Nature Calls

Passionate supporters shatter fundraising records at Park Cities Quail Dinner and Auction

Southerners take their game seriously, especially when it comes to hunting quail. The significant decline in the species has hunters concerned about the game and the environment, but Park Cities Quail is dedicated to quail research, preservation and education to help uncover the reason for the degeneration.

We were blown away by the 2013 Park Cities Quail Dinner and Auction at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. There was an unbelievable amount of passion filling the airy space, with a crowd of more than 1,000 devoted to the love of game, species and habitat.

To start, A.V. Jones Jr. was presented with a beautiful quail sculpture by Walter Matia upon accepting the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award. Jones was honored for his love for the outdoors, generosity and respect for natural resources.

More than 100 of Jones' friends from his hometown of Albany, Texas, flew in to support the honoree. In his acceptance speech, Jones expressed his concern for the quail species. "When I was a kid, there were birds under each bush. I thought it would be that way forever. I was wrong," he said. "You are really the impetus. It's difficult to raise money for a pastime, but there are larger things at stake here, and you are a part of getting it fixed."

Sophisticates made eclectic fashion statements. The PCQ committee flaunted navy vests with the PCQ logo, and ladies donned everything from flirty dresses to jeans and boots. A source told us that when someone asked Jones what to wear to the evening affair he said, "Whatever [you] feel comfortable in, from camo to tux."

We were most impressed by the over-the-top auction items, which included a $150,000 Bahamas experience for 10; a pheasant shoot in Hungary; a dinner party by Kent Rathbun (who offered bidders the option to host the party in their home or his); a dinner in Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones' Ritz-Carlton penthouse, prepared by Dean Fearing; and a T. Boone Pickens hunting trip (on his Mesa Vista Ranch), which reeled in a whopping $280,000.

We're still awaiting the final tally, but event chair Jack Wilson said, "All records were shattered, and the fundraiser grossed over $1 million. We anticipate making record donations to beneficiaries."

PCQ will be accepting requests from potential quail research beneficiaries through May, and recipients will be announced in June.

Among the passionate supporters: Amanda and George P. Bush, Craig James, Searcy Woodall, Jim Hamby, Paige Puckett, Blake Sherrick, Jason Willaford, Gigi and Carl Allen, Jean Jones, William E. Tucker, and Christie Louise Smith.

Photo by Dana Driensky

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