Lights. Camera. Adopt.

Puppies and paparazzi steal the spotlight at SPCA of Texas Fur Ball

Sparkling dresses, dapper suits, and the occasional puppy kiss stole the show at the SPCA of Texas’ Fur Ball on September 19. More than 500 of the nonprofit’s most passionate supporters gathered at the Frontiers of Flight Museum near Love Field, ready to make a difference and have a great time doing it.

Billed as DFW’s most paw-some gala, the Fur Ball celebrates the powerful bond between people and their pets while raising critical funds for the SPCA of Texas’ mission to rescue, heal, and find loving homes for thousands of animals each year. This year’s event — themed "Lights. Camera. Adopt." — was chaired by Kristin Hallam, with The Dealey Family Foundation serving as honorary chairs.

SPCA of Texas Fur Ball 2025 Brian Curtis, James Hallam, Kristin Hallam, Chris Luna.Photo by Thomas Garza Photography

Photo by Thomas Garza Photography

Kristy Sands, Madelaine Lam, Kameron Wescott, Olivia Nelson, Kristin Hallam, Tanya Rice, Katy Brooks.

After checking in and posing for photos, guests made their way upstairs for cocktails and one of the evening’s favorite attractions: the Cuddle Zone. Sleepy, soft puppies eager for nuzzles — and available for adoption — were cradled and cooed over while guests browsed a lively silent auction featuring animal-themed baskets, restaurant and spa gift cards, designer bags, jewelry, and artwork.

As the evening continued, guests moved downstairs and through a tunnel of "paparazzi" before entering the softly glowing dining area, bedecked with white orchids courtesy of event designer Steve Kemble.

SPCA of Texas Fur Ball 2025 Photo by Joseph Haubert Photography

Dinner by Vestals Catering began with a butter leaf salad with poached pears and spiced pecans, followed by red wine-braised short rib garnished with crispy onions. Alternating desserts of triple chocolate layer cake and apple-cranberry shortcake got forks flying as guests sampled their neighbors' treats.

Returning emcee and NBC 5 anchor Brian Curtis, himself a proud pet parent of rescued dog Ocho, reminded everyone of the reason behind the festivities. Tripawd Sapphire, a gorgeous Rottweiler mix, also took the stage to share her rehabilitation story via video.

SPCA of Texas Fur Ball 2025 Krystelle Sun with Sapphire.Photo by Thomas Garza Photography

SPCA of Texas president and CEO Chris Luna expressed gratitude to the dedicated volunteers and staff, encouraging the crowd to give generously to support life-saving care for animals in need.

Luna also announced a $31 million capital campaign titled Care Unleashed, which has already raised more than 75 percent of the funds needed to add 39,000 square feet to the nonprofit’s reimagined Stephens Greth Foundation Campus and the new Addy Foundation Care and Recovery Center.

Auctioneer Grant Snyder then led a spirited live auction that saw guests competing for luxurious getaways and a private dinner at chef Kent Rathbun's home — a prize so popular it sold twice.

SPCA of Texas Fur Ball 2025 James Hallam makes a bid.Photo by Thomas Garza Photography

To wrap up the evening, guests hit the dance floor as Manhattan kept the energy high late into the evening. Spotted among the crowd were last year's chairs Lawrence and Katy Bock, Trevor and Jan Rees-Jones, Kameron Westcott, Madelaine Lam, Randy Pruett, Bill Driscoll, Michelle Bleiberg, Olivia Nelson, Tanya Rice, Katy Brooks, Peter and Lael Brodsky, and Miss Texas Sadie Schiermeyer, all there to support a cause close to their hearts.

In total, the Fur Ball raised more than $800,000, funds that go directly toward rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding homes for thousands of animals across North Texas.

Humans, Horses, Hope

Run for the Roses theme spurs Equest’s 45th anniversary Dallas gala

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Nancy Gopez, Lynn McBee, Steve Kemble, Maggie Cooke Kipp

While spring rainstorms swirled around Dallas-Fort Worth on a recent Saturday night, Gilley’s Dallas reined in one of the city’s most hot-to-trot crowds for Equest’s milestone 45th Anniversary Blue Ribbon Gala.

The sold-out April 25 event drew 600 supporters - outfitted in swingy sequin frocks and polished cowboy boots - to honor more than four decades of transforming lives through equine-assisted therapies and activities.

Chaired by Melinda and Mark Knowles, with Lynn McBee serving as honorary chair, the gala glittered a little more than usual - no surprise with event designer Steve Kemble overseeing a “Run for the Roses” theme. Guests stepped into a dramatic sea of red, with cascading roses, luxe linens, and a whimsical cowboy boot-shaped disco ball setting a glamorous Texas-meets-Kentucky Derby tone.

The evening began with cocktails and silent auction bidding before guests sat for a three-course dinner. After the Rev. Kenneth H. Brannon offered the invocation, mistress of ceremonies Calvert Collins-Bratton guided the program, which included a Color Guard presentation, moving client testimonials, and fundraising opportunities led by auctioneer Louis Murad.

One of the evening’s most poignant moments came when Equest co-founder Susan Schwartz and Adam Telessy of Fred Astaire Dance Studios performed a memorial dance tribute. Schwartz returned to honor Leslie and Hawkins Golden with the Founders Award.

Equest CEO Eric Lindh presented the 2026 Citation Award to Carol Huckin and gave the crowd of patrons and supporters a vision of the future of the organization.

Equest’s guiding message — “Humans. Horses. Hope.” — was woven throughout the night. The organization, founded in 1981, provides equine-facilitated therapies, counseling, and therapeutic horsemanship to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, and learning disabilities, as well as veterans through its Hooves for Heroes program. In 2025 alone, Equest directly served 727 individuals and reached more than 1,500 others through outreach and education, they say.

After an evening celebrating Equest’s 45 years of impact, guests took to the dance floor to the sounds of Jordan Kahn's Manhattan Orchestra.

Among those in attendance were committee members, including: Underwriting co-chairs Nancy Carlson, Alison Malone, and Stacey Walker; auction co-chairs Maggie Cooke Kipp and Nancy Gopez; patron party chair Amy Turner; reservation chair Bonner Allen; and hundreds of VIPs and supporters including Chuck Steelman, Julie Moran, Daniel Valentine, Sarah Valentine, Denise Vrana, Tad Vrana, Anne Ray, Robert Ray, Fonda Arbetter, Shelly Hammer, Carol Huckin, Paige Locke, Chuck Locke, Lisa Laughlin, Peter Weeks, Kay Weeks, Ashling Besgen, Matthew Besgen, Blake Frye, Heather Wiese, Callie Wade, Amanda Gadison, Amy Green, Luis Araujo, Karla Noone, Andrew Noone, Kevin Ward, Meredith McKay, John Riveria, Nico Zevallos, Mackenzie Sork, William Avondet, Harley Cozewith, Blane Balch, and many more.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Nancy Gopez, Lynn McBee, Steve Kemble, Maggie Cooke Kipp

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Humans, Horses, Hope

Run for the Roses theme spurs Equest’s 45th anniversary Dallas gala