Just before Covid started shaking things up in 2020, Sally Dutter and Beth Thoele were all set to co-chair Community Partners of Dallas’ Chick Lit Luncheon. It was scheduled for Friday, March 27, at the Hilton Anatole, with the Moody Foundation receiving the Partners for Children Award and Diane Keaton as the keynote speaker. Just a couple of weeks before the big day, organizers had to cancel due to the growing pandemic precautions getting underway.
But Sally and Beth haven’t given up and are back in the nest co-chairing the CPD fundraiser with Debbie Scripps serving as honorary chair. And with time a’wasting they’re ready to make announcements about the 17th Annual Chick Lit Luncheon that will return to the Hilton Anatole on Friday, April 21, presented by Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel.
For the speaker, they’ve taken a hint from past speaker Andy Cohen, who described the lady as
“iconic” and someone who “will always be the queen of diamonds in the Bravo universe.”
Yup, you guessed it. The 2023 keynoter will be businesswoman, TV personality, author and London-born philanthropist Lisa Vanderpump.
In addition to her producing and starring in “Vanderpump Rules” on Bravo, “Overserved” on E!, “Vanderpump Dogs” on Peacock and “Pooch Perfect” on ABC, she and her husband Ken Todd have two kids, Pandora and Max, loads of pets and five restaurants on this side of the pond. Besides having style and being business-savvy, she has been a zealous animal advocate creating the Vanderpump Dogs Foundation to help rescue dogs in Los Angeles and to fight the slaughter of dogs in Yulin, China.
And even if you’re a loyal Vanderpumper, you might not know that she made her film debut at the age of 13 in the 1973 film “A Touch of Class” that starred Glenda Jackson and George Segal. While she didn’t make it in the credits, she did play Glenda’s daughter.
According to CPD President/CEO Paige McDaniel, “We are absolutely thrilled to bring the Chick Lit Luncheon back to its place in the spring calendar, and are equally as delighted to have the glamorous, witty and compassionate Lisa Vanderpump as our featured speaker. Although known from Bravo TV’s ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,’ as well as her highly successful restaurants, bars and other ventures, it is her great sense of style, love of family and her sincere passion for helping others that makes Lisa a stand out.”
And speaking of Paige, in response to last week’s announcement of her pending retirement, Sally, Beth and Debbie have decided to use the luncheon as “a special attribute to Paige” for her “21 years of extraordinary service to the non-profit prior to her upcoming retirement in May.”
Funds raised from the luncheon will support CPD’s mission “to provide what abused children urgently need today to thrive tomorrow.”
Sponsorships and tables sales are now available here. Depending on availability, individual tickets will go on sale in April.
* Graphic/photo provided by Community Partners of Dallas
Paige McDaniel says
Thank you for sharing our wonderful news, MSC! April 21 going to be a great day!