Root for the Home Team

Inspiring Texas Rangers star hits a home run at charitable dinner

For one night, volunteers and supporters of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity swapped their hard hats for ties and high heels to attend the second annual Dream Builders dinner.

Held at The Statler hotel, the baseball-themed evening honored the organization's true "dream builders," the people and companies without whom Habitat for Humanity would not be Dallas' largest nonprofit homebuilder.

CEO David Crawford welcomed the crowd, which included 20 Habitat Heroes homeowners who paid off their mortgages in 2017, before everyone tucked into a meal of cider-brined chicken and savory bread pudding. Dessert tipped its hat to the classics: a vanilla ice cream sundae topped with Ghirardelli chocolate and sea salt-caramel popcorn.

Rex Spivey was the night's big honoree, receiving the 2018 Dream Builder Award for his more than 25 years of service. Spivey became a core Habitat for Humanity volunteer in 1991, then went on to serve on the board of directors and as interim executive director, before being named Outstanding National Volunteer by Habitat for Humanity International.

Also honored was Pioneer Natural Resources, which has donated $3.9 million in direct financial support and provided over 11,500 volunteer hours. Directly, its employees have helped build 24 new homes and repair 28 more. Joey Hall accepted the award on the company's behalf.

After the customary seventh-inning stretch, during which attendees could place "bets" (donations) on which color dot would win the race around Rangers stadium, the dinner's keynote speaker was introduced. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez has been a longtime advocate for Habitat for Humanity, and he discussed his involvement with Chuck Morgan, aka the official voice of the Texas Rangers.

On their way out, guests received branded baseballs and boxes of Cracker Jacks for the ride home.

In 2018 alone, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity constructed 94 new homes through 65,956 volunteer hours. It is the nonprofit's goal that everyone has a decent place to live, and in addition to homes and repair the group offers mortgage counseling and homebuyer education.

Pudge Rodriguez, Rex Spivey, David Crawford

Photo courtesy of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity

Pudge Rodriguez, Rex Spivey, David Crawford

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler

Jazz and classical mix at Dallas Symphony Orchestra's New Orleans-style gala

Photo by Kristina Bowman

Patrick Means, Laura Harris-Means, Cassandra Johnson, Avery Johnson.

For one night only, Dallasites got to pretend they were in the Big Easy without ever leaving Texas. More than 420 guests gathered at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on September 28 for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's gala, themed this year around the colorful culture of New Orleans.

The evening began with a champagne cocktail reception featuring the David Washburn Jazz Band playing New Orleans-style jazz on the Meyerson’s radial staircase. When the time came to transition to dinner service, members of the DSO Young Musicians played “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” and led a second-line-style procession down the steps and through the lobby.

DSO gala 2024 It'd be impossible not to follow them.Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

Gala chairs Laura Harris-Means and Patrick Means, along with honorary chairs Cassandra and Avery Johnson, followed with umbrellas waving above their heads to signal to guests that it was time to be seated for an elegant dinner. The New Orleans theme continued with a Creole-inspired menu that included filet of beef, blackened Gulf prawns, asparagus, dauphinoise potatoes, and tricolored carrots.

DSO gala 2024. Patrick Means and Laura Harris-Means led the second line.Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

Spotted at the tables were Venise and Larry Stuart, Marena and Roger Gault, Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld, Rachel and John Koryl, Chuck Steelman, Nancy A. Nasher, David J. Haemisegger, Grace Cook, Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, and District 14 Councilmembers Paul Ridley and Jamie Resendez.

After dinner, guests moved into the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall to enjoy world-renowned pianist Lang Lang in his first appearance with the DSO orchestra since the 2016 DSO gala.

The sold-out concert begin with Dallas Symphony Association chair of the Board of Governors Cece Smith thanking the 1,700 concert attendees. Smith then introduced Michelle Miller Burns, the DSO’s new president and CEO, who reminded the crowd that proceeds from the evening support the DSO’s education programs, including the Young Strings and The Kim Noltemy Young Musicians programs. These programs touch the lives of more than 243,000 North Texas residents annually, including more than 30,000 children.

DSO gala 2024 Laura Harris-Means and Young Strings student Patrick Miranda.Photo by Kristina Bowman

The 28 Young Strings, Young Musicians, and Teen Council students who were in the audience then stood to thunderous applause.

And with that, the legendary Lang Lang took to the stage on piano alongside the DSO, conducted by music director Fabio Luisi. On the program were Rachmaninoff’s expressively virtuosic Second Piano Concerto and two encores, Charlotte Sohy’s "Romance" followed by his own arrangement of the Disney/Elton John hit “Can You Feel the Love Tonight."

DSO gala 2024 Lang Lang during the performance.Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

After the performance, guests returned to a lobby that had been magically transformed into Club Toulouse, an Cajun-flavored after-party experience with savory snacks, sweet desserts, and dancing to tunes spun by DJ Endolena.

DSO gala 2024 Guests danced their hearts out at the after-party.Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

Photo by Kristina Bowman

Patrick Means, Laura Harris-Means, Cassandra Johnson, Avery Johnson.

Next year’s gala is scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025.

fundraisers classical music dso concerts galas