Time To Tee Off

Social set packs Preston Hollow pad for Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational kickoff

Dallas VIPs made their way to the Preston Hollow home of Lisa and Steve Lieberman for the kickoff of the fifth annual Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational.

Steve Lieberman got the party started by thanking the Smiths for using their “extraordinary talents and their superstar status” to help local kids through their works with the Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, which in 2013 distributed more than $400,000 to 47 nonprofits predominantly in North Texas.

Pat and Emmitt Smith then thanked sponsors — including SoftLayer, Albertsons, American Airlines, Dallas Healthy Aging Institute, Cigna, Waste Management Brown-Forman and G Wear — and host committee members for helping to raise more than $500,000 toward the 2014 event to date.

Guests — including honorary chairs Marion and Bennett Glazer, Larry Brown, Texas Sen. Royce West, Kimberly and Justin Whitman, Katy and Lawrence Bock, Sheryl and David Pidgeon, Beth and Jim Gold, Mike Ablon, and Ronnie Berg — mixed, mingled and reminisced about last year’s event.

The program concluded with sincere thanks from two teens, Christian Quintero and Giselle Garcia, who are members of the Smith’s Team 22, a program designed to mentor students to develop leadership and character skills through unique enrichment opportunities.

The 2014 event is set for May 9-10, with a Friday night party at the Omni Dallas hotel featuring a celebrity reception, dinner, live auction and dancing. The charity golf tournament takes place the morning of May 10 at TPC Craig Ranch, with players and other sports and entertainment celebrities partnered with each foursome.

Emmitt Smith, Pat Smith

Photo by James Edward

Emmitt Smith, Pat Smith

unspecified

Night at the museum

Perot Museum gala-goers with a taste for adventure raise $2 million

undefined

Shannon Murray, Chris Nolan, Kylie Capps and Chris Shurtleff

On a balmy Saturday night in November, the doors to Dallas' Perot Museum of Nature and Science closed to the public and reopened for nearly 1,000 chic party-goers. They dined, danced, and played with the exhibits to raise funds at 2024 Night at the Museum Gala.

Led by co-chairs Dr. Pamela J. Okada and Mark Okada, the crowd of "after-hours scientists" raised $2 million to support the museum’s educational programs and expand STEM learning opportunities across North Texas.

Perot Museum, Night at the Museum Gala 2024

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Shannon Murray, Chris Nolan, Kylie Capps and Chris Shurtleff

The event, designed by Valdivia Ventures, included live music, a captivating performance by dancers of Texas Ballet Theater, and innovative food activations by Wolfgang Puck Catering (the flaky, piping hot truffle pot pies that gala guests always look forward to).

As patrons explored the museum, they were greeted by hundreds of white orchids from Jackson Durham Events and were serenaded in exhibit hall by musicians provided by Jordan Khan Music Company.

A highlight of the evening was the "10-Minute Tasting Restaurant," an adventurous pop-up type experience that transformed the Museum Store into a five-star dining experience. Of course there were cocktails, too, and the lychee martini was a fan-favorite.

The evening concluded with a high-energy after-party on the lower level of the museum, presented by the Eugene McDermott Foundation. Guests danced the night away to beats by DJ Romi Q, struck a pose at the interactive photo booth, and ended the night at a decadent dessert room featuring a variety of sweet treats.

Funds raised from Night at the Museum will support educational programs, fund day-to-day operations, and provide financial aid to ensure the museum remains a welcoming and inclusive space for all.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the night, were Shannon Murray, Chris Nolan, Kylie Capps, Chris Shurtleff, Tim Peck, Missy Rogers Peck, Tori Mulford, Linda Silver, Emory McKim, Shelby Wagner, Niven Morgan, Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez, Regen Horchow, Ken Hersh, Dennis Cail, Annika Cail, Grace Cook, Caleb Stearns Wiley, Sarah-Michelle Stearns Wiley, Jason Valdivia, Katherine Stenesen, Chantel Boudreaux, Jeffrey Bragalone, Lexi Dennis, Mickie Bragalone, John Spradling, Miriam Spradling, KC Hurst, Koli Hurst, Magda Veja, Ashley Chellgren, Maria Zajia, Geraldine Parker, Meredith Abbott, and many more patrons and supporters.

museums night at the museum perot museum gala galas