Power lunch

Hoda Kotb delights and surprises Dallas at 2025 Chick Lit Luncheon

Former Today show host Koda Kotb may have left her TV audience behind months ago, but she can still command a crowd. Just ask the 1,100 attendees of the 2025 Chick Lit Luncheon benefiting Community Partners of Dallas.

Presented by Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel on Friday, March 28 at the Hilton Anatole, the beloved spring luncheon featured a conversation with NBC5’s Laura Harris and Kotb, an award-winning anchor and journalist, New York Times best-selling author, podcast host and adoptive mother.

Following a champagne reception, Waldorf salad lunch, and award presentations, Kotb and Harris sat down in the Chick Lit "living room" on stage for a thoughtful, fun-filled chat. On the heels of Kotb's well-publicized decision to step away from co-hosting Today in January, they covered topics from Kotb’s new post-retirement "minivan life" and how she now has time to take her kids to school, to how she knew it was time to retire.

Kotb also delighted the audience with thoughts on her journey to adopting her two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. And, given the luncheon's focus on authors, books and storytelling, they discussed lessons she has learned from some of the stories she has told as a journalist, like the Peabody Award-winning “The Education of Ms. Groves,” featured on NBC’s Dateline.

Chick Lit Luncheon 2025 Hoda Kotb FaceTimes former co-host Jenna Bush Hager during a chat with NBC5's Laura Harris. Photo by Tamytha Cameron, Celeste Cass, Thomas Garza, Nate Rehlander

In a charming high point of the chat, Kotb FaceTime'd her former co-host (and Dallas native) Jenna Bush Hager from the stage and showed the screen for the room to see and hear. Kotb later posted about it on Instagram, and Hager commented, "I love you so much!" (She also tried to FaceTime country singer-songwriter Walker Hayes, with whom she co-wrote the song "Wednesdays.")

In the final moments, Harris shot Kotb a lightning round of questions:

What are you currently reading? “Maria Shriver’s book ‘I am Maria’ – it’s so good y’all!”
Favorite celebrity you’ve had on your podcast Making Space – “Probably Viola Davis.”
Where is your happy place? “Lately in my bed with my kids.”
What’s your favorite trash TV? “It’s not trash – but Kate Hudson’s new series Running Point- we need more stuff like that.”
Who would you pick as Jenna’s new co-host? “Oh… you’re going to get me in trouble, but Scarlett Johansen!”
If you were to get stuck in an elevator with someone, who would you want? “You know who it would be? Kelly Clarkson! She would sing to me!”
What’s the best compliment you have ever received? “I met your mom and I love her.”
What’s a belief that shaped who you are today? “You have to be, like I am, spirit-led.”

As part of the event's awards presentation, a video highlighted the transformational support this year’s Paige McDaniel Partners for Children Award recipient, Toyota Motor North America, gave to CPD and the Dallas nonprofit community. President and CEO Joanna Clarke presented the award to Toyota representatives Denita Neville and JW Washington, who accepted on their company’s behalf.

Chick Lit Luncheon 2025 Toyota Motor North America's Denita Neville and JW Washington accept the Paige McDaniel Partner for Children Award from CPD president and CEO Joanna Clarke (center). Photo by Tamytha Cameron, Celeste Cass, Thomas Garza, Nate Rehlander

From stage, Chick Lit co-chairs Alison Malone and Kelley Schadt, as well as CPD vice president of development and communications Samantha Eppler, underscored the mission of Community Partners of Dallas to serve thousands of abused and neglected children annually across greater Dallas.

Among the 1,100 patrons and supporters of the event were: Chick Lit Luncheon honorary chair Kameron Westcott, Sarah Novakov, Madelaine Lam, Elisabeth Landry, Sharon Lee, Beth Thoele, Kim Quinn, Mary Martha Pickens, Catherine Jaynes, Anne Besser, Christie Carter, Carolyn Murray, Carrie Hill, Courtney Johnson, Deri Hartman, Caycie Briner, Kristie Raymond, Alexandra Lovitt, Karen Foster, Ashley Coursey, Cathy Sewell, Katie Schutz, Maggie Foreman, Emily Harris, Angela Cianciolo, Erin Phillips, Kyle Yohe, Brittany Miller, Lindsey Dyer, Lauren Thompson, Stephanie Hannagan, Allyson Blow, Lisa Ogle, Cathy James, Terra Najork Peterson, Dawn Greiner, Breah Brown, Machelle Davenport, Margo Coughlin, Ginger Martin, Heather Baker, Madeline Giamello, Kate Phillips, Jourdan McClish, Megan Pharis, Brooke Bailey, Elizabeth Dacus, Michael White, Kimberly Casey, Lynn McBee, Jeff Netzer, Morgan Kennedy, Tiffany Lawson, Amy Martinez, Katie Robbins, Tanya Rice, and Mary McGreevy.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron, Celeste Cass, Thomas Garza, Nate Rehlander

Lindsey Dyer, Lauren Thompson, Stephanie Hannagan and Allyson Blow.

celebrities chick lit chick lit luncheon hoda kotb jenna bush hager jw washington kameron westcott laura harris toyota motor north america luncheons

Fundraising fun

Dallas’ Night at the Museum gala brings in $2M for Perot programs

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez

On Saturday, November 8, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science opened its doors, after hours, for one of Dallas’ most anticipated galas of fall: Night at the Museum.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez

Led by co-chairs Shelly and Michael Dee in honor of Sally and Forrest Hoglund, the 2025 Night at the Museum immersed guests in a science-y wonderland of interactive exhibits, fun cocktails, unique cuisine, and more.

Guests agreed: The couldn't-miss highlight of the evening was the 10-Minute Restaurant, which transformed the museum gift shop into a five-star culinary adventure by Wolfgang Puck Catering, reminiscent of how they serve celebrities at the Oscars. Amid all the night's action, it was a great way to sneak in a quick bite and some one-on-one time with a date in a VIP-like setting.

Attendees also noshed from a Living Crudité Bar, an Off the Bone beef station, a paella station, enjoyed "roaming tiramisu," and stopped servers in their tracks for the famous Night at the Museum pot pies. No one went thirsty, either, as guests sipped creative cocktails like Sorbete de Sangria de Cava and the sparkling “Aqua Pearl,” enjoyed a 196 Vodka Seltzer Bar, and a refueled at a coffee cart that opened at the after-party.

Guests got to dig like paleontologists at the Paleo Lab, ooh and ahh at the sparking Aquamarine on the display in the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall, and learn all about little creepy-crawlies in the Bug Lab Exhibit. Another favorite activity was the Iris Photography, which turned photos of the human eye into works of art.

In total, the crowd of "after-hours scientists" raised $2 million to help fund field trips, outreach, discounted admission and memberships to the Perot, and more.

Among the notable attendees were Margot Perot, Dr. Linda Silver, Marilynn Thoma, Carl Thoma, Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez, David and Mary Henderson, Katie and Jerome Rose, Lyda Hill, Cade McCarter, DeWitt McCarter, Kelly Compton, Kenna McCarter, John Sughrue, Marlene Sughrue, Kate and Steve Sigfusson, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart, Grace Cook, Laura Compton, Angus Mitchell, Rachel Mitchell, Martine and Michael Philippe, and many more patrons and supporters.

museums fundraisers galas