Girl Power
Sharon Hage feeds foodie philanthropists at Sip 'n Savor benefit for YWCA of Dallas
In the ultimate gesture of generosity, Angela Fontana and Andre Szuwalski opened their University Park home for the second annual Sip 'n Savor event benefiting YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas. The food- and wine-filled fete helps raise funds for the organization dedicated to educating and empowering low-income women in Dallas County.
One hundred YW devotees dined on farm-to-fork dishes created by chef Sharon Hage, paired with wine selected by Pappas Bros. Master Sommelier Barbara Werley. Hage conjured up a variety of tasty plates, such as Spanish tortillas with Manchego cheese and quince paste; cocoa-rubbed beef filet served with onion jam and watercress; crab salad served on lettuce leaves; chicken, lentil and kale salad with gluten-free biscuits; and lamb sausage with cucumber and chickpea salad.
Among the complementary wines were Guado al Tasso, Stag's Leap Wine Cellar's "Hands of Time," Amontillado Sherry, Ameztoi Txakolina and Roagna Dolcetto.
Glasses were refilled as YW board member Helen Dickey lead a live auction for a tour of Colgin Cellars "IX Estate" Winery and a stay at the Meadowood Napa Valley Resort. In the midst of the chaos, YW board member Bill Huber donated three bottles of Silver Oak wine to the winner's package, which sold for $5,000. There was also a wine pull, which brought in more than $2,000.
After YW CEO Jennifer Ware expressed sincere thanks to everyone in attendance, Sharron Battle, a YW staffer and former client, offered the following powerful words.
"I couldn't afford our home, so my children were split among family members, and I slept in my car," she said. "I kept promising my kids things would get better. But they didn't, not until I came to YW."
Sated guests included Sally Bolick, George Manning, Emilynn and Claude Wilson, Shelley Huber, Stephanie Davis, Erika Knight, and Shelley and Carl Swan.