Champions of the Dallas Arts

TACA reveals 2014 Silver Cup Award recipients at regal reception

Fabulous friends of TACA gathered at the lovely home of Jennifer and John Eagle to celebrate the announcement of Holly Mayer and Lucilo Peña as the 2014 Silver Cup Award honorees.

Founded in 1976 by arts advocate and former mayor Annette Strauss, the TACA Silver Cup is awarded each year to one man and one woman for outstanding contributions to the arts in Dallas. Mayer and Peña will receive their honors at the 36th annual TACA Silver Cup Award Luncheon, to be held a the Hilton Anatole.

Guests mingled over cocktails before the big announcement, which led to lots of cheers by attendees, including Gillian Breidenbach, Doug Curtis, Simona Beal, Diane and Hal Brierley, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, and Lee Pappert.

Mayer has given generously to myriad performing arts and cultural organizations, including Dallas Opera, Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Arboretum.

“Holly has led and worked alongside some of Dallas’ most influential and generous philanthropists, who happily join her in the work to enrich our community’s cultural life," said 1998 Silver Cup Award recipient Joyce Mitchell. “She has worked quietly, and she never seeks recognition, making her even more deserving of this honor.”

Peña, architect and president of Billingsley Development Company, is a founding member of the development excellence committee for the North Texas Council of Governments. He is a trustee of the Dallas Museum of Art and chair of the building committee.

He also serves as a director of the Dallas Architectural Forum and is a member of Downtown 360 for the City of Dallas. He serves on the program advisory committee for the Nasher Sculpture Center and is a member of the president’s advisory council for the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

“Lucilo has been a tireless supporter of the arts in North Texas,” said John Eagle, 2011 Silver Cup Award Recipient. “He is a bridge builder who quietly works to connect the talented people of our community and inspire them to do great things for local arts and culture.”

Founded in 1966, TACA’s mission is to champion artistic excellence in performing arts organizations and encourage innovation, collaboration and engagement through financial support, stewardship and resources.

Holly Mayer, Lucilo Pena, Nancy Carlson

Photo by Dana Driensky

Holly Mayer, Lucilo Pena, Nancy Carlson

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Night at the museum

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

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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.

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