The evening of Thursday, January 26, seemed just perfect for strolling in Flippen Park. And a couple of the guests for the Soup’s On! Luncheon patron party did just that. Instead of valet parking, they parked down the way and walked to the mansion on the corner where Luncheon Chair Heather Sauber was greeting the non-stop flow of guests like Nelda Cain Pickens, David Griffin, Jan and Fred Hegi, Nancy Scripps, Stewpot Alliance Board President Julie Marshall and Honorary Co-Chairs Margie and Ray Francis.
This year there was a bit of change in the air for the annual Stewpot Alliance fundraiser on Tuesday, January 31. Yes, they would be returning to Union Station, and Chef Chief Brian Luscher had an all-star lineup of chefs preparing the soup. But Heather had tweaked the usual program explaining that by having a panel discussion with Mayor Mike Rawlings, Dallas Morning News’ Keven Ann Willey and Robert Wilonsky, Dallas Police Sgt. Jeff Tooker and The Concillo President/CEO Florencia Velasco Fortner, “We’re returning to our roots of addressing the Dallas homeless situation.”
She also admitted that the plan avoided having to pay a speaker’s fee by tapping the local vets of the homeless situation. Smart thinking. By staying lean, the check to the Alliance will be fatter.
Another feature added to this year’s luncheon would be the celebration of the women (Catherine Bywaters, Jennifer Clifford, Marty Coleman, Margie Francis, Nancy Gillham, Jan Hegi, Kathy Jackson, Martha Lipscomb, Martha Martin, Joan Mason, Suzanne Palmlund, Micki Rawlings, Carolyn Walton, Karen Ware and Trish Weigand) who founded the Stewpot Alliance 10 years ago.