Joy Is The Word

Dallasites take Grease theme seriously at Birthday Party Project bash

You know an organization’s legit when it throws a theme party and every single guest shows up in costume. Such was the case at the third anniversary fête for the Birthday Party Project, which tapped Todd Events to transform Sixty Five Hundred into the Rydell High School gym for a Grease-inspired bash.

Attendees — including Steve Wrubel, LeeAnne Locken, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Angela Choquette, Cary Deuber and Dennis Kwan — poofed up their poodle skirts and slicked back their hair to meet up with friends dressed as Sandy, Danny and Rizzo, who had all gathered to honor the organization’s commitment to throwing birthday parties for children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to celebrate.

Thanks to a full bar donated by Patron and amazing eats by Lombardi Family Concepts, everyone was fueled up and ready to hit the dance floor. The Motion Band kept partiers on their feet with tantalizing tunes straight from the Pink Ladies’ playlist.

Beyond good times, however, this event was all about fundraising for the Birthday Party project. Items in the silent and live auctions ranged from fine dining experiences to priceless trips. Guests could also raise their bidder numbers to sponsor individual birthday presents or entire birthday parties for deserving children.

A touching moment in the evening came when event chair Julian Leaver shared how his own mother helped him appreciate something as simple — but impactful — as a birthday party. Founder Paige Chenault also took to the stage, thanking everyone for their support and sharing her vision for the future, which includes expanding the Birthday Party Project to even more cities.

Partygoers kept dancing late into the night, when mini hamburgers, French fries and ice cream sundaes gave way to tacos, and the Grease classic “Tell Me More” closed out the night. As streamers and confetti flew through the air and guests waved pom poms around, everyone was reminded that spreading even a little joy can change lives.

The Birthday Party Project currently celebrates birthdays in Dallas, Fort Worth and McKinney in Texas, as well as Detroit, Minneapolis and San Francisco. Through community support, this organization can throw 13 parties a month with 700 kids in attendance who otherwise wouldn’t be able to celebrate their special day. The organization has celebrated more than 750 birthdays — with more than 7,200 cupcakes devoured.

Katie Koechling, Lindsey Cook

Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

Katie Koechling, Lindsey Cook

unspecified

Hollywood angels

Farrah Fawcett's besties raise big bucks for cancer fight in Dallas

Photo courtesy of Farrah Fawcett Foundation

Libby Hunt, Alana Stewart, Linda Gray

Fifteen years after Farrah Fawcett's death, the Hollywood legend's foundation fights on to fund cancer research and care for patients nationwide. For the third year, they brought their efforts to Dallas, to the 2024 Farrah Fawcett Foundation Tex-Mex Fiesta.

Held on a picture-perfect night outdoors at The Rustic on October 24, the benefit brought together a few hundred Dallas patrons and TV stars, including some of Fawcett's best friends. Co-chairs Alana Stewart (Fawcett's BFF) and Linda Gray (of Dallas) held court over the event, with help from special guest George Hamilton and actor Lawrence Zarian. Libby and David Hunt were the Dallas-based event chairs.

Hollywood stars Morgan Fairchild and Sheree Wilson also walked the red carpet; unfortunately, Fawcett's fellow Charlie's AngelJaclyn Smith and their friend Donna Mills had to cancel their appearances, it was announced from stage, due to scheduling conflicts filming the new ABC series Doctor Odyssey.

Guests were welcomed with a mariachi band and photo opps with burros; DJ 13lackbeard kept the party upbeat. They filled up on a Tex-Mex "surf and turf" buffet, and signature margaritas and ranch waters flowed all night.

The Rustic, Farrah Fawcett Foundation 2024 Tex-Mex Fiesta The event took place outdoors at The Rustic.Photo courtesy of Farrah Fawcett Foundation

About the time servers passed out mini versions of The Rustic's famous peanut butter pie and banana pudding, tributes to Fawcett began, underscoring the event's purpose.

Fawcett passed away on June 25, 2009, of anal cancer; the one-time Hollywood "It Girl" was just 62.

"Farrah fought with great strength and compassion, and she said with great sincerity, 'It has humbled me by giving me a true understanding of what millions of others face each day in their own fight against cancer,'" Stewart told the audience. "We will be victorious in that fight and we will not give up until Farrah's dream is realized. How can we lose? We've got Texas on our side, and nothing is more powerful than a Texas heart."

In a heartfelt moment, Gray - known best as tough-as-nails Sue Ellen Ewing on Dallas - said that her son had recently died of cancer. "And it just shook me to my core," she said. "This disease has got to be stopped."

Dr. Lawrence Piro, Fawcett’s former oncologist and chief medical advisor for the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, drove home the importance of the evening’s fundraising efforts. Fawcett's foundation is her greatest legacy, he and her friends agreed.

Dallas philanthropists Anne and Steve Stodghill were honored with the foundation's “Angel Award” for their work with cancer-related initiatives, including Cattle Baron's Ball (which Anne chaired in 2017).

A live auction raised hundreds of thousands of dollars with unique packages including:

Lunch and cocktails with George Hamilton the following day at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and a $5,000 Neiman Marcus shopping spree (sold for $15,000)
A five-night getaway for six to St. Barth's (three sold for $15,000 each)
A seven-night excursion to Tuscany (three sold for $13,000) each
A one-of-a-kind work of Farrah Fawcett pop art (sold for $10,000)
A meet-and-greet with rocker Rod Stewart at his show in Las Vegas (sold for $12,500)
A trip to Los Angeles for a "Hollywood Experience" including lunch with Dame Joan Collins (sold for $10,000)

The Farrah Fawcett Foundation, George Hamilton George Hamilton gets the crowd bidding on the chance to have lunch with him the following day.Photo courtesy of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation

For music fans, the highlight of the night was a rousing set by country legend Wynonna Judd. Backed by her band (including her drummer-husband Cactus Moser), she got the crowd on their feet, dancing to hits like "I Saw the Light," "She Is His Only Need," and "No One Else on Earth."

At the end of the night, each guest took home a stylish burlap party bag, courtesy of sponsor Neiman Marcus, filled with red carpet-worthy luxury skincare products.

Final receipts are still being tallied, but all proceeds will go to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the American Cancer Society’s Dallas Cattle Baron’s Ball to fund the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge.

$Farrah Fawcett Foundation Tex-Mex Fiesta 2024, \u200bLibby Hunt, Alana Stewart, Linda Gray$

Photo courtesy of Farrah Fawcett Foundation

Libby Hunt, Alana Stewart, Linda Gray

celebrities farrah fawcett tex-mex fiesta fundraisers cattle baron's ball jerry jones galas