On April 22, the Dallas Museum of Art hosted the 52nd annual Art Ball, its premier fundraising gala. Chairs Ann and Lee Hobson beamed as they welcomed the city’s preeminent supporters to the institution devoted to unfettered access to art for all. No doubt they also were tickled to see starlet Anne Hathaway among the well-heeled guests on this breezy spring evening.
Inspired by one of the museum’s most recent acquisitions — Flowers in a Vase with Two Doves, by 19th-century French painter Francois Lepage — this year’s gala exuded French elegance. Credit for that goes to event-planning master Todd Fiscus, who appeared relaxed and contented, as if everything were executed precisely how he imagined it.
After posing for photos at the step-and-repeat, attendees — including Melissa and Trevor Fetter, Nancy and Clint Carlson, Marlene and John Sughrue, Jennifer and Tom Karol, Brian Bolke, Muffin Lemak, Capera Ryan, Lynn and Allan McBee, Megan Bowdon and Joey Wilkinson, Erin Cluley and Tearlach Hutcheson, and Jenny and John Kirtland —made the rounds during cocktail hour. They paused to catch up with friends and posed for the caricature and silhouette artists stationed in the magnificently appointed tent. A violinist provided the soundtrack as the conversation and champagne flowed.
The crowd then moved into the dining tent, where DMA Eugene McDermott director Agustin Arteaga provided opening remarks. This was his first Art Ball in his new role, and he expressed sincere gratitude to the Hobsons for their vision and the guests for their unwavering support. He also sweetly wished Ann a happy birthday, her 50th.
Dinner itself was a masterpiece: Petrossian caviar and potatoes with lemon crema and chives, angel hair pasta with morel mushrooms and quail confit, pan-roasted Rhode Island wild fluke with spring vegetables and tomato fumet, and an assortment of bite-sized desserts that included opera cake with espresso buttercream and chocolate macaron. Because: French.
Also French was the live auction package that drove the bidding to $120,000 — twice: a seven-day stay for 14 guests at a private chateau nestled in a nature preserve in the south of France. The live auction provided some of the best action of the night, in fact. In addition to the $240,000 garnered for this exclusive French getaway, the bidding jumped to $50,000 for a Roman holiday, Fendi-style.
Not too shabby was the $22,000 netted for a foodie fantasy for 12 provided by two of Dallas’ hottest chefs — Nick Badovinus and Julian Barsotti — who are opening restaurants at Highland Park Village.
Over the past 20 years, the Art Ball has raised more than $27 million to support the Dallas Museum of Art’s mission of engaging and educating the community through art.
Texas' leading man, Matthew McConaughey, and his wife, Camila, were not only the featured speakers at New Friends New Life’s 2024 fundraising luncheon, they ended up being the event’s biggest donors. The first part was planned. The second came as a generous surprise to the Dallas nonprofit.
At the conclusion of an on-stage chat with the McConaugheys at the "Stand For Her" Luncheon on September 20, the couple announced they'd give a $100,000 matching gift to New Friends New Life. But they weren't done.
Veering off script, they asked that the house lights be brought up and conducted an impromptu "paddle raise" around the room, soliciting donations from attendees until they reached the $100,000 they would be matching personally. (Half of the amount raised, $50,000 was pledged generously by Gene Jones, wife of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.)
The McConaugheys had just gotten this idea, they said, when they'd heard backstage that NFNL was $140,000 short of their goal. Their efforts helped push the fundraising total to an astounding $1.1 million.
“Camila and Matthew McConaughey exceeded our highest hopes as keynote speakers through their humility, passion, and kindness,” said Bianca Davis, NFNL CEO, after the event. “We could not be more grateful for their support and for their unscripted call to action. In that one surreal moment, The McConaugheys reminded us that when we show up for survivors, our community shows up for us.”
Matthew and Camila McConaughey chat on stage with NBC5's Meredith Land.Photo by Tamytha Cameron and Celeste Cass
More than 1,200 guests gathered at the Omni Dallas Hotel on September 20 for the annual New Friends New Life benefit in support of the organization's mission to restore trafficked and sexually exploited teen girls, women and their children, and to drive awareness of the issue.
While attendees feasted on Poached Pear Spinach Salad, Texas-Spiced BBQ Chicken, and Dr Pepper Chocolate Cake, luncheon co-chairs JoJo Fleiss and Lisa Rocchio, honorary co-chairs Robin and Norm Bagwell, NFNL CEO Bianca Davis, and NFNL chief development officer Priya Murphy underscored the organization's vital work in the community.
