While Sparktacular was sparkling for SPARK! along Beverly Drive on Thursday, May 1, just a couple of blocks away North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee Co-Chair/2025 Visionary Luncheon Co-Chair Dan Hunt had opened his home for the Retina Foundation‘s fundraiser patrons.
If nothing else, it was a treat just surveying the home with a global feel, thanks to everything from Far East to American Indian seamlessly coming together. But setting the mood before even entering the house was Dan greeting guests like Alan White, Monica Rosser, Cheryl and John Hall, Isabell and Trey Higginbotham, Anne and Bill Seanor, Yi-Zhong Wang, Tracy Fulton, and Retina Foundation CEO/Medical Director Dr. Karl Csaky personally. After all, the mission of the Retina Foundation was near and dear to Dan’s heart.
As he told guests, “My mother’s [the late Norma Hunt] journey and the devastating news when she had macular degeneration, and what that meant to her — the loss of eyesight, the loss of the ability to do things. And if you knew her, she was one of the most special persons I’ve ever known. But she was truly one of the most unique people and independent. She feared losing her independence, which you know your eyesight is Number One. I think with that and when she started taking shots in her eyes, it halted her decline. It allowed her to live what was a very full life… If you take one message away from this today, it is that the Retina Foundation is the best-kept secret in Dallas.”
Co-Chair Jay Rosser also had signed up for the fundraiser because of his late boss T. Boone Pickens‘ support of the Foundation.
According to Jay, “I worked 25 years for Boone. He was a great boss. He gave me great advice over the years. One great piece of advice was never follow a legend, and here I am. I’ll tell you another funny story and this why I’m so grateful for this. Dan and I each have a 9-year-old daughter. They go to the same school. They play on the same soccer team. I literally accosted Dan on the soccer field and said, ‘Dan, I really want you to co-chair this event with me. You don’t have to do anything, I just need your name.’ Let me tell you — he stepped up to the place. He’s been a true leader in helping raise money. It’s a passion project for him and the Hunt family and I’m so grateful for that. My role tonight is to really say ‘thank you’ to the sponsors of the luncheon, to the people who stepped up beyond the host committee.”
Both Dan and Jay saluted philanthropists Lee Ann and Alan White for their support and for coming on board as honorary co-chairs of the event taking place at the Meyerson on Thursday, May 8.
Surprising the crowd, Jay revealed that in addition to Boone’s giving two and a half million dollars to the Retina Foundation 15 years ago, his foundation would be giving a $100,000 matching gift that would be announced at the luncheon featuring Eric Stonestreet and his mother Jamey Stonestreet.
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