Just days before the Cristo Rey Dallas Grow the Grove event at Sixty Five Hundred, Lindsay and George Billingsley opened their home for the fundraiser’s patrons on Tuesday, October 29. The highlight of the evening was a presentation by Cristo Rey Dallas students about their experiences at the college preparatory school. Here’s a report from the field:
Cristo Rey Dallas celebrated sponsors of the 4th annual Grow the Grove at a cocktail reception on Tuesday, October 29, at the home of Lindsay and George Billingsley.
Blake Meadows*
Attendees arrived and mingled as they enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Midway through the reception, Cristo Rey Dallas President Kelby Woodard gathered the crowd including Isabell and Trey Higgenbotham, Lydia Novakov, Kathleen and Frank Lauinger, Mary Blake and Chuck Meadows, Christy and Craig Scheef and Maryann Mihalopoulos for brief remarks.
Woodard thanked the Billingsleys for opening their home, before recognizing this year’s Honorary Co-Chairs Karen and Mark Carney and Honorees Liza and Will Lee. He then took a few moments to introduce the Cristo Rey Dallas students who shared details about their experience at the school, as well as experiences at their Corporate Work Study Program assignments, which allows the students a Catholic, college-preparatory education while earning work experience in a corporate setting.
Honoree Liza followed and extended her gratitude to Cristo Rey Dallas for honoring her and husband Dr. Will Lee. She also thanked all for their support of this year’s Grow the Grove, which would be held on Saturday, November 2.
Woodard closed by thanking the many sponsors who helped make the event possible, which include the following:
- Buy our Books ($10,000) – Lindsay and George Billingsley, Lucy and Henry Billingsley, Lucy and Tom Burns, Peter and Michelle Collins, Maryann and Frank Mihalopoulos, Mary and Mike Terry and Texas Security Bank;
- Stock the Shelves ($5,000 +) – Anthony Family Foundation, Lynn and Win Bell, Karen and Mark Carney, John and Kathleen Dziminski/The Catholic Foundation, Laura and Jim Einspanier, Claire and Dwight Emanuelson, Joyce and Larry Lacerte, Kathleen and Frank Lauinger, Nancy Cain Marcus, Mary Blake and Chuck Meadows, Tricia and Bill Miller, Jennifer and Jon Mosle, Nelda Cain Pickens, Chris and Joe Popolo, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, Jeff and Darrel Rice, Barbara and Randall Rosenblatt/Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, Megan and Joe Barrie-Schwarz and Michelle Vopni;
- Support a Teacher for a Month ($3,500+) – Sue and Lee Coleman, Jessica and Doug Epperson, J.M. Haggar, Jr. Family Foundation, Liza and Will Lee and School Sisters of Notre Dame;
- Sponsor an Act Prep Class ($1,800+) – Bob Baillargean, Stuart Bumpas/Locke Lord, Sylvia and Jeff Chavez, Lee Cullum, Judy and John Dryden, Isabel Esteve, Carmen and Raul Estrada, Jack Fraker, Glenn Partners, Susan and Mark Godvin, Nancy S. and Jeremy L. Halbreich Charitable Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas, Hoglund Foundation, Joeris, Cheryl and Richard Joyner, Muffin Lemak, Rosemarie Marshall, Janie and Cappy McGarr at Texas Women’s Foundation, Vicki and Brian Miller, Laura and Scott Moore, Kathy and Edward Ramirez, Micki and Mike Rawlings, St. Augustine Parish, Joanna and David Shuart, Michele and John Stephens and Ana and Jim Yoder.
Attendees of the 4th annual Grow the Grove sponsor party included: Isabell and Trey Higgenbotham, Lydia Novakov, Pat and Tom Burns, Kathleen and Frank Lauinger, Mary Blake and Chuck Meadows, Christy and Craig Scheef and Maryann Mihalopoulos.
For more information about Cristo Rey Dallas visit cristoreydallas.org.
About Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep – Located in Pleasant Grove, Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep provides economically challenged students of all faiths with a college preparatory education enabling them to become men and women of purpose and service. Through a rigorous curriculum, integrated with a hands-on professional work experience, students graduate ready to succeed in college and in life. cristoreydallas.org
* Photo provided by Cristo Rey Dallas