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    Star power

    6 Dallas luncheons rolling out the red carpet for hot Hollywood headliners this fall

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Aug 27, 2019 | 10:11 am

    In 2019 — aka The Year of the Woman — "ladies who lunch" really means "women who are passionate advocates, activists, and kick-ass fundraisers for causes they care deeply about."

    Just take a look at the A-list headliners Dallas nonprofits are bringing in for their fall fundraising luncheons. They include Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Oscar winners and nominees. Best-selling authors. A groundbreaking journalist. On screen, they're red-carpet darlings and fun late-night TV talk show guests. Off screen, they're lending their voices to causes like the fight against human trafficking, the importance of arts education, and female empowerment in the workplace.

    With fall social season upon us, here's a look at six hotly anticipated Dallas luncheons bringing star power to the table. Grab tickets now because they're all likely to sell out.

    Texas Trailblazer Awards Luncheon featuring Laura Linney
    October 4, Omni Dallas Hotel

    Laura Linney, a two-time Golden Globe winner, four-time Emmy winner, and Academy Award-nominated actress, will step away from the set of her hit Netflix show Ozark to deliver the address at this powerhouse luncheon. The star, who has championed women's rights, headlines an event that will honor six female CEOs of Dallas-based companies who are leading the charge in once male-dominated industries. The Texas Trailblazer Awards Luncheon, chaired this year by Marjon Henderson, Marisa Howard, and Samantha Wortley, raises funds to support The Family Place, a nonprofit organization that helps survivors of domestic violence.

    New Friends New Life Luncheon featuring Jada Pinkett Smith
    October 11, Omni Dallas Hotel

    A successful actress, producer, director, humanitarian, and activist, Jada Pinkett Smith headlines this annual luncheon, which helps provide services for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Though her acting credits range from The Nutty Professor to the FOX television series Gotham, the star's latest buzzy project is her Facebook Watch talk show titled Red Table Talk, which she hosts alongside her daughter, Willow Smith, and mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris. Pinkett Smith has been an outspoken advocate for the fight against trafficking. She will bring her passion and advocacy for children to the event, co-chaired by couples Shelly Slater and Clayton Huffstutter, Christa and Ketric Sanford, and honorary chairs Amy and Joe Crafton.

    Baylor Health Care Foundation Celebrating Women Luncheon featuring Kristin Chenoweth
    October 11, Hilton Anatole Hotel

    To Broadway buffs, Kristin Chenoweth is still best known for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked. But the Emmy and Tony Award winner's career spans stage, film, television, music, and voiceover work. Chenoweth's newest album, For the Girls, releasing September 27, teams her with icons like Reba McEntire and Jennifer Hudson on anthems of female empowerment. She's working with performing arts students on her current tour, coming to Mansfield November 2. Before that appearance, she'll stop in Dallas to deliver the keynote address for Baylor Health Care Foundation's annual luncheon. Celebrating Women brings together more than 1,300 patrons to increase awareness and generate funding for breast cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment. This year's chairman is Laura Downing, with honorary co-chairs Margo and Bill Goodwin.

    Council for Life Celebrating Life Luncheon featuring Nicole C. Mullen
    October 21, Omni Dallas Hotel

    Nicole C. Mullen, a Grammy-nominated and multiple Dove award-winning singer and songwriter, is the headliner for the annual Council for Life luncheon. Mullen's singing career has spanned decades; she is a member of the Christian Music Hall of Fame and is the only African-American artist to win the Dove Award for both Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. She received to Grammy nominations in 2002 and 2005, for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year. She also speaks passionately about adoption, and has an adopted child herself. Jennie Gilchrist and Lisa Luby Ryan will serve as co-chairs of the event, which helps fund agencies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that offer pregnancy resources, adoption, and more.

    Junior League of Dallas Milestones Luncheon featuring Keri Russell
    November 1, Hilton Anatole Hotel

    Keri Russell, who will forever be "Felicity Porter" to some, is a sought-after actress on television, in film, and on Broadway. She was most recently seen on the critically acclaimed FX series The Americans, which completed its six-season run this spring, and upcoming, she will star in Star Wars: Episode IX. The Milestones Luncheon is an annual fundraiser benefiting the Junior League of Dallas Community Service Fund and recognizes the impact and achievements of its volunteers. Bess Enloe is being honored as Sustainer of the Year. Co-chairs are Alli Eagan and Connie O’Neill.

    Texas Women's Foundation Luncheon featuring Elaine Welteroth
    November 14, Hilton Anatole Hotel

    Elaine Welteroth is an award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, former editor in chief of Teen Vogue, who is best known on screen as a judge on the newest season of Project Runway. In her magazine career, Welteroth broke new ground as the youngest person and the second African-American to be editor in chief in Condé Nast’s 107-year history. She has written for the hit show Grown-ish and just released a book, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), which she describes as part-manifesto, part-memoir, exploring topics such as race, relationships, identity, and success. The annual luncheon is the Texas Women's Foundation (formerly Dallas Women's Foundation) main fundraiser in support of its work to advance women’s economic security, leadership, childcare access, and healthcare in North Texas. Janiece Evans-Page and Virginia Rose-Harris are co-chairs this year.

