Despite the lack of beaches, it was definitely surfs up at the Annette Strauss Artist Square Saturday night for Vogel Alcove‘s 29th Annual Arts Performance Event. From guests in talk-to-me Hawaiian shirts to autographed surfboards being auctioned off, the night not only raised funds and awareness of the Vogel Alcove’s mission, but it also was a heck of a lot of “fun, fun, fun” for guests like Barbara and Marty Mitz, Sara and Matt Bodzy, Samantha and Kyle Sigel, Shelley and Ed Dolanski, Brennan and Jason Edgerton, Hannah and Klayton Mai, Harper Lewis with Lance Lewis, Cindy Bientendorf and Whitney Bientendorf. Here’s a report from the field:
Vogel Alcove President/CEO Karen R. Hughes along with Arts Performance Event Co-Chairs Scott Beck, CEO of Beck Ventures Inc. and Alex Holmes, Chairman and CEO of Moneygram International, brought over 700 supporters together in person and virtually to benefit Vogel Alcove.
Featuring the Beach Boys in concert, the 29th Annual Arts Performance Event filled the lawn at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Annette Strauss Artist Square with socially distanced beach chairs, a favor bag full of goodies and a gourmet picnic dinner provided by Wolfgang Puck Catering. Guests dressed in designer Hawaiian and fashionable spring casual outfits as they began the experience with a photo opp inside a colorful vintage Volkswagen van painted in a 1960s theme by Photobus DFW, a signature cocktail strawberry mojito and passed hors d’oeuvres.
It was a festive evening as the oldies music filled the air and everyone enjoyed cocktails, photo opps, tossing beach balls, getting together with friends, and other entertainment by Main Event. The event also feature an in-home Virtual Experience of the performance for those who preferred to remain at home. The Arts Performance Event is the largest fundraising event of the year for Vogel Alcove, raising a significant portion of their annual funding. Following a year of event cancellations and unprecedented occurrences, this 2021 event was unlike any other, featuring an outdoor venue and set-up inline with CDC guidelines.
Emcee Brad Sham welcomed the crowd introducing videos of testimony from Vogel Alcove clients and supporters. Vogel Alcove Chairman of the Board Scott Wilson shared the mission of Vogel Alcove and recognized board members in the audience with a round of applause.
Scott and Alex took the stage thanking Premier Sponsor Oliver Wyman Inc. and Presenting Sponsors Beck Family and United Texas Bank, Eagle Materials, Inc., Susan and Larry Hirsch-The Hirsch Family Foundation, Kainos Capital, Kerri and Rick Lacher/Houlihan Lokey, MoneyGram International Inc., Vinson and Elkins LLP, Lisa and Scott Wilson, Winston and Strawn LLP and sharing their own personal experiences working as volunteers with the children at Vogel Alcove. Their stories touched everyone’s hearts as the videos gave uplifting visuals of the interactions with the children, their fun events, counselors and teachers, saying their hopeful energy brings smiles all around.
The Beach Boys took the stage singing “Catch a Wave” with a stage-sized video screen behind them showing scenes from their past concerts, nostalgic moments they enjoyed together off stage, and followed with fan favorites, as the audience joined in dancing and singing. Since lead-singer Mike Love penned the lyrics to The Beach Boys’ first hit, “Surfin’” (1961), dozens of the bands chart toppers have become eternal anthems of American youth: “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Kokomo.” The Beach Boys mark more than a half century of making music, continuing to ride the crest of a wave unequaled in America’s musical history. The Beach Boys have become synonymous with the California lifestyle and have become an American icon to fans around the world.
The evening concluded with an after-party for guests with music and dessert from Cow Tipping Creamery, Steel City Pops and Wolfgang Puck Catering. Miniature golf was played, a prize raffle took place with prizes from Raising Cane’s, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Southwest Airlines and a basket of fine bourbons. A silent auction took place; guests bid on surf boards signed by Beach Boys Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. This portion of the evening was so popular that the stage-prop surf boards were signed and auctioned off as well.
All proceeds from the Annual Arts Performance Event benefit Vogel Alcove, an early childhood education and Parent Opportunity Center that is working to Rewire Brains, Repair Hearts, and Restore the Families of homeless children in Dallas. Vogel Alcove provides educational, developmental, and therapeutic services to children and families affected by homelessness. Using its “Two-Generational” approach to solving homelessness, services are provided to client families through the early childhood education program and parent opportunity department. All of these services are free, in a safe and nurturing school environment, in which the families can learn and grow together. Learn more about Vogel Alcove by visiting the website at VogelAlcove.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @VogelAlcove.
* Photo credit: Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio