It was the very best of coming together of opposites on the night of Tuesday, April 2, at Tracey and Aaron Kozmetsky’s fabulous historic-designated Highland Park home. It was the 2019 Crystal Charity Ball that had brought together the 2019 CCB beneficiaries (Child and Family Guidance Center, Community Partners of Dallas, Cristo Rey Dallas, For The Nations Refugee Outreach, Interfaith Family Services, Jubilee Park and Community Center, Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic, Mercy Street, Promise House and Readers 2 Leaders) with the CCB Advisory Board thanks to Tolleson Wealth Management’s underwriting.
Just a half hour into the gathering, the mansion showcasing art and elegance was filled with all types of folks. For instance, as Elizabeth and Eric Gambrell turned down the back hallway, a crash of wine glasses was heard around the corner. As the serving staff undertook an Easter-egg like hunt for the shards of glass, the Gambrells reported that their daughter Eleanor Gambrell would be bowing in June for La Fiesta De Las Seis Banderas.
In the sunroom, former CCB Chair Cynthia Mitchell was shorter than usual standing next to towering husband Tom Mitchell. Seems she had shrunk a quarter of an inch in the past year according to her recent checkup.
In the dining room, Richard Eiseman fessed up to wife Betsy Eiseman that when he had been in Paris, he had run into Lisa Troutt with her daughters. He told folks that Lisa was his wife. As Betsy laughed it off, Richard told how his mom, Louise Eiseman, had told Betsy, “I’ve had him longer than you, so you can take over.”
In the entry hall, when complimented about the DCEO cover featuring John Tolleson and his son Carter Tolleson, John said he was backing away from the limelight. As soon as the Tolleson spouses — Debbie Tolleson and Kacy Tolleson— joined their husbands for a photo, someone suggested that the cover would have been even better with the ladies present. To this comment, the men wisely agreed.
Others in attendance throughout the house: Best shoes — 2019 CCB Chair Pat McEvoy and Sarah Losinger. Sarah was sans husband Alan Losinger, but promised that he would be present for Saturday’s Sweetheart Ball at Brook Hollow; Advisory Board members Diane and Hal Brierley, Jacqueline Fojtasek, Jason Downing and David Miller; Beneficiaries: Jubilee’s Ben Leal, Community Partners of Dallas’ Paige McDaniel and Joanna Clarke, For The Nations Refugee Outreach’s Kaitlyn Mullens, Interfaith Family Services’ Kimberly Williams and Readers 2 Leaders’ Norma Nelson, who summed up the feeling of many of the beneficiaries, saying, “This was our first try and I still can’t believe it.”
As Pat explained, “This year’s goal ($6.8M) is Crystal Charity Ball’s largest amount of grants ever made,” both beneficiaries and board members took a collective gasp of appreciation. For the funds will benefit the present and future children of Dallas.
For more photos of the evening, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.