Texas-sized Fundraiser

Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball 2017 boot scoots for the stars

Stormy skies couldn't stop a boot-scootin' crowd from "Shooting for the Stars" at the 44th annual Cattle Baron's Ball at Gilley's Dallas.

Event chairwomen Sunie Solomon and Anne Stodghill chose the stellar theme for the October 21 bash, they said, because it articulated their significant fundraising goals and their "dream as big as Texas" to help the American Cancer Society save every cancer patient's life.

Dressed in their finest Western-chic attire, thousands of partygoers — including Krista Warren, Jonika Nix, Kameron Wescott, Aaron and Tiffany Hendra, Holly and Stubbs Davis, Jacqueline and Clay Cavender, Tia Wynne, Elizabeth Tripplehorn, Ann Southerland, Dean Fearing, and Wanda Gierhart — enjoyed an epic night of bites, bidding and boot scootin'.

To start the evening, donors and special guests gathered for a VIP party, where they mingled and enjoyed noshes like lump crab cakes and cracked pepper shrimp on green chile grits cake.

Texas country singer Pat Green serenaded from the Winston & Strawn LLP Live Auction Stage while the masses arrived, got registered to bid, and bought raffle tickets for chances to win luxury cars provided by Park Place Dealerships.

G Texas Catering served up a dizzying menu of bites throughout the night, at stations stocked with Southern fare like Frito pie, open-faced empanadas, street-style corn, and smoked chicken and jalapeño mac and cheese. A dessert lounge in one room and dessert bar in another ensured sweet endings with banana pudding cupcakes, warm fruit cobbler with vanilla ice cream, and more.

Drinks flowed all night too, of course. Among the sips were a Grey Goose vodka signature cocktail called Rock My World, and a decidedly stouter one, The Barrel Fever, made with Angels Envy Bourbon Whiskey.

After fueling up, guests browsed and bid fiercely in the auction rooms. Auction leaders Lisa Bhattacharya, Lora Farris, Lauren Snyder, Lauren Chapman, Callan Harrison, Laura Jorgeson, Danielle Sealy, and Jamie Singer amassed a silent auction with items from seemingly every retailer, restaurant, and venue in DFW.

The biggest bucks were saved for the live auction, run by auctioneer Jeff Copeland of Big Daddy Auctions. Live auction co-chairs Marjon Henderson, Ashley Lyon, and Lisa Haddow Shirley secured fabulous prize packages and fantasy trips both near and far. A VIP Indy 500 experience sold for $27,500, while a Ferrari tour in Italy fetched $41,000. Arguably the most popular package was a night of poker with six legendary former Dallas Cowboys, including Troy Aikman and Charles Haley; it scored a winning bid of $75,000.

Then it was time to head to the Miller Light Main Stage to see headliner Brooks & Dunn, who ran through their catalog of catchy hits, including "My Maria," "Neon Moon," "My Next Broken Heart," and "Red Dirt Road." When they played the first notes of "Boot Scootin' Boogie," nearly everyone jumped up and scooted along. Their final encore, "Only in America," provided the emotional high point of the evening; U.S. servicemen walked onstage and saluted while a burst of white streamers sprayed over the audience.

The fun continued at the after-party; Studio 54 Band played inside until 2 am while it stormed outside. Late-night revelers were escorted to their cars under umbrellas, but not without stopping to pick up favor bags filled with goodies for picnics under the stars — an all-weather blanket, foldable camp chair, and even a lighter for roasting marshmallows over the fire.

Since 1974, Cattle Baron’s Ball has raised more than $73 million to support cancer-fighting initiatives via the American Cancer Society. Proceeds from a special Call to Action during the live auction are targeting breast cancer, which affects one in eight women in their lifetime.

Numbers from this year's Cattle Baron's Ball are still being tallied, and the chairs will announce the dollar amount raised in early November at a check presentation.

Steven H. Stodghill, Anne Stodghill, Holly Davis, Stubbs Davis

Photo by WJNPHOTO

Steven H. Stodghill, Anne Stodghill, Holly Davis, Stubbs Davis

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Park news

Dallas civic leader Calvert Collins-Bratton named Klyde Warren Park CEO

Photo courtesy of Klyde Warren Park

Calvert Collins-Bratton has been named the new executive director of Klyde Warren Park.

A respected figure in Dallas philanthropy and parks is stepping into a new leadership role: Calvert Collins-Bratton has been named the next president and CEO of Klyde Warren Park, beginning September 1.

Collins-Bratton succeeds Kit Sawers, who led the park for eight years; her final day in the role was July 20.

The transition comes as Klyde Warren enters its next phase, including a recently announced expansion that will add 1.7 acres over Woodall Rodgers Freeway.

Collins-Bratton most recently served as chief relationships officer at Communities Foundation of Texas, where she oversaw fundraising, donor engagement, corporate philanthropy, and community partnerships, a press release notes. Her ties to Klyde Warren Park stretch back more than a decade through her service as chair of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, where she advocated for investments in public spaces. She's also been a longtime donor and supporter of the park.

"Few people understand the significance and potential of Klyde Warren Park as deeply as Calvert does," foundation board chairman Jody Grant says in the release. "She has been an advocate for public spaces throughout Dallas, a trusted philanthropic leader, and a longtime supporter of the Park. Her experience and expertise make her exceptionally qualified to lead Klyde Warren Park into the future."

Klyde Warren Park has recently announced an ambitious expansion project. Photo courtesy of Klyde Warren Park

Before joining Communities Foundation of Texas, Collins-Bratton was vice president of communications and strategic events for Methodist Health System Foundation. Earlier in her career, she spent more than a decade as a television reporter and anchor in Omaha, Las Vegas, and Dallas-Fort Worth.

She was selected following a national search led by former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, a member of the Klyde Warren Park Foundation board.

As president and CEO, Collins-Bratton will oversee the park's operations, programming, fundraising, strategic partnerships, and long-term vision as the 5.4-acre deck park continues to grow.

"Klyde Warren Park is one of Dallas' great success stories and one of the most beloved gathering places in our city," Collins-Bratton says. "I look forward to working with the Foundation's board, staff, donors, partners, and community supporters to build on its incredible momentum and ensure its impact continues to grow for generations to come."

In a separate, farewell note, Sawers announced she'll become CEO of the newly created SMU Dallas Office on August 3. She called leading Klyde Warren Park one of the greatest privileges of her career.

"I leave knowing the Park is exceptionally well positioned for the future. It has a talented and dedicated team, an engaged Board, strong community support and exciting opportunities ahead, including a 1.7-acre expansion," Sawers wrote. "The overwhelming response to this summer’s World Cup watch parties once again demonstrated the Park’s unique ability to bring our community together."

Since opening in 2012, Klyde Warren Park has become one of Dallas' signature public spaces, drawing more than 2 million visitors annually with free concerts, fitness classes, festivals, food trucks, and other community programming, they say. The park recently unveiled plans for a $175 million expansion that will nearly double its event lawn and add new green space, play areas, and pedestrian connections.

Collins-Bratton's appointment comes on the heels of another key Dallas leadership announcement: That of Ahava Silkey-Jones as executive director of the Dallas Arts District.

executives parks klyde warren park