There were some very happy campers at Highland Park Village’s Mockingbird Room on Thursday, March 7. The occasion was the presentation of checks to the 2023 Crystal Charity Ball beneficiaries by 2023 CCB Chair Angie Kadesky and 2023 Underwriting Chair Mary Martha Pickens. Here’s a report from the field:
“It was dark and stormy night” to borrow a remarkably familiar passage from a literary “masterpiece.” Such was the beginning of the evening on Thursday, March 7, at Highland Park Village when the 2023 Crystal Charity Ball Committee distributed more than $8 million to eight charitable projects.
The impressive amount of funds was the result of Chair Angie Kadesky’s vision for “Masterpieces In the Making” which was the theme of the 2023 Crystal Charity Ball last December at the Hilton Anatole. Angie, and Underwriting Chair Mary Martha Pickens, gleefully handed out millions of dollars to deserving beneficiaries as dark clouds and threatening-looking skies loomed outside.
As guests arrived, they encountered a barren parking lot in Highland Park Village – a true rarity on almost every early evening. But, the eager recipients of the much-anticipated funds soon descended, the park lot was full, and the fun began. Presented by Truist Bank, the check presentation was co-hosted by Truist executive Renda Mathew, also a new member of the Crystal Charity Ball Advisory Board. The Mockingbird Room was near capacity with more than one hundred guests braving potential storms.
The checks totaling $8,861,131 broke down into the following distributions:
- After-School All-Stars North Texas'”Comprehensive Cost-free After-School/Summer Programs for Middle School Youth” to provide a safe place to grow and learn after school – $596,565
- Buckner Children and Family Services’ “Expanding Children and Youth Programming at Three Dallas Buckner Family Hope Centers’ ” to strengthen families in under-served neighborhoods – $995,663
- Fair Park First’s “Community Park: Fulfilling a 40+Year Promise to create an all-abilities toddler playground – $1,000,000
- Family Gateway’s”Mobile Crisis Response Unit for Children Facing Homelessness” to prevent homelessness for children and their families – $1,032,000
- Metrocare Services’ “Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic at the new Hillside Campus to build a new home for mental health services for children – $912,881
- The Salvation Army of North Texas’ “Childcare Center at the Salvation Army’s new Dallas Social Service Center to conduct a new children center for campus residents – $1,349,804
- YMCA Of Metropolitan Dallas’ “Preschool at the new Park South Family YMCA” to revitalize the neighborhood beacon of hope – $799,218
- Children’s Medical Center Foundation on behalf of “Action Before Crisis” – $2,175,000 as part of the Crystal Charity Ball’s 70th Anniversary Project (this is the third installment toward $10M, five-year commitment)
The Anniversary Project check was accepted by Brent Christopher, president of Children’s Medical Center Foundation which is an important facilitator of the children’s health initiative. Brent’s eloquent remarks brought the evening to an appropriate crescendo as he compared the mix of beneficiaries to an intricately woven tapestry. He thoughtfully cited each beneficiary and the members of the Crystal Charity Committee who have distributed more than $191 million to 160 children’s charities in Dallas County since 1952.
As the guests departed the clouds seemed to have drifted away. Needless to say, there were many happy faces leaving the Village.
* Photo credit: Tamytha Cameron