Mental health advocacy

Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott champions kindness at 2023 Beacon of Hope Luncheon

What: Grant Halliburton Foundation Beacon of Hope Luncheon

Where: Omni Dallas Hotel

The 411: About 700 attendees gathered to cheer on Grant Halliburton Foundation's mission to support adolescent mental health - and to cheer on their favorite Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Dak Prescott, along with Solomon Thomas of the New York Jets, delivered messages of hope at the 14th annual fundraising luncheon on March 7.

Both players use their platforms off the field to raise awareness about mental health and suicide through their foundations.

Andy Adler, CBS 11 sports anchor and children’s rights activist, interviewed Prescott and Thomas on stage. Both shared the seemingly simple message to "be kind." They demonstrated why it's so important from their personal experiences.

Prescott has been open about his own mental health challenges. His Faith Fight Finish Foundation was established as a tribute to his mom, Peggy, who died of cancer in 2013, and its work also honors his brother, Jace, who died in 2020 by suicide.

"Depression and anxiety can overwhelm you. I realized that during the first month of COVID. Sunny days felt dark, and my big house and yard felt small and closed in," Prescott said from stage. "We have the obligation to take care of ourselves and neighbors. Help your neighbors and loved ones ... We have hope. React in a healthy way.”

Similarly, Thomas (a Dallas native) lost his sister, Ella, to suicide in 2018 and co-founded The Defensive Line with his parents, Martha and Chris Thomas (who were in attendance). Their organization focuses on mental health and suicide prevention.

"We must treat ourselves as human beings and others as human beings. Ask people not how they are doing, but how are you really doing," Thomas urged, adding, "Vote and identify candidates who care about mental health. We have to make sure our kids have support in schools. We didn’t see widespread support 10 years ago.”

Local students joined Prescott and Thomas on stage to ask questions before Halliburton Foundation president Kevin Hall presented theprestigious Beacon Award to both players.

Steve Noviello of FOX 4 News served as the master of ceremonies for the luncheon, which followed a champagne reception where guests took part in mental health activations, viewed and purchased raffle packages, and listened to DJ Lucy Wrubel keep the beat lively.

This year's luncheon chairs were the Conly family — Jeanie and Bert Conly and their children, Lindsey and Aaron Berg, Mark Briscoe, and Kendall and Luke Cagle; Barb Farmer is the founding luncheon chair. Vanita Halliburton spoke about the organization she co-founded after losing her son Grant to suicide 17 years ago.

For more information about the Grant Halliburton Foundation and resources they offer, visit their website.

Who: Kaileigh Johnson, Misaki Collins, Rama Vangipuram, Neera Truong, Judy Rawle, T.J. Griffin, Polly Campbell, Bev Berry-Vuckovich, Susan Griffiths, Lucy Witte, Sonya Parker Goode, Norman Goode, Julia Butler, Amy McCloskey, Dave Farmer, and hundreds more.

Grant Halliburton Foundation Beacon of Hope Luncheon

Photo by Simon Luna

Judy Rawle, T.J. Griffin

Dak Prescott celebrities fundraisers luncheons

This week's hot headlines

World's 'rudest' diner sasses up this week's 5 hottest Dallas headlines

Karen's Diner

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Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that list here.

1. Diner featuring the 'world's rudest service' will pop up in Dallas. An innovative and sassy foodie tour is coming to Dallas: Called Karen's Diner, it's an Australia-based theme restaurant on tour across the U.S. that's like a cross between a restaurant pop-up and theater, and it's coming to Commerce Street for two nights in September.

2. Cowboys greats team up to score $2 million at 2023 Children's Cancer Fund gala. Sports stars, big celebrities, and generous philanthropists came together April 21 to "light it up" for kids who've experienced some darkness in their lives. Cowboys QB (and reigning NFL Man of the Year) Dak Prescott teamed up with Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman for a winning event.

3. Dallas' newest beer garden opens in Richardson with wink to major freeway. There's a new beer garden in Richardson: Called Old 75 Beer Garden, it's an outdoor retreat located at 740 S. Central Expwy., next-door to (and from the same owner as) Richardson Restaurant Park. Named for the freeway that it's adjacent to, the venue opened on April 21.

4. Luxe downtown Dallas hotel makes top 10 list of best lodgings in Texas. Though we are in the era of short-term rentals, Texas Monthly is out on the prowl to recognize those truly local hotel gems scattered across our wonderfully vast state. And a Dallas hotel has earned a top-10 recommendation spot.

5. Majestic Mad Hatter's takes English garden-party elegance to new heights in Dallas. The big Coronation may be a few days and an ocean away, but Dallas style queens donned their own crowns for a decidedly regal 35th Mad Hatter's Luncheon on April 20 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Hats for the "Celebration of English Elegance" ranged from grand millinery to fun fascinators to glue-gun gloriousness.

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