Presidential Philanthropy

George W. Bush surprises the Rev. Mark Craig at Folsom Leadership Award dinner

More than 900 guests filled the Hilton Anatole to honor the Rev. Mark Craig,community advocate, retired senior minister of Highland Park United Methodist Church and recipient of the 2013 Methodist Health System Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award.

The fundraising event was personalized with a few of the retired minister's favorite things, including musical selections from both Mama Mia and Jersey Boys. Craig's friendDean Fearing served as master of ceremonies.

Guests —including event co-chairs Lana and Barry Andrews and Natalie and Mike McGuire, Sharon and Steve Folsom, Debbie Folsom, Nancy Ann Hunt, Troy Aikman, Mike Boone, and Brill Garrett — were there to support not only Craig but also Methodist Health Systems, which last year provided more than $125 million in uncompensated charity care. This is the healthcare provider's biggest fundraiser of the year.

Craig chose to designate all gifts — more than $1.5 million from this event — to building the new Charles A. Sammons Critical Care Tower at Methodist Dallas. Scheduled for completion in summer 2014, the one-of-a-kind new trauma and critical care center will expand the hospital’s emergency department tenfold.

Many people spoke about Craig's positive work in the Dallas community — including Methodist Health System president and CEO Stephen L. Mansfield, Barry Andrews,the Rev. Paul Rasmussen and April Box Chamberlain. But the show stopper was former President George W. Bush, who surprised the crowd and took the stage to talk about his pastor and friend.

“When Jim Francis first informed me that this year’s Folsom Award recipient was Mark Craig, I was pleased to accept the invitation to surprise and honor my good friend and my preacher," Bush said.

Craig has served as the Bush’s pastor and most recently gave the dedication prayer at the opening of the President George W. Bush Presidential Center in April. President Bush then shared the story of how one of Craig’s sermons provided inspiration for him to run for president of the United States.

When it was Craig's turn to take the stage, he was noticeably moved and humbled. "This award isn’t about me; this is about a great hospital," he said. "Your support of Sammons Trauma Critical Care Tower is fantastic, and all the money that you have given is wonderful. It’s the largest capital investment in Southern Dallas in many, many years.

"Methodist Hospital is special. It’s special because it looks south and it has never left the south. That’s where the pain, that’s where the suffering is. It’s always been there to help people less fortunate than most of us."

Established in 2005, the Folsom Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose demonstrated commitment and excellence in community leadership emulate the achievements of former Dallas Mayor Robert S. Folsom. Past recipients include Robert S. Folsom (2005), Nancy Ann Hunt (2006), Troy Aikman (2007), Laura Bush (2008), the late Norman Brinker (2009), Pat and Emmitt Smith (2010), Trevor Rees-Jones (2011), and Mike Boone (2012).

Rev. Mark Craig, Lousie Craig

Photo by Scott Hagar

Rev. Mark Craig, Lousie Craig

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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