Sassy Lunch Affair
Author Julia Reed delivers big laughs at 8th annual Chick Lit Luncheon
With news just in from Community Partners of Dallas that its 2014 Chick Lit Luncheon raised $260,000, we couldn’t help but giggle at our desks thinking about the fun we had with author Julia Reed, the keynote speaker at the annual favorite at Brook Hollow Golf Club.
The festivities began on the eve of the luncheon, at Carolina Herrera in Highland Park Village, with a reception honoring sponsors and committee members. Store director Melinda Moore Rathke welcomed 100 guests, who got to meet the outspoken Reed.
At the luncheon proper, more than 600 CPD supporters — including Allison Methvin, Christine Danuser, Amy Sherman, Angela Nash, Rachel Trowbridge, Katherine Coker and Anne Stodghill — filled the country club ballroom to socialize over lunch. The cherry pie dessert was a nod to Reed’s Southern roots.
As plates were cleared, Paige McDaniel greeted attendees and introduced honorary chair Jennifer Burr Altabef and luncheon chair Jennifer Evans Morris, who followed by recognizing this year’s Partners for Children Award recipient: the Junior League of Dallas.
McDaniel also revealed a pair of brightly colored stiletto heels — the appropriate visual for the announcement that CPD would be the 2015 beneficiary of Stiletto Strut sponsored by Neiman Marcus.
Then it was showtime as Reed took the stage to share stories from her recent book But Mama Always Put Vodka in Her Sangria!: Adventures in Eating, Drinking, and Making Merry. Reed, a regular contributor to Newsweek, Vogue, Garden and Gun and New York Times, had the crowd laughing, blushing and wanting more as she delivered humorous anecdotes about covering politics, fashion and food around the world.
As the event drew to a close, guests received a parting gift that included a trio of Satin Hands products from Mary Kay, notepads courtesy of Paper Affair and CPD calendars.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Community Partners of Dallas has ensured safety and restored dignity and hope to abused and neglected children by providing crucial resources and support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services.