Night at the Museum

Dallas' most VIP couple leads all-star gala for Perot Museum 10th anniversary

The 10th anniversary of a Dallas landmark deserves a star-studded party and a few fireworks, too — and that's exactly what the Perot Museum of Nature and Science did to celebrate its milestone birthday. Dallas' most VIP couple led the festivities.

Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki co-chaired the 10th anniversary Night at the Museum Gala on Saturday, November 12. The longtime Perot Museum patrons — along with Eugene McDermott CEO Dr. Linda Silver — welcomed more than 1,200 guests and all founding donors to the sold-out event that took over every floor of the museum, including the outside plaza.

Attendees took in exhibits on four different levels, from the new "Science Behind Pixar" exhibit to the always dazzling Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall.

They noshed and sipped throughout the evening. Among the special highlights was a 10th anniversary edition beer provided by Community Beer Co. Legendary executive chef Wolfgang Puck (who was in attendance) created a menu of fully Texas-sourced cuisine as a nod to the Perot name, synonymous with Texas.

Outside, guests enjoyed the fun and games of a neon arcade presented by Texas Instruments.

DJ RomiQ kept beats spinning throughout all levels of the museum during the evening. Then Georgia Bridgwater Orchestra amped things up, closing out the night in the after-party pavilion as guests danced the night away.

The night was capped by fireworks, presented by Goldman Sachs, which lit up the Dallas skyline.

There was a lot to celebrate — not only the decade of impact that the Perot has had on the community, but the fact that $14 million has been raised to date over the museum’s anniversary year.

Spotted in the crowd, taking it all in, were numerous museum founders, supporters, and guests, including Abigail Williams, Annika Cail, Ashley Chellgren, Chantel McCraney, Lindsay Billingsley, Blake Stephenson, Trammel Crow, Steve and Carrie Becker, Chantel McCraney, Jason Valdivia, Darin Kunz, Brittanie Oleniczak, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, Amber Venz Box, Catalina Gonzalez Joba, Merritt Beck, Jason Friedman, Nadia Dabbakeh, Molly Clennon, Jordan Rihani, Justin Evans, Johnny Pompa, Caleb Hernandez, Dean Gresham, Michael and Rachel Osburn, Talley Hodges, Miles Parker, Meredith Garvey, Woody Abbott, Meredith Abbott, Katie Samler, and Matt Samler.

Perot Museum Night at the Museum Gala 2022

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki chaired the event.

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Gala preview

Dallas' most glam fall gala to honor Hollywood superstar Charlize Theron

Universal Pictures Presents "The Odyssey" Paris Premiere

Photo by Pierre Mouton/Getty Images for Universal Pictures

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Hollywood star Charlize Theron will be the guest of honor at one of Dallas' hottest-ticket galas of 2026: She will receive amfAR's Award of Inspiration at the organization's black-tie ball on October 24.

For a second year, the glamorous fall fundraiser will take place at the home of Kathleen and Scott Kirby, a release says. Taking over where Dallas' TWO x TWO gala left off when it ended in 2024, the amFAR gala has quickly become one of Dallas' marquee social events, drawing philanthropists, collectors, and high-profile guests in support of amfAR's mission to end HIV/AIDS.

Theron, who won an Oscar for Monster, is currently on a worldwide press tour ahead of her starring role in one of the summer's biggest movies, The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated adaptation of the Homer epic (opening July 17).

Beyond her film career, Theron serves as a United Nations Messenger of Peace and founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), which supports organizations focused on youth health, HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and combating gender-based violence across Southern Africa.

"Charlize Theron’s longstanding support of amfAR and HIV/AIDS care and prevention through her own foundation make her an inspiration to us all," said amfAR CEO Kyle Clifford in a statement. "We are grateful to her for her tireless work and are thrilled to be able to recognize her at our event in Dallas this year."

According to amfAR, programs supported by CTAOP have reached more than 4.8 million young people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Theron and the foundation also launched the Together for Her campaign with CARE and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to address gender-based violence, and later partnered with the Ford Foundation to advocate for global vaccine equity.

Founded in 1985, amfAR has invested more than $950 million in research grants supporting HIV/AIDS and other diseases in which viruses and the immune system play a significant role. Over the past 26 years, supporters in North Texas have raised more than $66.5 million to advance amFAR's ongoing HIV research and global health initiatives, the organization says.

This year's gala will feature cocktails, a seated dinner, musical performances, and a live auction offering luxury goods, travel experiences, and contemporary art. Tickets and table sponsorships are now available, starting at $2,500.

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