This year’s ProtectHER Awards were received by Southwest Airlines managing director of corporate responsibility Laura Nieto and Young Men’s Service League (YMSL)president, CEO, and founder Pam Rosener. A video then introduced attendees to the Liberty Street Garden, which not only provides income but also work experience in a healing environment for those who work on it.
But the big draw of the afternoon was "A Conversation with the McConaugheys," moderated by NBC 5’s Meredith Land. The wide-ranging Q&A covered the Austin couple's love of Texas, support of Uvalde, the work of their "just keep livin" Foundation, their bestselling books, and fervor for University of Texas Longhorns football.
Highlights of the chat:
On moving back to Texas: They made the decision jointly while sitting at a red light on a visit to see Matthew's mother outside Austin. Growing up in Brazil, in a family of farmers and ranchers, Camila said, her values matched those of Texans - namely saying, “Yes, ma’am” and “No, sir."
On Matthew's bestseller Greenlights: “It’s inevitable that you are going to get red lights in your life – something that stops us in our tracks," he said. "Sometimes you need to be stopped. It’s like an intervention. The idea of the book is that all red lights do eventually turn green. Yellow lights give us a choice – do we slow down or go fast? Sometimes we look for drama where it doesn’t exist.”
On Camila's bestseller Just Try One Bite: “In the journey of my life I was forced to go back to my roots … what we cook and eat and how it’s all connected,” she said of growing up around farmers in Brazil, and adding that it’s important for children to see food gets from farm to table, a process that fosters a sense of gratitude. “The sooner people learn and understand, the sooner they take ownership of their own lives and health.”
On the shooting tragedy in Uvalde, Matthew’s hometown: He recounted the moment the couple decided they would go there in person. Their purpose was to help however needed; they ended up visiting with families and forming bonds that last today. “Families trusted us, bringing us into intimate moments,” he said. This led the McConaugheys to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and then to the creation of their Greenlight Grants Initiative to help school districts access the billions of dollars of available federal funding to create safer school environments and ensure the well-being of children.
On New Friends New Life's mission: Land highlighted a PSA about human trafficking that Matthew participated in with the Texas attorney general. Camila said that growing up in Brazil, she was made very aware of the potential danger: “When I moved here at 15, I thought I didn’t have to look over my shoulder, but now I’m having this conversation with my kids. Something really has to be done.” Matthew added, “We have to realize that everyone needs to look out for one another with a keen eye before we can depend on law enforcement. It’s right here in our backyard. It’s an ugly scar.”
On Matthew's passion for UT football: “We’re doing really well! I believe this team is still playing against how great they can be, and if they keep doing that, they are going to maintain the edge,” he said.
Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the event, were Chad Houser, Gabe Madison, Stephanie Wilcox, Jayda Batchelder, Margaret Windham, Elizabeth Berglund, Therese Rourk, Donna Weitzman, Barbara Gary, Melissa Sherrill-Martin, Kristi Sherrill-Hoyl, Hollee Hirzel, Kunthear Mam-Douglas, Mary Griggs, Regina Bruce, Sally Dutter, Noelle LeVeaux, Ryan Johnson, Karla Smith, Dawn Greiner, Lynn Dowdle, Kaylyn Murray, Jeanne Bobbitt, Linda Custard, Caren Klein, Anita Arnold, Lana Andrews, Aileen Pratt, Bridget Harris, Rachel Hornbuckle Reid, Laura Harris, Anita Arnold, Linda Custard, Jaylon Spencer, Candace Locklear, Tanya Dalton, Destine Roberts, Aaliyah Brown, Erin Sander, Dani Dillard, Mackenzie Kleinert, Tyler Kleinert, Cynammon Byrnes Allen, Felicia Burns, Gerald Turner, Gail Turner, Chris Colley, Jill Barragan, Susan Gordan, Libby Hunt, Debbie Hayhurst, Alanna Quillen, Samantha Davies, and many more patrons and supporters.
Photo by Tamytha Cameron and Celeste Cass
Priya Murphy, Lisa Rocchio, Camila McConaughey, Matthew McConaughey, JoJo Fleiss, and Bianca Davis at the 2024 New Friends New Life Luncheon.