Giving back

Generous Dallas gala-goers keep Alzheimer's research top of mind

What: Aging Mind Foundation Gala

Where: The Joule

The 411: A who's who of Dallas philanthropists and supporters of the Aging Mind Foundation gathered on March 23 for the organization's fifth annual gala and gave generously from their hearts. The elegant evening raised over $720,000 to find the cause of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Presented by Headington Companies, The Joule and Forty Five Ten, the event kicked off with a cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner with special musical entertainment, a live auction, and after-party on the Joule Terrace.

Yvonne and Mayo Crum were recognized as the 2019 gala honorees. Sherwood Wagner served as the honorary chair, and Kathy Nelson as gala chair. Greg Creed, Yum! Brands CEO, acted as master of ceremonies and hosted the dinner.

“Over 6 million Americans are currently battling Alzheimer’s disease and by 2050, that number is expected to increase to 14 million Americans,” said Laree Hulshoff, co-founder of Aging Mind Foundation. “The gala is our largest fundraiser of the year. This year, the event benefits Yale University’s Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, and Repair program.”

Guests feasted on exquisite food and drinks created by The Joule culinary team, including roasted zucchini and spinach soup with whipped Parmesan cream and focaccia croutons; dry aged New York strip with ravioli, broccoli rabe, and green peppercorns; and limoncello mousse with a mélange of berries, and a fennel pollen cookie.

Guests bid competitively in a live auction of seven fabulous items: an ultimate staycation at the Joule Hotel; an exclusive golf experience and lunch at the Dallas National Golf Club with Cowboys legend Ed “Too Tall” Jones and former Dallas Maverick all-star Jason “Jet” Terry; a private hunt at Togo Island; a Palm Desert driving experience; a VIP Hollywood trip to attend a taping of Will & Grace; private wine tastings and tours of Jean-Charles Boisset Collection in Napa Valley and Delouch Vineyards in Russian River Valley; and an exclusive VIP dinner at AT&T Stadium for the 2019 NFL Season kickoff.

Country-songwriter singer Jay Allen entertained guests. Among his songs was “Blank Stares,” a viral hit on social media that he wrote and recorded in honor of his mother, who passed away from Alzheimer’s in February.

The evening concluded with a rooftop after-party on The Joule Terrace against a gorgeous Dallas night sky.

Since the founding in 2013 and with the backing of Michael Tregoning, president of Headington Companies, the Aging Mind Foundation has raised over $2 million to fund high-quality brain research.

Who: John Clutts, Martha Wyly Miller, Sami Arslanlar, Jonika Nix, Carey Moen, Alana Sada, Adrian Sada, Kiki Pennington, Shandi Hudson, Katy Avrea, Sanders Avrea, Cara Owens, Gary Owens, Stacy Nutkis, Mark Hiduke, Heather ArDeel, Kathy Nelson, Ben Fischer, Barbara Daseke, Dan Hagood, MiChel Hagood, Kara Goss, and Randall Goss.

John Clutts, Dee Wyly, Yvonne Crum, and Sami Arslanlar

$\u2022 John Clutts, Martha Wyly Miller, Yvonne Crum, and Sami Arslanlar$

Photo by Rhiannon Lee and Tamytha Cameron

John Clutts, Dee Wyly, Yvonne Crum, and Sami Arslanlar

Hollywood angels

Farrah Fawcett's besties raise big bucks for cancer fight in Dallas

Photo courtesy of Farrah Fawcett Foundation

Libby Hunt, Alana Stewart, Linda Gray

Fifteen years after Farrah Fawcett's death, the Hollywood legend's foundation fights on to fund cancer research and care for patients nationwide. For the third year, they brought their efforts to Dallas, to the 2024 Farrah Fawcett Foundation Tex-Mex Fiesta.

