If black-tie-clad guests saw Teddy Roosevelt wandering around the Perot Museum of Nature and Science the night of March 1, they were anything but alarmed.

The costumed actor was a nod to the popular 2006 film A Night at the Museum starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams, and reflected the theme of Genesis Young Leaders' ninth annual Masquerade. The interactive bash — where masks were not required — encourages guests to have fun and raise funds for the nonprofit Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Genesis Masquerade

Event chair Kendal Bohnsack calls it "a great gateway into the Dallas philanthropy world," as the party spreads awareness around the issue of domestic violence and encourages DFW young professionals to get involved with Genesis through its auxiliary group.

Upon arrival, tuxedo and gown-wearing guests were directed up the Perot's glass escalator, past its famous T. Rex skeleton, and onto Level 4 to begin the night. A Ranch Water and taco bar awaited, along with a 360-degree photo booth in the Expanding Universe Hall that used shooting stars and constellations as its out-of-this-world backdrop.

Down on Level 3 was a barbecue station and mac 'n' cheese bar, complemented by glasses of spiked strawberry lemonade.

An avalanche of sweets could be found on Level 2, along with espresso martinis and Old Fashioned cocktails. These fueled the curious crowd as they explored the Perot's hands-on human body exhibits, and likely helped several guests who removed jackets and heels to test their strength and see how long they could hang by their fingertips.

On the main level, The Manhattan Band played high-energy favorites while guests showed off their moves on the dance floor. A silent auction featuring jewelry, beauty treatments, restaurant gift cards, and more drew philanthropic patrons, while the raffle items — including a signed Luka Doncic basketball and luxury dove hunt in Argentina — surely helped GYL get closer to its $250,000 fundraising target.

All net proceeds raised from Masquerade will support the essential services offered at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, which serves more than 3,700 women a year.

Since opening its doors in 1985, Genesis has provided emergency shelter, long-term housing, an award-winning onsite K-8 school, daycare, access to legal representation, and cutting-edge therapeutics to those experiencing domestic violence.