Rachael's Social Diary

Dallas babes battle over handbags to benefit Heroes for Children

Hundreds of ladies flocked to Omni Dallas for the eighth annual Heroes and Handbags. The luxury handbag auction benefited Heroes for Children (HFC), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families affected by childhood cancer.

The reception looked more like a scene from Fight Club than a fundraiser, as chic attendees bid feverishly via smartphone in a battle royale to win bags from such elite designers as Celine, Bottega Veneta, Chloe, Nancy Gonzalez, Chanel, Bulgari and Balenciaga. The auction also included a "Kate" bag, which Elaine Turner designed exclusively for the event.

From the handbag wars alone, Heroes for Children raked in more than $90,000.

Once the bidding closed, even defeated devotees trotted into the ballroom, where a tasty brunch awaited. Attendees settled in while HFC executive director Kristy Hensel welcomed guests and drew raffle prizes.

When chairman Kim Bannister took the podium, she reminded ladies about the real purpose of the daytime fete: to support Heroes for Children. Then the organization's co-founders, Larissa Linton and Jenny Scott — who each lost a child to cancer — presented Leah Haberer with the Sprit of Allie and Taylor award for her ongoing contributions.

Later, mother-daughter duo Jill Roberts and Brooke Bott took the stage. Bott spoke about her battle with cancer and how HFC helped her cope. She focused on the necklace around her neck, made from beads of courage she accumulated throughout the course of her treatment.

The crowd — including honorary chairs Nancy Dedman and Rachel Dedman, Lynn McBee, D'Andra Simmons, Jennifer Houser, Skye Brewer, Tamara Bickel, Susan Evans, Kate Rose Marquez, Cecily Gooch, Claire Pruitt Wilhite, Gillian Breidenbach, Krista Warren,and Rachel Ladin — got even tearier as Roberts talked about her daughter's struggle and how HFC's support helped ease the pain. Today, Bott is cancer-free.

After a morning of bidding, brunching and tearing up, attendees ended the afternoon on a sweet note — by filling up bags with treats from the candy bar.

Amber Carter, Catherine Colombo, Liane Labarba, Claudine Roberts

Photo by Dana Driensky

Amber Carter, Catherine Colombo, Liane Labarba, Claudine Roberts

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Night at the museum

Perot Museum gala-goers with a taste for adventure raise $2 million

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Shannon Murray, Chris Nolan, Kylie Capps and Chris Shurtleff

On a balmy Saturday night in November, the doors to Dallas' Perot Museum of Nature and Science closed to the public and reopened for nearly 1,000 chic party-goers. They dined, danced, and played with the exhibits to raise funds at 2024 Night at the Museum Gala.

Led by co-chairs Dr. Pamela J. Okada and Mark Okada, the crowd of "after-hours scientists" raised $2 million to support the museum’s educational programs and expand STEM learning opportunities across North Texas.

Perot Museum, Night at the Museum Gala 2024

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Shannon Murray, Chris Nolan, Kylie Capps and Chris Shurtleff

The event, designed by Valdivia Ventures, included live music, a captivating performance by dancers of Texas Ballet Theater, and innovative food activations by Wolfgang Puck Catering (the flaky, piping hot truffle pot pies that gala guests always look forward to).

As patrons explored the museum, they were greeted by hundreds of white orchids from Jackson Durham Events and were serenaded in exhibit hall by musicians provided by Jordan Khan Music Company.

A highlight of the evening was the "10-Minute Tasting Restaurant," an adventurous pop-up type experience that transformed the Museum Store into a five-star dining experience. Of course there were cocktails, too, and the lychee martini was a fan-favorite.

The evening concluded with a high-energy after-party on the lower level of the museum, presented by the Eugene McDermott Foundation. Guests danced the night away to beats by DJ Romi Q, struck a pose at the interactive photo booth, and ended the night at a decadent dessert room featuring a variety of sweet treats.

Funds raised from Night at the Museum will support educational programs, fund day-to-day operations, and provide financial aid to ensure the museum remains a welcoming and inclusive space for all.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the night, were Shannon Murray, Chris Nolan, Kylie Capps, Chris Shurtleff, Tim Peck, Missy Rogers Peck, Tori Mulford, Linda Silver, Emory McKim, Shelby Wagner, Niven Morgan, Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez, Regen Horchow, Ken Hersh, Dennis Cail, Annika Cail, Grace Cook, Caleb Stearns Wiley, Sarah-Michelle Stearns Wiley, Jason Valdivia, Katherine Stenesen, Chantel Boudreaux, Jeffrey Bragalone, Lexi Dennis, Mickie Bragalone, John Spradling, Miriam Spradling, KC Hurst, Koli Hurst, Magda Veja, Ashley Chellgren, Maria Zajia, Geraldine Parker, Meredith Abbott, and many more patrons and supporters.

museums night at the museum perot museum gala galas