Held on a picture-perfect night outdoors at The Rustic on October 24, the benefit brought together a few hundred Dallas patrons and TV stars, including some of Fawcett's best friends. Co-chairs Alana Stewart (Fawcett's BFF) and Linda Gray (of Dallas) held court over the event, with help from special guest George Hamilton and actor Lawrence Zarian. Libby and David Hunt were the Dallas-based event chairs.

Hollywood stars Morgan Fairchild and Sheree Wilson also walked the red carpet; unfortunately, Fawcett's fellow Charlie's AngelJaclyn Smith and their friend Donna Mills had to cancel their appearances, it was announced from stage, due to scheduling conflicts filming the new ABC series Doctor Odyssey.

Guests were welcomed with a mariachi band and photo opps with burros; DJ 13lackbeard kept the party upbeat. They filled up on a Tex-Mex "surf and turf" buffet, and signature margaritas and ranch waters flowed all night.

The Rustic, Farrah Fawcett Foundation 2024 Tex-Mex Fiesta The event took place outdoors at The Rustic.Photo courtesy of Farrah Fawcett Foundation

About the time servers passed out mini versions of The Rustic's famous peanut butter pie and banana pudding, tributes to Fawcett began, underscoring the event's purpose.

Fawcett passed away on June 25, 2009, of anal cancer; the one-time Hollywood "It Girl" was just 62.

"Farrah fought with great strength and compassion, and she said with great sincerity, 'It has humbled me by giving me a true understanding of what millions of others face each day in their own fight against cancer,'" Stewart told the audience. "We will be victorious in that fight and we will not give up until Farrah's dream is realized. How can we lose? We've got Texas on our side, and nothing is more powerful than a Texas heart."

In a heartfelt moment, Gray - known best as tough-as-nails Sue Ellen Ewing on Dallas - said that her son had recently died of cancer. "And it just shook me to my core," she said. "This disease has got to be stopped."

Dr. Lawrence Piro, Fawcett’s former oncologist and chief medical advisor for the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, drove home the importance of the evening’s fundraising efforts. Fawcett's foundation is her greatest legacy, he and her friends agreed.

Dallas philanthropists Anne and Steve Stodghill were honored with the foundation's “Angel Award” for their work with cancer-related initiatives, including Cattle Baron's Ball (which Anne chaired in 2017).

A live auction raised hundreds of thousands of dollars with unique packages including:

Lunch and cocktails with George Hamilton the following day at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and a $5,000 Neiman Marcus shopping spree (sold for $15,000)
A five-night getaway for six to St. Barth's (three sold for $15,000 each)
A seven-night excursion to Tuscany (three sold for $13,000) each
A one-of-a-kind work of Farrah Fawcett pop art (sold for $10,000)
A meet-and-greet with rocker Rod Stewart at his show in Las Vegas (sold for $12,500)
A trip to Los Angeles for a "Hollywood Experience" including lunch with Dame Joan Collins (sold for $10,000)

The Farrah Fawcett Foundation, George Hamilton George Hamilton gets the crowd bidding on the chance to have lunch with him the following day.Photo courtesy of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation

For music fans, the highlight of the night was a rousing set by country legend Wynonna Judd. Backed by her band (including her drummer-husband Cactus Moser), she got the crowd on their feet, dancing to hits like "I Saw the Light," "She Is His Only Need," and "No One Else on Earth."

At the end of the night, each guest took home a stylish burlap party bag, courtesy of sponsor Neiman Marcus, filled with red carpet-worthy luxury skincare products.

Final receipts are still being tallied, but all proceeds will go to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the American Cancer Society’s Dallas Cattle Baron’s Ball to fund the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge.

$Farrah Fawcett Foundation Tex-Mex Fiesta 2024, \u200bLibby Hunt, Alana Stewart, Linda Gray$

Photo courtesy of Farrah Fawcett Foundation

Libby Hunt, Alana Stewart, Linda Gray

celebrities farrah fawcett tex-mex fiesta fundraisers cattle baron's ball jerry jones galas