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    M1 Ball

    Dallas Housewives star gets real about humanitarian work at charity gala

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Dec 17, 2018 | 3:56 pm

    The 2018 Mercury One M1 Ball was a big, glittery affair with even bigger heart.

    Event chairs D’Andra Simmons-Lock and Jeremy Lock (of Real Housewives of Dallas fame) brought together internationally recognized supporters and patrons — along with local friends and leaders in the arts, social, and business communities — for a powerful night of fundraising, and plenty of fun on the side.

    The seven-year-old nonprofit Mercury One provides aid and funding for disaster relief, humanitarian and veterans initiatives, education, and rescuing and rebuilding the lives of persecuted religious minorities all over the world. M1 Ball is its biggest fundraising event of the year.

    The evening's hosts, Mercury One founder Glenn Beck and his wife, Tania, welcomed 380 guests to the Mercury Studios in Irving on a chilly fall night. The evening started with a VIP reception inside the working radio and TV studio at Stage 2. The main event took place at Stage 19, named after Orson Welles’ Sound Stage at Universal.

    As guests entered the biggest TV and movie studio in daily production between New York and Hollywood, they were greeted with the larger-than-life robots from the 2013 movie Man In The Moon and perused other cool movie memorabilia, such as a bench from Forrest Gump. Mercury was the studio-home of such films as RoboCop, JFK, Silkwood, Born on the 4th of July, and Problem Child — and TV shows Walker, Texas Ranger and Barney.

    While they perused silent auction items, guests sipped on signature Sheela-Ritas, starring local Sheela Tequila; and Farm to Bar Gin & Tonics, with Roxor Artisan Gin, tonic, and beet-carrot juice.

    The night's program started in a most official way: with the presentation of the colors by Boy Scouts of America, Longhorn Council. Then Jennifer Nickerson sang a rousing National Anthem, and Falma Rufus sang a moving prayer of invocation.

    Mistress of ceremonies Sara Gonzales of TheBlaze TV introduced Mercury One’s executive director Suzanne Bock Grishman, who welcomed the crowd and thanked honorary chairs Francie Moody-Dahlberg and her husband, Kevin Dahlberg; honorary chairs emeritus Gena and Chuck Norris, Gina and Ken Betts, and the Vinyard Family; as well as Dee Simmons, the underwriting chair.

    Guests dined on a sumptuous meal prepared by F2M Hospitality's executive chef John Coleman: mixed greens salad with pomegranate seeds, goat cheese, candied pecans, and honey thyme vinaigrette; short ribs and shrimp with cheddar grits, French green beans, and Ponchartrain sauce; and a delectable individual s'mores pie for dessert. (In a rare but welcome move at a big gala, an acorn squash-entree was published on the menu as a vegetarian alternative.)

    It was hard to concentrate on the meal, though, as each speaker who took the stage gave riveting remarks. Especially memorable were the stories told by D'Andra Simmons-Lock and husband, Jeremy. They both communicated such passion for their personal work through Mercury One that they brought tears to the eyes of many.

    For example, the couple traveled with the organization to Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq to comfort and assist persecuted refugees supported by the organization. They met with political and religious leaders, and they helped a former Isis captive, on the verge of suicide, get the care she needed.

    "[Mercury One volunteers] are praying with people, they're there to help people, and that's what they do," Simmons-Lock said, her voice quivering with emotion, on stage. "They feed people, they clothe people, they serve people. It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter what religion, what race, what you believe — they don't care, they're there to help you. That's why I stand for this organization."

    Lock, who gave boots-on-the-ground aid to those in need during Hurricane Florence, said that not since his retirement from the Air Force in 2013 had he felt the sense of purpose and camaraderie than with the organization.

    "You learn as you grow up through the military to be better, to better yourself, to surround yourself with great people," he said. "There's a cause out there greater than you. After I retired from the military ... I lost my sense of purpose until I surrounded myself with the great people [of Mercury One]."

    Taking the stage next, Beck shared some statistics, the most staggering of which was that Mercury One has helped rescue and relocate almost 15,000 refugees in 2018. He also announced that in February 2019, a total immersion experience called “12 Score & Three Years Ago” would address slavery and abolition in America and beyond, to be held at Mercury Studios throughout Black History Month.

    After a spirited live auction of many one-of-a-kind items, including rare historical documents, conducted by auctioneer Wendy Lambert, the winner of the raffle prize — a 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 — was drawn.

    Guests who wanted to continue the evening enjoyed famed country performers Mark Collie and Darryl Worley perform an acoustic set and then danced to tunes spun by DJ Jennifer Miller at an after-party.

    Spotted in the crowed supporting the charity and having a great time were event producer Hamilton Sneed, Tim Brennan, Tiffany Brennan, Natalie O’Hanna, Michael Holmes, Jeffy Fisher, Joy Villa, Chris Cruz, Andrew Heaten, Dawn Simpson, Travis Simpson, Ryan Mulvehill, Alena Mulvehill, Ben Gallagher, John Pellegrino, Paul Vinyard, Charla Vinyard, and Michael Grishman.

    Total funds raised from the evening will be revealed soon, the organization says.

    Michael Grishman, Suzanne Grishman

    Michael Grishman, Suzanne Grishman
      
    Photo by Dana Driensky and Rob Wythe/Gittings
    Michael Grishman, Suzanne Grishman
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    Meet the debs

    42 new Dallas Symphony debutantes begin 2026 Presentation Ball prep

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    May 26, 2025 | 10:30 am
    DSOL Debutantes
    Photo by Gittings
    Meredith Burkhart, Ryan Brown, Margaret Thompson, Ellie Browne, Olivia Zambrano, Elena Zeballos

    The end of the schoolyear brought the beginning of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League debutante year for 42 local young women.

    Just a few months after last year's DSOL debs "Texas dipped" into society (and raised big bucks for the symphony), the organization introduced a new class during Announcement Weekend festivities in Dallas. Their parties, philanthropy, and training will culminate with the 40th Presentation Ball on February 21, 2026 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

    The year will be one of special milestones for the DSOL. Not only will the League celebrate its 80th anniversary, the Presentation Ball will mark its 40th year, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will turn 125 years old.

    The mega-weekend began with the Announcement Party, emceed by Stan Gardner, on the evening of Thursday, May 15. Events continued with a Deb and Honor Guard Family dinner at a restaurant and couture gown presentations at local luxury department stores. (Per tradition, each deb will wear a white ballgown to her Presentation Ball.)

    The 2026 Presentation Ball is under the guidance of co-chairs Maggie Kipp and Kristin Hallam, along with DSOL President Claire Catrino. Hallam's in-laws, Fanchon and Howard Hallam, will serve as the honorary chairs. The Hallams are longtime passionate DSO patrons whose leadership gift was pivotal in launching the Kim Noltemy Young Musicians program – one of the initiatives supported by the Ball; they also have endowed the DSO Co-Concertmaster Chair.

    Catrino made her debut in 2011 and has been a part of the DSOL ball’s planning and organization ever since.

    “Our debutantes and their families will enjoy many wonderful events, make new friends and have one-of-a-kind experiences all while supporting the outstanding education and outreach programs of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra," she says with authority.

    2026 DSOL debutantesThe 2026 DSOL debutantes.Photo by Gittings

    Now, for the most important part. The 2026 debutantes are: Claire Francis Andrews, Madeline Grace Behrens, Claire Louise Bradshaw, Ryan EllaMarie Brown, Eleanor Baxter Browne, Meredith Lilly Burkhart, Catherine Sophia Cox, Larkin McKay Devening, Marbella Mora Duarte, Sophie Elizabeth Dybala, Kathryne Grace Eastin, Gisele MaryRose Enrico, Ashley Shannon Goldman, Stella Jane Grabham, MaKenna Loy Harvey, Elizabeth Ann Hautt, Jane Penny Hochman, Madeleine Christine Jenkins, Livia Grace Lange, Charlotte Bryant Lauten, Sue Sealy McGowin, Attales Grace Meyer, Elizabeth Catherine Nance, Madelyn Leigh Neuhoff, Carly Nicole Polka, Chloe Olivia Polka, Rachel Camille Rader, Sofia Marie Reyes, Marlo Elizabeth Rivas, Campbell Ann Schultz, Kathleen Brooks Searcy, Lindy Kate Smith, Sienna Alexis Stagen, Tessa Elizabeth Stephenson, Charlotte Spencer Stiles, Harper Catherine Tagg, Margaret Lee Thompson, Corinne Elizabeth Tinker, Georgia Bedell Williamson, Virginia Anne Wilson, Olivia Constance Zambrano, and Elena Catherine Zeballos.

    The Assembly, a group of former debutantes who assist the Symphony League by helping with event arrangements throughout the season, was represented by Emily Hea, Katie Kottwitz, Marena Gault (advisor) Isabella Cox, Danielle Ward, Kennedy Downing, and Catherine Hunt.

    Parents and notable attendees included The Hon. Clay and Ramsey Jenkins, David and Lee Thompson, Suzanne and Adam Stiles, Diane and Scott Sealy, Denton Bricker, longtime League member Barbara Paschall Averitt, Roger Gault (DSO Chairman of the Board of Governors) and Michelle Miller Burns (Ross Perot President and CEO of the DSO).

    DSOL Debutantes
      

    Photo by Gittings

    Meredith Burkhart, Ryan Brown, Margaret Thompson, Ellie Browne, Olivia Zambrano, Elena Zeballos

    The presentation of Dallas Symphony debutantes is a time-honored tradition for many of Dallas' most influential and philanthropic families. The debs are of college age and typically are graduates of Dallas-area high schools, but may be attending college out of the area.

    Participation is open to all young women. Much like a sorority, participants pay fees and participate in parties, fundraisers, classes, and other events throughout the year, all leading up to the Presentation Ball.

    The Presentation Ball, which was first held in 1987, is the largest fundraiser for the DSOL. Founded in 1946, the DSOL's mission is to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education and fundraising activities. Since 1998, the League has contributed over $25 million in support of the Dallas Symphony Association’s Community Outreach and Education programs, which bring the symphony to thousands of young people and adults across greater Dallas.

    announcement weekenddallas symphony orchestrafundraisersgalaspartiespresentation ballsymphonysymphony debutantes balldebutantes
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