Sapphires & Spurs

Dallasites kick it to cancer at rollicking Cattle Baron's Ball 2018

Cattle Baron's Ball got a little bit o' chicken fried for its 45th anniversary, as country superstars Zac Brown Band kept a crowd of thousands rocking at a high-energy concert under the big tent at Gilley's on October 20.

But let's back up our boots a step, because the performance by the hottest act in country music was just one highlight from the milestone edition of Dallas' premier society event benefiting the American Cancer Society. Event chairs Jonika Nix and Katy Bock, focused on "kickin' it to cancer," themed 2018 Cattle Baron's Ball "Sapphires & Spurs." Indeed, it was a jewel of a night from start to finish.

After a warm welcome from NBC-5's Deborah Ferguson, the evening's emcee, Grammy Award-winning The Charlie Daniels Band played while sponsors and donors mixed, mingled, sipped, and previewed auction items at an exclusive VIP party presented by Anne Davidson.

Once the masses began arriving, the party kicked into high gear. Spotted in the crowd and donning their finest Western wear were Jeff Matthews, Tania Noelle Boughton, Annie Russell, Jeff Fehlis, Katie Mammen, John Mammen, Kameron Westcott, Laura Farris, Vodi Cook, Macee Blanchard, Rachel Robinson, Chuck Steelman, Scott Kehn, Ross Nobles, Amanda Nobles, Lauren Duhon, Corey Duhon, Marzena Fiala, and George Fiala.

G Texas Catering served up a menu of bites as big as the Lone Star State, at stations stocked with Texas fare like Shiner Bock Frito pie, Hill Country smoked sausage, Mason County pit-smoked and rubbed beef brisket, and flame-grilled cheeseburger sliders. A skillet potato pancake bar doled out traditional and sweet potato pancakes topped with black beans, chicken, brisket, and more. And in an ode to the headlining band's No. 1 hit, a station called "Little Bit of Chicken Fried" handed out fried buttermilk-breaded chicken atop Belgian waffles and topped with syrup.

Drinks flowed all night too, of course. Among the sips was a signature cocktail called "Jump Right In" that shook together Grey Goose Le Citron vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and Topo Chico.

After fueling up, attendees browsed and bid fiercely in the auctions, which had amassed hundreds of items from retailers, clubs, restaurants, hotels, and other venues from around the world. The NorthPark Center Silent Auction Room was overflowing with luxury fashion and home decor items, memberships, sports memorabilia, and more coveted items.

The biggest bucks were saved for the live auction, conducted by Mike Jones, president of United Classic Auctioneers. This year's fabulous prize packages and fantasy trips included a getaway to England for a chance to design custom Cumbria crystal, which sold for $70,000; a game of poker with legendary Dallas Cowboys, which nabbed $50,000; and a trip to Napa for wine and dinner prepared by nine of Dallas' finest chefs — including Kent Rathbun, Dean Fearing, and Richard Chamberlain — which sold for a staggering $130,000.

Throughout the night, guests could buy raffle tickets and cross their fingers they'd go home with a new car from Park Place. Or they could try their luck at a casino, shop for merchandise in a general store, or enjoy the view of downtown Dallas from the event's famous Ferris wheel.

Then it was time to head to the Andrews Distributing Main Stage to see headliner Zac Brown Band, who ran through a catalog of their rollicking hits, including "Chicken Fried," "Whatever It Is," "Goodbye in Her Eyes," and "Keep Me in Mind." They also threw out some wild-card covers like Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," which the delighted crowd crooned along to at the top of their lungs.

The party didn't stop once the last notes were played under the tent. Back inside, Georgia Bridgwater Orchestra played party tunes and filled the dance floor until 2 am. When revelers finally caught their Ubers home, they didn't climb in cars empty handed. The best favor bag in town was a sturdy canvas tote filled with a soft blanket, ballcap, toiletry bag, office supplies, and more fun remembrances of the night.

Since 1974, Cattle Baron’s Ball has raised more than $77 million to support cancer-fighting initiatives via the American Cancer Society. Numbers from this year's Cattle Baron's Ball are still being tallied, and the chairs will announce the dollar amount raised at a check presentation later this fall.

Jeff Matthews, Tania Noelle Boughton

Photo by WJNPHOTO

Jeff Matthews, Tania Noelle Boughton

fundraisers galas

Coffee news

Starbucks partners bestow $53K in grants to favorite Dallas nonprofits

Courtesy

Chalkboard at Starbucks celebrates Resource Center.

In a one-of-a-kind charitable program, coffee giant Starbucks has bestowed more than two dozen grants to organizations across Dallas — organizations selected by Starbucks employees themselves.

Called The Starbucks Foundation’s Neighborhood Grants program, it's unique as a charitable effort thanks to its profound level of engagement, by allowing employees to nominate nonprofit recipients.

The Starbucks Foundation is the company's charitable arm which issues grants to nonprofits — from coffee and tea-growing communities around the world to neighborhood groups.

The Neighborhood Grants program gives their "partners" (what they call their employees) the opportunity to support the local organizations they care most about. This year, more than 3,200 grants are being awarded across the U.S. and Canada. Of that number, 27 organizations in Dallas received a Neighborhood Grant, totaling $53,000.

That included a $4,000 grant to Resource Center, a Dallas provider of LGBTQIA+ services and a big Starbucks staff favorite: It was nominated by an unprecedented 40 partners, and has previously earned seven grants totaling $20,000 from The Starbucks Foundation since 2019.

Resource Center's director of corporate engagement & events Bill Scott says that the grant is part of a larger meaningful partnership.

"In the current climate, we've seen many corporations turn away from our community, but Starbucks has remained steadfast," Scott says. "And we see it in ways that go beyond the grants, whether it's volunteering at our food bank or being ready for any fundraising event where they'll set up a coffee station to distribute to our guests."

Founded in 1983, Resource Center focuses on three pillars: positive social engagement in safe spaces, supportive services to promote wellness, and skill-building opportunities to promote growth.

Resource Center accepts grant from Starbucks Foundation, from left to right: Bill Scott (RC), Daniel Sanchez (RC), Tres Brown (RC), and Howard Jackson (SBUX).Jeffrey McWhorter

"The grant will help us continue to serve and uplift our community with more programming in areas like health and wellness," Scott says. "Last year, we opened our first low-income affordable housing complex for seniors, and before it even opened, it was sold out. We can see that the services we provide fill a real need."

It's a rare scenario in the corporate world, Scott says.

"There are not many companies I have dealt with like the Starbucks Foundation where they rely on their partners to make recommendations and listen to their partners," he says.

For Starbucks partners like Marsh King, an operations consultation manager who's been with the company for nearly 28 years, Starbucks' priority on being mission-driven has been a big incentive to stay with the company.

"When you see a grant that might give Resource Center the funds to do something like buy more refrigeration for the food pantry they just opened — it's gratifying to see that direct impact and know that you're a part of it," she says.

The level of engagement is very grass-roots, says senior partner employee relations associate Howard Jackson.

"We have customers who come in and say, 'I saw you at that event last weekend," he says. "We support the community, and they are our customers, as well. Through this work, we connect a lot of dots."

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