Hollywood angels

Farrah Fawcett's besties raise big bucks for cancer fight in Dallas

Fifteen years after Farrah Fawcett's death, the Hollywood legend's foundation fights on to fund cancer research and care for patients nationwide. For the third year, they brought their efforts to Dallas, to the 2024 Farrah Fawcett Foundation Tex-Mex Fiesta.

Held on a picture-perfect night outdoors at The Rustic on October 24, the benefit brought together a few hundred Dallas patrons and TV stars, including some of Fawcett's best friends. Co-chairs Alana Stewart (Fawcett's BFF) and Linda Gray (of Dallas) held court over the event, with help from special guest George Hamilton and actor Lawrence Zarian. Libby and David Hunt were the Dallas-based event chairs.

Hollywood stars Morgan Fairchild and Sheree Wilson also walked the red carpet; unfortunately, Fawcett's fellow Charlie's Angel Jaclyn Smith and their friend Donna Mills had to cancel their appearances, it was announced from stage, due to scheduling conflicts filming the new ABC series Doctor Odyssey.

Guests were welcomed with a mariachi band and photo opps with burros; DJ 13lackbeard kept the party upbeat. They filled up on a Tex-Mex "surf and turf" buffet, and signature margaritas and ranch waters flowed all night.

The Rustic, Farrah Fawcett Foundation 2024 Tex-Mex Fiesta The event took place outdoors at The Rustic.Photo courtesy of Farrah Fawcett Foundation

About the time servers passed out mini versions of The Rustic's famous peanut butter pie and banana pudding, tributes to Fawcett began, underscoring the event's purpose.

Fawcett passed away on June 25, 2009, of anal cancer; the one-time Hollywood "It Girl" was just 62.

"Farrah fought with great strength and compassion, and she said with great sincerity, 'It has humbled me by giving me a true understanding of what millions of others face each day in their own fight against cancer,'" Stewart told the audience. "We will be victorious in that fight and we will not give up until Farrah's dream is realized. How can we lose? We've got Texas on our side, and nothing is more powerful than a Texas heart."

In a heartfelt moment, Gray - known best as tough-as-nails Sue Ellen Ewing on Dallas - said that her son had recently died of cancer. "And it just shook me to my core," she said. "This disease has got to be stopped."

Dr. Lawrence Piro, Fawcett’s former oncologist and chief medical advisor for the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, drove home the importance of the evening’s fundraising efforts. Fawcett's foundation is her greatest legacy, he and her friends agreed.

Dallas philanthropists Anne and Steve Stodghill were honored with the foundation's “Angel Award” for their work with cancer-related initiatives, including Cattle Baron's Ball (which Anne chaired in 2017).

A live auction raised hundreds of thousands of dollars with unique packages including:

Lunch and cocktails with George Hamilton the following day at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and a $5,000 Neiman Marcus shopping spree (sold for $15,000)
A five-night getaway for six to St. Barth's (three sold for $15,000 each)
A seven-night excursion to Tuscany (three sold for $13,000) each
A one-of-a-kind work of Farrah Fawcett pop art (sold for $10,000)
A meet-and-greet with rocker Rod Stewart at his show in Las Vegas (sold for $12,500)
A trip to Los Angeles for a "Hollywood Experience" including lunch with Dame Joan Collins (sold for $10,000)

The Farrah Fawcett Foundation, George Hamilton George Hamilton gets the crowd bidding on the chance to have lunch with him the following day.Photo courtesy of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation

For music fans, the highlight of the night was a rousing set by country legend Wynonna Judd. Backed by her band (including her drummer-husband Cactus Moser), she got the crowd on their feet, dancing to hits like "I Saw the Light," "She Is His Only Need," and "No One Else on Earth."

At the end of the night, each guest took home a stylish burlap party bag, courtesy of sponsor Neiman Marcus, filled with red carpet-worthy luxury skincare products.

Final receipts are still being tallied, but all proceeds will go to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the American Cancer Society’s Dallas Cattle Baron’s Ball to fund the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge.

$\u200bVince Morella, Sheree J Wilson, Farrah Fawcett Foundation Tex-Mex Fiesta$

Photo courtesy of Farrah Fawcett Foundation

Vince Morella, Sheree J Wilson

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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.

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