Coronavirus pivot

DIFFA and Dallas Contemporary lead this lineup of COVID-friendly fundraisers in November

Jenny Figy, Morgan Heinrich, Regan Cole, Tina Jeppesen

Jenny Figy, Morgan Heinrich, Regan Cole, and Tina Jeppesen at the 2019 DIFFA/Dallas Holiday Wreath Collection fundraiser.

Photo by Luis Martinez

UPDATE: As of November 5, Dallas Contemporary has postponed its Car Ball until spring 2021, a spokeswoman says. Check the website and social media pages for updates.

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As the coronavirus continues to keep gatherings off-limits, Dallas-area nonprofits continue to innovate to raise vital funds for their programs and services.

They're getting more creative every day. From a popular auction of holiday wreaths going virtual to a socially distanced, drive-in style "car ball," these upcoming fundraisers are sure to be different — but no less fun and important. (See a list of previously announced November events here.)

Here are six new ones to check out for November:

Fashion Meets Mask benefiting Fashion Group International, November 5-30
More than 50 celebrities and designers have created masks for "Fashion Meets Mask," an exhibit and virtual auction that will raise funds for scholarships to aspiring fashion designers. The display will be on view for free at Galleria Dallas, November 5-30. Each mask is also being auctioned online to benefit the Dallas chapter of Fashion Group International, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to fashion design and fashion merchandising students across North Texas. Read more about it in this story. The public can view "Fashion Meets Mask" on Level One of Galleria Dallas then bid online using the QR code onsite at the exhibition or by visiting the auction site here.

A Virtual Taste of West Dallas benefiting Wesley-Rankin Community Center, November 8
A Taste of West Dallas supports Wesley-Rankin Community Center and participating West Dallas restaurants. For the first time, they are providing donors and sponsors a virtual experience, at 6 pm November 8. A pre-taped show online will feature West Dallas chefs and restaurateurs presenting their establishments and a few of their popular dishes, spiced up by updates from Wesley-Rankin and special prize drawings. Participating restaurants/caterers are 3015 at Trinity Groves (with Chef Sharon Van Meter), Steam Theory Brewing Company, Saint Rocco’s at Trinity Groves, Locura Dallas, and Frida’s Tacos. A $50 ticket gets each attendee a "reward card" redeemable at one of the participating restaurants, as well as one prize-drawing ticket. Wesley-Rankin Community Center (WRCC) partners with their West Dallas neighbors by providing education and resources to drive community transformation. More information and tickets are available here.

DIFFA/Dallas 25th Annual Holiday Wreath Collection, November 9-13
DIFFA/Dallas’ 25th annual Holiday Wreath Collection, aptly themed "Home for the Holidays," will be a reimagined event, featuring the popular holiday-themed auction taking place virtually. DIFFA/Dallas will host the event on their website and will include some nostalgic-style holiday specials, including holiday performances. A selection of DIFFA Wreaths will be on display each day between 3-6 pm at the Tower Club in Downtown Dallas so patrons can see the custom works of art in person before they bid online, if they'd like. This year’s silent auction will feature a collection of one-of-a-kind designer holiday wreaths, as well as holiday décor, artwork, and home accessories. The virtual auction is free to join, here.

Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity Dream Builders Luncheon, November 12
Dallas Area Habitat will celebrate the community, highlight their work, and showcase the success of their partner families at this first-ever virtual event. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about personal stories of Habitat families, hear from guest speakers, and give back from the comfort of their own home. The event aims to build awareness for housing equity and raise money to advance Habitat’s mission. Special guest speakers include Lee Bird, CEO for At Home, and an interview with Jim Lites, chairman and alternate governor for the Dallas Stars, along with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Kirk Franklin and NBC5 anchor Deborah Ferguson. The event takes place 12-1 pm November 12; it is free to attend, but donations are welcome and registration is available here.

Dallas Contemporary Car Ball, November 12
UPDATE: As of November 5, this event has been postponed until spring 2021.
Dallas Contemporary will present its first ever Car Ball, a socially distanced, drive-in style event. Guests will be welcomed by a collection of low-riders leading them into a loop around the new parking lot. The tour will take attendees through a visual and musical journey with DJs, a dance performance by friendswithyou, digital projections, a tattoo parlor, and more. Safe rest stops will be provided for drinks and nibbles. Timed entry tickets are priced at $100 for a two-hour visit and at $275 for an all-nighter option. Proceeds from the evening will raise vital funds for Dallas Contemporary in a year where the health crisis forced the museum to temporarily close in mid-March. Tickets and more information here.

