Symphony of Success

Dallas chefs compose record-breaking night for music therapy nonprofit

What: Symphony of Chefs benefiting KidLinks

Where: Sixty Five Hundred

The 411: The eighth annual Symphony of Chefs was a delicious night of foodie fundraising, and a record-breaking contribution to KidLinks provided a sweet ending. The 2018 event was co-chaired by Georgia and Marc Lyons and Vinette and Michael Montgomery and emceed by Good Morning Texas co-host Jane McGarry.

Honorary chef chair emeritus Salvatore Gisellu of Urban Family Restaurants had passed the knife on to honorary chef Tiffany Derry, who enlisted an impressive roster of 25 accomplished chefs, including Tre Wilcox, Chad Houser, Joanne Bondy, Fitzgerald Dodd, Mark Guatelara, Ken Patrick, Manny Vera, and more.

The evening began with a hors d’oeuvres reception prepared by chef partner Justin Yoakum from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. About 250 attendees, including Jolie and Bart Humphrey, Carmaleta and Otis Felton, Margo and Bill Goodwin, Dallas Cowboy Tyrone Crawford, and founding event chairs Bonnie and Nathan Shea enjoyed light bites and drinks while musician Corey Breedlove serenaded on guitar.

Then guests sat down to a four-course dinner prepared table-side by the featured dinner chefs and paired with more than 40 wines representing eight regions. The meal concluded with a presentation of macarons from Haute Sweets Patisserie executive chef Gianni Santin and a decadent chocolate dessert from Dunia Borga from La Duni Baking Studio.

A presentation by KidLinks CEO Diana Crawford spurred patrons to give generously to the non-profit and to bid fiercely for dining packages and more in a live auction. By the time everyone pushed back from the table, the event had hit a new fundraising record of just over $260,000.

All proceeds go to KidLinks and their mission of linking kids to health and healing through music and media.

Who: Tracey Shuey, Alyssa Ausbrook, Karen Dollar, Mike Dollar, Suzanne Smith, Scot Smith, Paul G. Hill, Ginny Denmark, Maddie Benner, Jim Newton, Brooke Hortenstine, Lea Anne Laughlin, and JW Brown.

JW Brown, Bonnie Shea, Nathan Shea

Photo by Gabriel Sheffield Photography

JW Brown, Bonnie Shea, Nathan Shea

fundraisers chefs

Hot to trot

Equest Dallas patrons pony up record $700K at blue ribbon-worthy ball

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Honorary co-chairs David and Natalie Taylor, Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand, and Gala co-chairs Kristin and James Hallam

A sold-out crowd of 570 supporters stampeded into Gilley’s Dallas on April 25 for the 44th Annual Equest Blue Ribbon Gala. The Western-chic affair, always one of the most highly anticipated galas of spring, would have a record-breaking night.

Co-chairsKristin and James Hallam and honorary chairs The Sam and Helga Feldman Foundation and Natalie and David Taylor welcomed patrons decked out in cowboy boots and hats to Gilley's, which had been transformed into a shimmering celebration of all things Equest by event designer Steve Kemble. A “disco saddle” centerpiece even hung from the ceiling.

Emcee Calvert Collins-Bratton welcomed the crowed with a hearty "yee haw!" Equest founder Susan Schwartz presented the Founders Award to Carol Chamberlin, whose three decades of service as volunteer, donor, and barn manager have made her an Equest organization legend. The Citation Award went to Donna and Tim Weber and their daughter Katherine, an Equest client.

New CEO Eric Lindh took the stage to underscore Equest’s mission to provide equine-assisted learning, therapies, and counseling (much of it free of charge) to children, adults, and veterans. He shared the nonprofit's bold vision for the future, focusing on the number “22,” a call to action inspired by the 22 percent of Dallas County residents living with a disability, the 22 veterans lost to suicide daily in the U.S., and the 22 percent of Americans living with mental illness, while less than half of those receive treatment.

His pledge to expand services to first responders struck a chord with the crowd, as did the moving testimonials from Equest clients.

Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand urged the crowd to “Bid boldly. Bid big. Bid with heart,” and patrons did that in spades. Auctioneer Louis Murad encouraged bidders to raise paddles stridently, starting from initial $10,000 bids onward. Bidding got fast and furious live auction packages that included fabulous trips (with destinations such as France, Antigua, and Montana) and more. The most memorable moment came when a guest insisted Murad - ever the showman - auction off his own sparkling jacket. It fetched $2,000, a purchase by Tim Weber (who clearly loves a good statement piece).

In total, the gala raised $700,000, the largest fundraising amount in Equest’s 44-year history. The Blue Ribbon Ball's proceeds go directly to equine-assisted therapies and other services provided by Equest; for more information, visit the organization's website.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Honorary co-chairs David and Natalie Taylor, Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand, and Gala co-chairs Kristin and James Hallam

After a night of sipping, dining, and fundraising, patrons tried their luck at casino games and danced the night away to Jordan Kahn’s Manhattan Orchestra.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the evening, were Donna Weitzman, Nancy Greenbach, Natalie Taylor, Therese Rourk, Anne Seanor, Courtney Conley, Maggie Spiegel, Tyler Bridges, Lea LaFortune, Lee and Paul Michaels, Ryan and Kelly Casey, Christina Eubanks, Megan Pharis, Julie Bagley, Laura Johnson, Parker and Katy Brooks, Sharon Lee Clark, Max Clark, Jordan Glasgow, Anna Gresham, Khaki Christopher, Jessie Dornak, Jeff Netzer, Lynn McBee, Sarah and Trey Pederson, Luis Araujo, Amy Green, Kayten Elder, Sila Grogan, Melissa Placet, Tayler Reiter, Danny and Tanya Rice, Tina and Michael Beasom, and hundreds more patrons and supporters.