Honorary chairs Micki and Mike Rawlings welcomed more than 250 charming Wilkinson Center supporters to The Adolphus for the James Bond gala themed “Shaken Not Stirred.” Never ones to shy away from a good time, these philanthropists went all out in the name of charity.
The evening began with cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvre, followed by a seated dinner. But that was only a taste of what lay ahead for these guests, including Jane Johnson, Ron Wilkinson, Joyce Shoop, Melissa and Brian Chaplik, Anne Reeder, Frank Hytken, Chuck Wells, Asa Cascavilla, Mike Williamson, and Carol and Truman Greene.
If you’re familiar with the Dallas social scene, then you know the live auction items are second to none. Friends of Wilkinson Center lived up to that rep, with items including a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to the Masters Golf Tournament. This package includes airfare, a three-night hotel stay and two passes to the final weekend of the tournament. Can you say bucket list?
An amazing after-party had attendees mingling long into the night, thanks to exciting casino games, DJ Redsean, and a lust-worthy collection of raffle items. Prizes included a luxurious week in Cabo San Lucas, a McKinney Avenue pub crawl and a luxe staycation in downtown Dallas.
“Friends of Wilkinson Center are proud to be part of an organization that is so vital to our community,” said group president Vickie Thompson.
The annual gala is the main fundraiser for Wilkinson Center. Since its inception in 2003, Friends of Wilkinson Center has raised nearly $1 million for the center’s programs and services that transform the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (from left) Reece Weaver, Sophy Laufer, Camille Sturdivant, and Charly Barby; Charlotte Jones, Jerry Jones, Ted Sarandos, and Bela Bajaria
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys headed to Hollywood on August 11 for the silver-star-studded premiere of Netflix's forthcoming series America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.
Releasing August 19, the documentary series will "tell the story of how 'America’s Team' established a legacy," Netflix says, adding, "America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys is the definitive story of the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones’ impact on NFL history. What began as a daring purchase led to the assembly of the iconic ’90s football team."
Watch the trailer here:
Jerry, his wife, Gene Jones, and their extended family - including children and Cowboys execs Charlotte Jones, Stephen Jones, and Jerry Jones, Jr. - walked the blue carpet at the The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood in Los Angeles ahead of the premiere.
They were joined by an A-list roster of Cowboys greats, Hollywood stars, and celebrity athletes and TV broadcasters. Among them: Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith (with Smith's kids Elijah and Rheagen Smith), Marshawn Lynch, James Washington, TV host Mario Lopez, broadcaster Al Michaels, sports reporters Andrea Kremer, Jamie Erdahl and Taylor Bisciotti, Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Nastia Liukin, actress Molly Burnett, and Dallas-based reality TV star Rachel Lindsay.
Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, and Bela Bajaria, chief content officer for Netflix, helped throw the event for the Cowboys. New Paramount-Skydance owner David Ellison was there, as well. In fact, he was a driving force behind the series. America's Team is the first project to come out of a joint venture between NFL Films and Skydance Sports.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix's Bajaria told the audience before the screening, “Back in March of 2023, I was having lunch with David Ellison at the Tower Bar, and he mentioned he had secured the rights to the telling of the Dallas Cowboys. I don’t think he got the sentence out before I said, ‘Wait, wait, wait, stop, we have to have it no matter what.’ And he said, ‘No, no, no, I’m telling you I’m getting the deal, I don’t have it closed yet.’ I was like, ‘It doesn’t matter, we just have to have it,'” as she’s a big Cowboys fan. “So, David thank you for saying yes; Cowboys, too, thank you for saying yes.”
America's Team will feature appearances by players who became household names in the ’90s, Netflix says — Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders — as well as head coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer and high-profile fans such as former President George W. Bush and Nike co-founder Phil Knight. It is directed by brothers Chapman and Maclain Way.
America's Team will be available for streaming on Netflix on August 19.
It follows the highly successful Netflix series about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, America's Sweethearts, now in its second season. Several DCC stars were part of the America's Team L.A. premiere, including Reece Weaver, Sophy Laufer, Camille Sturdivant, and Charly Barby.
Tailgate with CultureMap Dallas Cowboys fans who are inspired by the Netflix show can then get in the gameday spirit at CultureMap's big fall sport bash, The Tailgate. Taking place at The Empire Room on Sunday, October 5 (aka the day the Cowboys take on the New York Jets), the party will include tailgate-inspired cuisine from local restaurants, premium cocktails, sports celebrity appearances, a silent auction of sports memorabilia, and more.
Early-bird tickets are already on sale for just $35. Read more about The Tailgate here and nab discounted tickets here. With sponsors like FLIGHT by Yuengling, Sportsmo, Puttshack, Mizzen+Main, Antone's Famous Po' Boys, and more, this party will score big with everyone. You don't want to stay on the bench.
Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (from left) Reece Weaver, Sophy Laufer, Camille Sturdivant, and Charly Barby; Charlotte Jones, Jerry Jones, Ted Sarandos, and Bela Bajaria