Buckner International Virtual 5K Run for Hope, November 14-15
Dallas-based nonprofit Buckner International is holding its first-ever virtual 5K run to benefit its various international services and initiatives. As a pandemic-friendly event for the family, participants can run or walk anywhere they choose on Saturday, November 14 or Sunday, November 15. Adult registration costs $30 and includes a race shirt and bib. Children 12 and under cost $15 to register, which also includes race shirt and bib. Pet race bandanas are available for $6. Registration must be completed by November 3 to guarantee receipt of race packets prior to the race. Those who register after November 3 may receive their packets after the race. For more information and to register, visit Buckner.org/RunForHope.

fundraisers charity

Hot to trot

Equest Dallas patrons pony up record $700K at blue ribbon-worthy ball

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Honorary co-chairs David and Natalie Taylor, Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand, and Gala co-chairs Kristin and James Hallam

A sold-out crowd of 570 supporters stampeded into Gilley’s Dallas on April 25 for the 44th Annual Equest Blue Ribbon Gala. The Western-chic affair, always one of the most highly anticipated galas of spring, would have a record-breaking night.

Co-chairsKristin and James Hallam and honorary chairs The Sam and Helga Feldman Foundation and Natalie and David Taylor welcomed patrons decked out in cowboy boots and hats to Gilley's, which had been transformed into a shimmering celebration of all things Equest by event designer Steve Kemble. A “disco saddle” centerpiece even hung from the ceiling.

Emcee Calvert Collins-Bratton welcomed the crowed with a hearty "yee haw!" Equest founder Susan Schwartz presented the Founders Award to Carol Chamberlin, whose three decades of service as volunteer, donor, and barn manager have made her an Equest organization legend. The Citation Award went to Donna and Tim Weber and their daughter Katherine, an Equest client.

New CEO Eric Lindh took the stage to underscore Equest’s mission to provide equine-assisted learning, therapies, and counseling (much of it free of charge) to children, adults, and veterans. He shared the nonprofit's bold vision for the future, focusing on the number “22,” a call to action inspired by the 22 percent of Dallas County residents living with a disability, the 22 veterans lost to suicide daily in the U.S., and the 22 percent of Americans living with mental illness, while less than half of those receive treatment.

His pledge to expand services to first responders struck a chord with the crowd, as did the moving testimonials from Equest clients.

Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand urged the crowd to “Bid boldly. Bid big. Bid with heart,” and patrons did that in spades. Auctioneer Louis Murad encouraged bidders to raise paddles stridently, starting from initial $10,000 bids onward. Bidding got fast and furious live auction packages that included fabulous trips (with destinations such as France, Antigua, and Montana) and more. The most memorable moment came when a guest insisted Murad - ever the showman - auction off his own sparkling jacket. It fetched $2,000, a purchase by Tim Weber (who clearly loves a good statement piece).

In total, the gala raised $700,000, the largest fundraising amount in Equest’s 44-year history. The Blue Ribbon Ball's proceeds go directly to equine-assisted therapies and other services provided by Equest; for more information, visit the organization's website.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Honorary co-chairs David and Natalie Taylor, Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand, and Gala co-chairs Kristin and James Hallam

After a night of sipping, dining, and fundraising, patrons tried their luck at casino games and danced the night away to Jordan Kahn’s Manhattan Orchestra.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the evening, were Donna Weitzman, Nancy Greenbach, Natalie Taylor, Therese Rourk, Anne Seanor, Courtney Conley, Maggie Spiegel, Tyler Bridges, Lea LaFortune, Lee and Paul Michaels, Ryan and Kelly Casey, Christina Eubanks, Megan Pharis, Julie Bagley, Laura Johnson, Parker and Katy Brooks, Sharon Lee Clark, Max Clark, Jordan Glasgow, Anna Gresham, Khaki Christopher, Jessie Dornak, Jeff Netzer, Lynn McBee, Sarah and Trey Pederson, Luis Araujo, Amy Green, Kayten Elder, Sila Grogan, Melissa Placet, Tayler Reiter, Danny and Tanya Rice, Tina and Michael Beasom, and hundreds more patrons and supporters.