What: Second annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase
Where: Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas at Las Colinas
The 411: Rain or shine, the show went on. That is, the Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase, which zoomed into the Dallas Four Seasons on one of the rainiest weekends in October.
"The rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of guests, and we were able to execute the Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase for the nearly 3,000 people who attended," says Ken Schnitzer, Park Place Dealerships founder and chairman, in a release.
Not only did private collectors bring their rare and exotic cars to display in the Collector’s Concours, but the Porsche Club – Maverick Region came together to create an unique Heritage Display to celebrate Porsche’s 70th anniversary.
Best of all, the event supported a charitable partner in a big way.
The event benefited the Momentous Institute, owned and operated by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920. Each year, the organization serves more than 6,000 children and family members through its nationally acclaimed Momentous School and Therapeutic Services. Momentous Institute focuses on the social and emotional well-being of kids from 3 years old through fifth grade.
Schnitzer presented Patton Chapman, Salesmanship Club president, with the keys to a $55,000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van to help the organization with its transportation needs for the kids.
Throughout the event, guests ogled more than $100 million worth of unique vehicles from manufacturers, collectors, and car clubs, including the first public display of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the brand's first ever SUV. Attendees also enjoyed live entertainment, food and beverages, as well as a Highland Park Village fashion show produced by Jan Strimple.
Parents even watched their kids play in the rain, driving around in miniature electric versions of Porsche, McLaren, Volvo, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus vehicles.
And to cap it off, there was a "haute hat" contest, judged by Dallas’ mad hatter Shane Walker. Winner Anna Neiman donned a stylish Rolls-Royce-inspired chapeau that included working lights.
At the end of the day, top three award winners from the Collector’s Concours were presented with the “Spirit of Park Place,” a sculpture hand crafted by Dallas artist Brad Oldham. Winners were Randy Johnson (Best of Show for his 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB 6C), Fred Cornwall (Chairman’s Choice Award for his 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental), and John Kobell (Salesmanship Club Award for his 1980 BMW M1).
Who: Marvin Jackson, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Lexi Thomas, Derek Balzano, Paula Steurer, Debora Klein, Jim Kern, Dirk Burghartz, James Stewart, Kelsey Collins, Neil Grossman, Laura Harris, Dennis Collins, and Kim Collins.
The Highland Park Village fashion show was produced by Jan Strimple.
Photo by Rhi Lee
The Highland Park Village fashion show was produced by Jan Strimple.
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.