Two x Two First Look

Costumed partiers get first look at Dallas’ most fabulous arts gala and auction

With a theme like “Calling All Curious,” Two x Two’s annual gala and contemporary auction’s kickoff party was bound to be full of surprises. The unseasonable rain, however, wasn’t high on anyone’s list of expectations.

But you can’t keep a good soiree down, particularly when it benefits the Dallas Museum of Art and amFAR. A crowd of curators and collectors descended en masse through the downpour to the Rachofsky House, conveniently tented and staffed by umbrella’d attendants for the occasion. Telephones on stands at the entrance jangled merrily, and if a guest happened to answer, a voice on the other end inquired, “Are you coming in or what, and are you going to eat a cheeseburger?”

Mini cheeseburgers there were, along with a sushi bar and other delectables from Lombardi Family Concepts, plus plenty of Belvedere cocktails. Presented by Fossil, the “curious” theme was further developed by the décor, which included a wooden wall full of keyholes where brave revelers could stick their hands to be tickled, grasped, or shook. DJ Lucy Wrubel acknowledged the lousy weather by spinning “Singin’ in the Rain” and “It’s Raining Men” between hits by the Weeknd and Taylor Swift.

Because carefully curated art is the engine of Two x Two, the partygoers who did take the “masquerade” dress code to heart chose artistic legends for their ensembles. There were three Warhols, one Lichtenstein, four Magrittes, and a Frida Kahlo (Fossil’s curious chief Jill Elliott-Sones) onsite. One of the best — and funniest — was curator and art advisor John Runyon, who came as TV star and painter Bob Ross (he of the “little happy trees” fame), complete with a painter’s palette.

There was plenty to get excited about on the walls as well. This year’s selection of artworks is particularly stellar, with a mix of local and international talent. Smart bidders on October 24 could snag an Ellsworth Kelly (this year’s artist honoree), an Alex Israel, an Alex Prager, or a Karen Kilimnick. Forty Five Ten’s Brian Bolke was seen coveting a marble bowl by Piero Golia, creator of the Nasher’s Chalet installation.

“We have the world’s coolest entryway, and I would make a little pedestal for it,” he said. “People would probably use it as a big ashtray. Actually, the artist would love that!”

Besides Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, who came dressed as Raggedy Ann and Andy, the star of the evening was undoubtedly co-chairman Elaine Agather, who helmed the event with her daughter, Bradley Agather Means. Clad in a dead-on imitation of style icon Iris Apfel, Elaine admitted, “I’m a big fan! This is all from my closet, so we might have some similarities.”

She said she loves Two x Two for multiple reasons: “For one, the art. It gives back to the community, it gives to the museum, it gives to AIDS. And it just brings this eclectic, wonderful group to Dallas. It’s just one of the best events we have.”

We concur. Two x Two has raised more than $52 million for the DMA and amFAR to date, and we’re even more curious to discover the final tally raised on Saturday.

Also onsite and ready to revel: Brooke Hortenstine, Dan and Joseph, Sabrina Dee, Ceron, Todd Fiscus, Michael Flores, Rajan Patel, Jeffrey Lee, Nancy Rogers, Sam Saladino, and Anna-Sophia van Zweden.

Karon Karter, Harris Polakoff

Photo by Desiree Espada

Karon Karter, Harris Polakoff

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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