Best face forward

Brazilian Carnival-themed gala starring CeeLo Green sambas into Dallas for colorful debut

Best face forward

Brazilian Carnival-themed gala starring CeeLo Green sambas into Dallas for colorful debut

Jane McGarry, CeeLo GreenPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Deborah Alessi, Sophie Hutchins, Caitlin Jenner, Dr. Rod RodrichPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Daniel Moon, Dr. Tiffany MoonPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Survivor "Addison," Deborah Alessi, Stephen Kramer Glickman, Caitlyn JennerPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Christina DeRosaPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Stephen Kramer GlickmanPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Lanie Morgenstern, Deborah Alessi, Lania RittenhousePhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Shani James, CeeLo GreenPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Caitlyn Jenner speaks to the crowd.Photo by Thomas Garza Photography
Caitlyn Jenner, Bekah CharlestonPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
The event had a Brazilian Carnival theme.Photo by Thomas Garza Photography
The event took place on the lawn in front of The Eye at the Joule.Photo by Thomas Garza Photography
CeeLo Green performs.Photo by Thomas Garza Photography
Leah Frazier, Amber LaFrancePhoto by Thomas Garza Photography
Survivors Saundra Crockett and Gina RussoPhoto by Thomas Garza Photography

What: Brazilian Carnival for a Cause benefiting Face Forward International

Where: Eye Lawn at The Joule Hotel

The 411: On April 9, a new-to-Dallas charity gala debuted to a high-energy crowd of 300 revelers downtown.

Face Forward International, founded by Deborah and Dr. David Alessi, provides surgical and mental health support for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. In 2020, the organization expanded its services after success in the Los Angeles area and chose Dallas as its second home. But the inaugural gala was postponed due to the pandemic.

To bring awareness to the expansion of the organization to Texas, advisory firm Chandini & Co hosted the colorful gala. Themed “Brazilian Carnival for a Cause,” it was an outdoor/tented cocktail event complete with a red carpet, silent and live auctions, the flavors and colors of Brazil, and top-notch entertainment.

Five-time Grammy Award-winning musician CeeLo Green entertained as the headliner, and Canadian-American comedian, actor, musician, and podcast host Stephen Kramer Glickman was the opening act.

Reality TV star and activist Caitlyn Jenner made the trip from L.A. to help raise funds at the gala, as did actress Christina DeRosa, who is the chairwoman of the board for the organization.

While additional donations are still being tallied, the event raised nearly $225,000 in its inaugural year.

Who: Notable guests included Jane McGarry, Shani James, Lanie Morgenstern, Sophie Hutchins, Lania Rittenhouse, Bekah Charleston, Daniel Moon, Dr. Tiffany Moon, Dr. Rod Rohrich, Leah Frazier, and Amber LaFrance. Survivors Saundra Crockett, Gina Russo, and "Addison" were also in attendance to share their inspiring stories.

Matcha News

Dallas TikTok star Keith Lee crafts matcha drink for flood relief

Keith Lee hoists his special matcha drink. Instagram

The devastating floods that swept across Central Texas on July 4 are bringing out all kinds of charitable endeavors — and that includes a limited-edition beverage from Dallas' favorite TikTok food influencer Keith Lee.

Lee, a social media sensation whose online food reviews have benefited hundreds of small restaurants, is partnering with Dallas-based La La Land Cafe on a special drink: Called the La La Land X Keith Lee Latte, it's a matcha drink in which 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards Kerr County flood relief.

La La Land is the coffee chain founded in Dallas in 2019 with a mission to provide opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need. It now has 10 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth, plus three in Houston and six in Southern California.

The new Keith Lee Latte will consist of double ceremonial matcha, with secret syrup, matcha cloud, a whole fresh strawberry, flaky salt, and matcha powder. (Lee can be seen enjoying the beverage in this video.)

Matcha is the Japanese green tea powder that has experienced a surge in popularity, appearing in everything from drinks like the matcha latte to desserts like matcha mousse.

Keith Lee Latte is a matcha drink.Instagram

Lee, who relocated to Dallas in 2024, has been on a matcha kick ever since he tried it in Chicago, which he says "led me down a rabbit hole," and it has become his trademark drink. In May, he visited seven cafes across DFW in search of the perfect matcha in town, and that included La La Land, where he ordered a matcha with almond milk.

He also has a charitable history, including a special visit he made to Taste Project in Fort Worth to donate $4,000 to support the nonprofit's mission to fight food insecurity.

The Keith Lee Latte will be available at all La La Land cafes beginning Friday July 11, for a limited time only. From July 11-27, 100 percent of all proceeds will support flood relief efforts in Kerr County - "a community in our home state that’s hurting," La La Land Cafe says.

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