The night before David “The Enigmatist” Kwong was to bring his sleight-of-hand Trans World Creation bag of tricks for the Healing Hands Luncheon at the Dallas Arts District Mansion on Tuesday, March 19, he dined with Luncheon Co-Chair Christy Berry and husband Robby Berry and Co-Chair Nancy Scripps and husband Ryan Scripps. Was it at the Mansion? The Ritz? Al’s? Le Bilboquet? Nope. It was in the Berrys’ greenhouse attached to their home. And instead of any of the area caterers, Christy was the chef du jour. For David, it had been like being with family, since he has spent many occasions at the Berrys’ summer home.
The next morning, the Dallas Arts District Mansion was sold out with guests like Lacy and Clayton Sands, Helen Holman, Lynn Fisher, Cheryl Joyner, Debbie Oates, Christie Carter, Claire Emanuelson, Vicki Chapman, Sarah Losinger, Rainey Fogiel and Marti Carlin.
Following the typical fundraising luncheon format, WFAA8’s Chris Sadeghi served as emcee. He introduced the event’s Christy and Nancy, who thanked the sponsors, recognized the Honorary Co-Chairs Debbie Scripps and her late husband Ric Scripps, and told how the mission of HHM Health was to provide healthcare for “refugees, uninsured, underinsured and those living below the poverty level.”
They were followed by HHM Health CEO Brian Hawkins, who provided a brief report on how the organization had “completed 55,000 patient visits last year and served a record-breaking 15,000 unique patient visits.” He also described the recent collaboration with Hope Cottage and a new facility in South Dallas.
Following a video, Brian presented Samsung Women’s Health Ultrasound Business Leader Tracy Bury with the Healthcare Innovator Award for Samsung’s donation of a Samsung V7 ultrasound system and SonoSync digital collaboration solution to “bridge the gap to accessible, quality care and ensure improved outcomes for mothers and children at HHM Health.”
Coming to the podium next was HHM Health Interpreter Supervisor Hasan Hussin followed by Chief Dental Officer Dr. Blanca Peña.
As lunch commenced, the magic show got underway.
Lordy! Pity the poor soul who signed up for the luncheon thinking they were going to see a magician pulling a bunny out of a hat. They were sorely disappointed.
On the other hand, for those who have seen the movie “Now You See Me” a dozen times, David was a charmer who translated yesteryear’s sleight-of-the-sleeve card tricks and granny’s scramble board while providing touches of the history behind the games and puzzles that got their start way back when. Fearlessly he drafted members of the audience to take part in the brain-teasing tricks and puzzles.
While some well-heeled types eye-rolled like a frosh cheerleader trapped in an advanced physics class, others celebrated the challenges of the day and shouted out answers to David’s mind-boggling games.
Sorta disappointing was the person who had been on stage moments before on behalf of HHM Health and proceeded to talk non-stop to table companions while the presentation was underway.
But by the end of his 50-minute presentation, even the eye-rollers were amazed at the “Debbie dollar bill” that emerged from the sliced kiwi. Sorry, but you had to be there to understand how David presented his soup-to-nuts program.
Perhaps David’s “magic” is one that finds its home in a more intimate setting than the the Dallas Arts District Mansion’s ballroom for 400. Sorta like the difference between mahjong for four as opposed to the State Fair Midway games.