: Co-Chairs Amy Lewis Hofland and Tara Lewis really “ramped it up” for the 10th annual Art for Advocacy auction event Saturday, November 5, at the General Datatech Warehouse space on Ambassador Row. The event, as always, benefited the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, which was celebrating its 25th anniversary. Over the last decade the annual bash has raised about $3 million to provide therapy and other services to abused children in Dallas County.
This year, though, things were upped a notch. The handsome tech space was an expansive contrast to FIG, the venue in previous years. This time around, there was a delicious seated dinner that was catered by Bolsa. And, following a successful art auction by maestro Louis Murad, big-time entertainment by the popular indie singer/songwriter Sarah Jaffe capped the evening.
First, though, the nearly 700 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and a close-up gander at all the art on the walls. About 100 local and regional artists were participating in the display, under the direction of Art Selection honcho Joyce Goss. Among those strolling and checking everything out were Honorary Chair Nancy Carlson, Kara and Randall Goss, Brian Bolke and Faisal Halum, Keith Nix, James Anbouba (“We always bid on a few items,” he said—“in fact, we have no more wall space!), Sofia Sugasti, Thomas Hartland-Mackie, Barry Whistler, Rachel and Hampton Richards, Kathi and Tom Lind, Nick Even and Clark Knippers and Kersten Rettig (still wearing a black boot, months after that mishap in Arkansas).
Following a talk by DCAC president and CEO Lynn Davis—he said the nonprofit group helped more than 4,000 children in 2015—auctioneer Murad took the stage, and the artwork began flying into the high bidders’ hands. A photo called “Moth” by Maxine Helfman, for example, was valued at $8,000 but went for $12,000; Megan Adams Brooks’ “Blindspot” painting,” valued at $7,800, sold for $9,000; and Shane Pennington’s copper-wire sculpture called “I Look Up In Wonder” was valued at $14,500, but wound up trading hands for a whopping $25,000.
So much excitement had been created, in fact, that one man popped up on stage and announced, “I’m going to match whatever anybody gives tonight, up to $100,000!” A little later, Sarah Jaffe and her band strummed their first notes. Ramped up, indeed.
For a look at some of the sponsors, who made this possible, follow the jump:
* Photo credit: Dane Davis
- Presenting Sponsor — City Electric Supply;
- Benefactor Sponsors — Highland Capital Management, The Williamson and Cutler Families;
- Patron Sponsors — Trammell S. Crow and Tara Lewis, Marisa and Frank Howard, Lowe-Skilling Family Foundation, Luminous Health Laboratories and Evolution Spine, Diana and Geoff Newton, TurningPoint Foundation;
- Collector Sponsors – Judee and Chad Barrett, Catherine and Aaron Enrico, Lara and Steve Harrison, Al G. Hill Jr., Perry Schlegel-Kloewer, Barrett Real Estate Group, Selwyn Rayzor and Rich Moses, Thompson & Knight LLP and Westerville North Self Storage;
- Advocate Sponsors — Dina and Jason Arnott, Bank of Texas, Becky Frey Real Estate, Meredith and Andrew Clavenna, Nancy and Joe Foran, Dawn and William Hennessey, Austin and Michelle Hopper, Joe, Kim and Jennifer Kesterson, Diana and Tom Klein, Kathi and Tom Lind, Carly and Blake Martin, Margot and Ross Perot, Rachel and Hampton Richards, Elisa and Stephen Summers, Ellis and Stephan Thomas and Westwood Trust;
- Enthusiast Sponsors — Zoe and David Bonnette, Susan and David Brown, Dara and Eli Burriss, Niki and David Campisi, Gianna Cerullo, Sarah Claire and Leo Corrigan, Carol Crowe, Jenny and Jason Doty, Monica and Joe Eastin, Leah and Philip Ewing, Kristy and Raymond Faus, Christine and Chris Flanagan, Formula Wellness Center, Kim and Dan Garrett, Yvonne and Giovanni Hager, Kristen and Bill Howell, HUB International, Carolyn Hubach, Mark Humphreys, J.M. Haggar Jr. Family Foundation, Lindsay and Chuck Jacaman, Kompany Kids Child Development Centers, March Family Foundation, Meredith Marshall and Natalie Mohtashami, Rachel and Nathan Nash, Ginny R. Neal —Merrill Lynch Private Bank, New Western Acquisitions, Christi and Wade Nicolas, Heather and Jason Ormand, JeAnna Parker, Colin and Roxanne Pero, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Julie and Steve Rado, John J. Reoch Jr., Kersten Rettig and Clark Knippers, Erin and Andy Richardson, Paula and Michael Richmond, Tracy and Brian Rinehart, Brooke and Andrew Rohmer, Andrew Schoellkopf, Caroline and Chris Settle, Courtney and Jeff Sinelli, Paige and John Slates, Vanessa and Stephen Sloan, Marlene and John Sughrue, Shirley and Alan Tallis, Tatum Brown Custom Homes, Shelley Tims and Imad Anbouba, Kyli and Ryan Vardeman, Fabené Joan Welch, Carey and John Willding and Lynn and Kevin Wisdom;
- Friend Sponsors — Brittany and Michael Bandy, Emily and Tyler Bethea, Megan and Beau Brooks, Holly and Doug Brooks, Family Foundation, Heather Bulk and Jordan Seff, Kathy and Harlan Crow, Dallas County Schools, Gwen and Leldon Echols, Sandy and Randy Franklin, Courtney Geiger DDS, Brooke and Ken Hopkins, Nancy and Solomon Israel, Jenny and Travis Littlefield, Chrissy and James Mantzuranis, Debi and Todd Martin, Angela Moemeka, Samantha Moffett and Michael Franklin, Neiman Marcus NorthPark, Karol and Larry Omlor, Bettye and Jay Rodgers, Gowri and Alex Sharma, Corrie and Todd Strosnider, Tatum Art Advisory and Kayci and Austin Weichbrodt