    Jada Pinkett Smith headlines the New Friends, New Life Luncheon on October 11.

    Jada Pinkett Smith
      
    Photo by Don Flood
    Jada Pinkett Smith headlines the New Friends, New Life Luncheon on October 11.
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    Meet the debs

    42 new Dallas Symphony debutantes begin 2026 Presentation Ball prep

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    May 26, 2025 | 10:30 am
    DSOL Debutantes
    Photo by Gittings
    Meredith Burkhart, Ryan Brown, Margaret Thompson, Ellie Browne, Olivia Zambrano, Elena Zeballos

    The end of the schoolyear brought the beginning of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League debutante year for 42 local young women.

    Just a few months after last year's DSOL debs "Texas dipped" into society (and raised big bucks for the symphony), the organization introduced a new class during Announcement Weekend festivities in Dallas. Their parties, philanthropy, and training will culminate with the 40th Presentation Ball on February 21, 2026 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

    The year will be one of special milestones for the DSOL. Not only will the League celebrate its 80th anniversary, the Presentation Ball will mark its 40th year, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will turn 125 years old.

    The mega-weekend began with the Announcement Party, emceed by Stan Gardner, on the evening of Thursday, May 15. Events continued with a Deb and Honor Guard Family dinner at a restaurant and couture gown presentations at local luxury department stores. (Per tradition, each deb will wear a white ballgown to her Presentation Ball.)

    The 2026 Presentation Ball is under the guidance of co-chairs Maggie Kipp and Kristin Hallam, along with DSOL President Claire Catrino. Hallam's in-laws, Fanchon and Howard Hallam, will serve as the honorary chairs. The Hallams are longtime passionate DSO patrons whose leadership gift was pivotal in launching the Kim Noltemy Young Musicians program – one of the initiatives supported by the Ball; they also have endowed the DSO Co-Concertmaster Chair.

    Catrino made her debut in 2011 and has been a part of the DSOL ball’s planning and organization ever since.

    “Our debutantes and their families will enjoy many wonderful events, make new friends and have one-of-a-kind experiences all while supporting the outstanding education and outreach programs of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra," she says with authority.

    2026 DSOL debutantesThe 2026 DSOL debutantes.Photo by Gittings

    Now, for the most important part. The 2026 debutantes are: Claire Francis Andrews, Madeline Grace Behrens, Claire Louise Bradshaw, Ryan EllaMarie Brown, Eleanor Baxter Browne, Meredith Lilly Burkhart, Catherine Sophia Cox, Larkin McKay Devening, Marbella Mora Duarte, Sophie Elizabeth Dybala, Kathryne Grace Eastin, Gisele MaryRose Enrico, Ashley Shannon Goldman, Stella Jane Grabham, MaKenna Loy Harvey, Elizabeth Ann Hautt, Jane Penny Hochman, Madeleine Christine Jenkins, Livia Grace Lange, Charlotte Bryant Lauten, Sue Sealy McGowin, Attales Grace Meyer, Elizabeth Catherine Nance, Madelyn Leigh Neuhoff, Carly Nicole Polka, Chloe Olivia Polka, Rachel Camille Rader, Sofia Marie Reyes, Marlo Elizabeth Rivas, Campbell Ann Schultz, Kathleen Brooks Searcy, Lindy Kate Smith, Sienna Alexis Stagen, Tessa Elizabeth Stephenson, Charlotte Spencer Stiles, Harper Catherine Tagg, Margaret Lee Thompson, Corinne Elizabeth Tinker, Georgia Bedell Williamson, Virginia Anne Wilson, Olivia Constance Zambrano, and Elena Catherine Zeballos.

    The Assembly, a group of former debutantes who assist the Symphony League by helping with event arrangements throughout the season, was represented by Emily Hea, Katie Kottwitz, Marena Gault (advisor) Isabella Cox, Danielle Ward, Kennedy Downing, and Catherine Hunt.

    Parents and notable attendees included The Hon. Clay and Ramsey Jenkins, David and Lee Thompson, Suzanne and Adam Stiles, Diane and Scott Sealy, Denton Bricker, longtime League member Barbara Paschall Averitt, Roger Gault (DSO Chairman of the Board of Governors) and Michelle Miller Burns (Ross Perot President and CEO of the DSO).

    DSOL Debutantes
      

    Photo by Gittings

    Meredith Burkhart, Ryan Brown, Margaret Thompson, Ellie Browne, Olivia Zambrano, Elena Zeballos

    The presentation of Dallas Symphony debutantes is a time-honored tradition for many of Dallas' most influential and philanthropic families. The debs are of college age and typically are graduates of Dallas-area high schools, but may be attending college out of the area.

    Participation is open to all young women. Much like a sorority, participants pay fees and participate in parties, fundraisers, classes, and other events throughout the year, all leading up to the Presentation Ball.

    The Presentation Ball, which was first held in 1987, is the largest fundraiser for the DSOL. Founded in 1946, the DSOL's mission is to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education and fundraising activities. Since 1998, the League has contributed over $25 million in support of the Dallas Symphony Association’s Community Outreach and Education programs, which bring the symphony to thousands of young people and adults across greater Dallas.

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