Party pivot

These hot-ticket Dallas society events are going virtual in September

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate life in Dallas, local nonprofits are grappling with how to raise crucial funds without holding big, in-person events.

September typically marks the beginning of fall society season in the city, but the calendar is already beginning to look different this year. The Crystal Charity Ball's Ten Best Dressed Luncheon (typically the charity season kickoff) is still planning an October 22 event, while the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary Luncheon & Fashion Show (initially set for September 15) is postponing all the way to April 6, 2021.

The September events below are pivoting to virtual presentations, and getting creative to engage patrons, from a Kentucky Derby "in a box" to intimate catered parties for fashion-show watching at home.

Genesis Annual Luncheon starring Nicole Kidman, September 2
The biggest fundraiser of the year for Genesis Women's Shelter moved from spring to fall, and now it's headed online. Thankfully, they're bringing their big star along, too. Hollywood superstar Nicole Kidman will deliver the keynote address for the virtual luncheon, which is chaired by Leigh Ann Haugh. Kidman has received an Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, and SAG Award for her portrayal of Celeste Wright — a seemingly perfect woman with an abusive husband — in HBO's Big Little Lies. The program begins streaming at 11:30 am September 2. Tickets, $175, are still available here. Raffle tickets, $25, may be purchased separately here. Prize packages, overseen by Nancy Gopez, include a stay in Seaside, Florida and a pearl bracelet; a ski trip to Taos, New Mexico via private jet, and more.

Turtle Creek Conservancy Day at the Races, September 5
The Kentucky Derby moved to the fall this year, and so did the popular Derby-themed fundraiser that raises funds for Turtle Creek Park. Day at the Races has been reinvented as "Derby in a Box," to take place 4:30-6 pm September 5. Participants will get a box that includes premium cocktails, a smoked salmon and cheese platter, traditional Benedictine spread and crudites, a green spray from Lizzie Bee’s Florist, festive Derby beads and prop sticks for selfies and Zoom parties, Mint Julep cups, and horse racing “wagering” ticket(s). General admission boxes ($75) and premium boxes ($125) will go on sale Monday, August 3. Then, on September 5, ticket-holders can tune in for a live broadcast from Turtle Creek Park that will include favorite elements of the annual event (think hat contest, best dressed, “wagering” on the Kentucky Derby, live streaming of the race, Scout & Cellar wine pull, and silent and live auctions). The fun new event is being chaired by Courtney Edwards and Reanae Seth, along with community chairs Leigh and Brian Danley and honorary chairs Julie and Frank Reedy. For more details and tickets, visit the website.

North Texas Giving Day, September 17
This isn't a new virtual "event," but it is the annual 18-hour online initiative that raises funds for Dallas-Fort Worth nonprofits. In 2019, $50 million was raised through more than 169,000 gifts benefiting 3,000 local nonprofits, bringing the 11-year total to over $290 million, the organizers say. Participating nonprofits include food banks, shelters, churches, parochial schools, animal rescue groups, veterans charities, arts organizations, and many more. North Texas Giving Day is presented by Communities Foundation of Texas. Registration is open now for organizations and donors. Find out more and contribute here.

KidneyTexas Runway Report Luncheon and Fashion Show, September 22
This beloved fashionistas' luncheon has gotten creative to raise money for its mission to fight kidney disease. Underwriters and sponsors at certain levels will host an intimate, private event for a small number of friends in their homes on September 22. Before the event starts, floral centerpieces and a fully catered, three-course, champagne luncheon will be delivered to their residences. At 11 am, they'll tune in to watch a virtual fashion show sponsored by Tootsies and produced by Jan Strimple, along with awards and announcements presented by emcee Scott Murray. Individuals may participate, as well; tickets begin at $350 and raffle tickets are $25 or five for $100. Sharon Ballew is the chair and Jolie Humphrey, the honorary chair, for this innovative event. Find more information here.

fundraisers galas

Humans, Horses, Hope

Run for the Roses theme spurs Equest’s 45th anniversary Dallas gala

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Nancy Gopez, Lynn McBee, Steve Kemble, Maggie Cooke Kipp

While spring rainstorms swirled around Dallas-Fort Worth on a recent Saturday night, Gilley’s Dallas reined in one of the city’s most hot-to-trot crowds for Equest’s milestone 45th Anniversary Blue Ribbon Gala.

The sold-out April 25 event drew 600 supporters - outfitted in swingy sequin frocks and polished cowboy boots - to honor more than four decades of transforming lives through equine-assisted therapies and activities.

Chaired by Melinda and Mark Knowles, with Lynn McBee serving as honorary chair, the gala glittered a little more than usual - no surprise with event designer Steve Kemble overseeing a “Run for the Roses” theme. Guests stepped into a dramatic sea of red, with cascading roses, luxe linens, and a whimsical cowboy boot-shaped disco ball setting a glamorous Texas-meets-Kentucky Derby tone.

The evening began with cocktails and silent auction bidding before guests sat for a three-course dinner. After the Rev. Kenneth H. Brannon offered the invocation, mistress of ceremonies Calvert Collins-Bratton guided the program, which included a Color Guard presentation, moving client testimonials, and fundraising opportunities led by auctioneer Louis Murad.

One of the evening’s most poignant moments came when Equest co-founder Susan Schwartz and Adam Telessy of Fred Astaire Dance Studios performed a memorial dance tribute. Schwartz returned to honor Leslie and Hawkins Golden with the Founders Award.

Equest CEO Eric Lindh presented the 2026 Citation Award to Carol Huckin and gave the crowd of patrons and supporters a vision of the future of the organization.

Equest’s guiding message — “Humans. Horses. Hope.” — was woven throughout the night. The organization, founded in 1981, provides equine-facilitated therapies, counseling, and therapeutic horsemanship to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, and learning disabilities, as well as veterans through its Hooves for Heroes program. In 2025 alone, Equest directly served 727 individuals and reached more than 1,500 others through outreach and education, they say.

After an evening celebrating Equest’s 45 years of impact, guests took to the dance floor to the sounds of Jordan Kahn's Manhattan Orchestra.

Among those in attendance were committee members, including: Underwriting co-chairs Nancy Carlson, Alison Malone, and Stacey Walker; auction co-chairs Maggie Cooke Kipp and Nancy Gopez; patron party chair Amy Turner; reservation chair Bonner Allen; and hundreds of VIPs and supporters including Chuck Steelman, Julie Moran, Daniel Valentine, Sarah Valentine, Denise Vrana, Tad Vrana, Anne Ray, Robert Ray, Fonda Arbetter, Shelly Hammer, Carol Huckin, Paige Locke, Chuck Locke, Lisa Laughlin, Peter Weeks, Kay Weeks, Ashling Besgen, Matthew Besgen, Blake Frye, Heather Wiese, Callie Wade, Amanda Gadison, Amy Green, Luis Araujo, Karla Noone, Andrew Noone, Kevin Ward, Meredith McKay, John Riveria, Nico Zevallos, Mackenzie Sork, William Avondet, Harley Cozewith, Blane Balch, and many more.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Nancy Gopez, Lynn McBee, Steve Kemble, Maggie Cooke Kipp

fundraisers charity equest equest blue ribbon ball galas