The sold-out 2021 Wrap It Up Luncheon was far more than just a meal on Thursday, November 19, at Northwood Club. Benefiting CC Young, the fundraiser’s Co-Chairs Brianna Brown and Kama Koudelka had something for everyone, including a fashion presentation with commentary by Jan Strimple and Betty Reiter, auctions and a market with goodies just in time for the upcoming holidays. Here’s a report from the field:
CC Young hosted a sold-out crowd at its annual Wrap It Up Luncheon sponsored by the Body Mind Spirit Connection on Thursday, November 18, at the Northwood Club featuring a day full of holiday shopping, silent and live auctions, a fashion presentation and luncheon. The Wrap It Up Luncheon is one of CC Young’s leading fundraisers and benefits a very special need at CC Young, its Benevolence Fund, which serves as a safety net for residents today who outlive their savings and financial resources. This year’s honorary chair was Sharon Ballew, and event co-chairs were Brianna Brown and Kama Koudelka.
The morning kicked off with a reception and holiday gift market offering Christmas decorations, stocking stuffers, handcrafted jewelry and more from a variety of local vendors including: Betty Reiter Fashions, Betsy Simpson Jewelry, Davis Street Mercantile, CC Young Holiday Shop and the CC Young Woodies. Guests also had the opportunity to bid on curated group of items in the silent auction.
After shopping and mingling, guests were seated for the program and fashion presentation. CC Young President/CEO Russell Crews welcomed guests and emphasized how important events like the Wrap It Up Luncheon are for the residents at CC Young. Crews detailed how Covid and the damaging ice storm impacted the campus and its residents, but he credited staff and donors for keeping everything going, despite recent challenges. Crews went on to recognize former CC Young VP of Development Sharon Ballew for her continued dedication to CC Young over the years, including serving as luncheon honorary chair. He also presented CC Young Foundation Board Member Jill Goldberg with the Legacy Honoree Award.
Following the awards presentation, guests were treated to A Fashion Conversation hosted by Jan Strimple and Betty Reiter. Models, including CC Young Body Mind Spirit Connection members, donned fashions from Betty Reiter’s eponymous boutique and showed them off as they strutted down the catwalk. Strimple and Reiter moderated as models showed off unique trends and clothing for the season.
A lively and successful live auction commenced after the fashion presentation with items including: a Christmas Tea at the Dallas Arboretum with a private golf cart tour for five people; a Betty Reiter experience for 12, complete with a Sunday brunch and a private showing of the 2022 spring collection; a beautiful one-of-a-kind turquoise necklace handcrafted by Betsy Simpson Jewelry; and an elegant four-course dinner for eight created by CC Young Executive Chef Sean Frye. The final opportunity to bid was a call for donations to “Giving for a Cause,” which provides nutritious meals for “food insecure” seniors in the Dallas Metroplex. Attendees raised paddles to donate meals to seniors in need, raising a record amount this year to provide pre-packaged meals to seniors in our community.
Following the fashion presentation and auction, attendees enjoyed a delicious holiday lunch including: tomato basil soup with fresh asiago cheese; a Mediterranean salad served with grilled chicken breast, Portobello mushrooms, toasted pine nuts, artichokes, charred red pepper, asiago cheese crisps and Balsamic vinaigrette; and a lemon meringue tart topped with a seasonal berry compote.
This year’s Wrap It Up sponsors included:
- Gold Sponsor: Hamon Charitable Foundation
- Silver Sponsors: Sharon and Maurice Ballew, Briana Brown and Kama Koudelka
- Bronze Sponsors: Veta Boswell, Chrys Franklin, Judy Gibbs, Judy Hearne, Julie Jodie, Kathy Mallick, Mary Moore and Nancy Rogers
- Individual Sponsors: Amy Anderson, Fonda Arbetter, Nan Bishop, Kim Brannon, Carole Ann Brown, Gina Hebner-Burau, Nancy Connor, Kathy Cothrum, Patricia Cowlishaw, Mari Epperson, Susan Fisk, Nancy Fitzgerald, Kay Fulton, Jill Goldberg, Paige McDaniel, Debra Merlino, Lisa Meyer, Sally Molinari, Sammye Myers, Vicki Peterson, Laura Petty, Katherine Phillips, Connie Rhodes, Tish Robertson, Susan Scullin, Betsy Simpson and Linda Spina
- Additional Sponsors: Kathryne Bishop, Kathy Crow, Jeanette Dunkerley, Betsy Fijolek, Mrs. Daniel (Bettina) Hennessy, Lu Hester, Marilyn Hodge, Gwen Huff, Kathleen E. Irvin, Rebecca Lones, Dorothea Meltzer, Jane Morris, Venise Stuart, Carla Swenson, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Tobin, Kay Weeks, Anja Woodson and Angela Zashin
* Photo credit: Chuck Clark