What: Junior League of Dallas Milestones Luncheon
Where: Omni Dallas Hotel
The 411: One of the buzziest and best-attended luncheons of spring, the JLD Milestones Luncheon has a reputation for bringing in A-list speakers to entertain and encourage the organization's mission of civic involvement. The 2023 edition, April 14, had a historic twist - the luncheon's first ever male speaker. Award-winning actor Rob Lowe was the star of the show.
But first, there were awards and recognitions for some of Dallas' own. Luncheon co-chairs Heather McNamara and Elizabeth Gambrell recognized the event's biggest sponsors and supporters, and JLD president Emily Somerville-Cabrera and Dallas sustainer president Monica Christopher presented the Sustainer of the Year award to Pam Busbee for her outstanding community leadership.
Somerville-Cabrera shared some strategic changes JLD is making to its Community Program and Signature Projects, including the Mayor’s Back to School Fair and a new Park Improvement Project. She also recognized a new class of Sustaining members, called Legacy Leaders, who have been in the League for more than 50 years.
While guests finished their lunch, emcee Shelly Slater took to the stage with Rob Lowe for a lightning round of questions. Lowe - who announced his mother had been in Junior League in Ohio - entertained with candid stories about long-time friend Gwyneth Paltrow and his career-changing experience on Saturday Night Live. He shared the joy he feels to be working on his new Netflix series, Unstable, alongside his youngest son.
And on two very personal notes, Lowe shared how he's navigated 33 years of sobriety, as well as his secrets to maintaining a happy marriage with his wife of 32 years, Sheryl Lowe.
In a final, poignant note, Lowe addressed the fact that he is the first ever male spokesperson for breast cancer awareness. His motivation, he said, was that his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all passed away from breast cancer.
Throughout the luncheon, guests could buy raffle tickets for four fabulous raffle packages. And one lucky person at each table got to take the McShan floral arrangement home - that is, the person whose birthday was closest to Rob Lowe's on March 17.
Who: Marisa Partin, Melinda Knowles, Elizabeth Saab, Maggie Kipp, Nancy Gopez, Katy Bock, Meredith Camp, Caroline Kohl, Nicole Kohl, Caroline and Elizabeth Leal, Barbara Leal, Ellen Griswold, Amy Lichtenwalter, Jenise Young, Kim Cox, Beth Anderson, Sarah Burke, Andrea Cheek, Meredith Mosley, Candance Winslow, Caroline Winslow, Debbie Oates, Jan Baldwin, Karen Shuford, Christie Carter, Claire Emanuelson, Houston Striggow, Susie Sarich, and hundreds more supporters and guests.
Photo by Gittings
Marisa Partin, Emily Somerville-Cabrera, Elizabeth Gambrell, Rob Lowe, Pam Busbee, Heather McNamara
