Love Rises

Generous Dallasites open their hearts at 40th St. Valentine's Day Luncheon

What: 2024 St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show

Where: The Meyerson Symphony Center

The 411: Not a bad 40th anniversary gift. More than 600 attendees of the beloved St. Valentine's Day Luncheon helped to raise over $750,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Co-chaired by Brooke Shelby and Samantha Wortley, the theme for the milestone event was "Love Rises."

Donning Valentine's-appropriate pink, reds, and purples, guests started the soiree (which took place a few days before Vday, on February 8) with a champagne reception and silent auction filled with jewelry, trips, experiences, and more.

Then they proceeded into the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall for this year’s program, emceed by FOX4 evening anchor Clarice Tinsley. She shared that in the luncheon’s 40 years, $15 million had been raised from the event alone, with countless lives having been saved as a result of studies funded that provided breakthrough treatments for many different blood cancers.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Sarah Henry, Marjon Henderson, Mel Horne and Jennifer Walters

Awards were given, and a fashion show of spring looks from Highland Park Village retailers, produced by Jan Strimple, took over the stage.

The 2024 award recipients were:

The ICON Award: St. Valentine's Day Luncheon co-founders Rusty Duvall and Janet Evans.
The Memorial Hero Award: Given in honor of Ryan Anthony, the principal trumpet for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra who passed away from multiple myeloma in 2020. Accepted by Anthony’s wife and director of his foundation, Niki, and daughter Jackson.
The Lynda Adleta Heart of Gold Award: Philanthropist Moll Anderson, recognizing her support of LLS.
The Spirit of Tom Landry Award: Campbell Fearing, 24, son of Dallas chef Dean Fearing, who was diagnosed in November of 2022 with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.

Upon receiving his award, Campbell Fearing shared a poignant poem, that he wrote during his hospital stay while receiving treatment, titled “The Get Well Soon Balloon.” He was then joined by his father, Dean Fearing, who kicked off a "Fund the Fight" live-give initiative by offering an exclusive chef’s tasting dinner at Fearing’s Restaurant, which was won by a generous bidder for $40,000.

After the fashion show, patrons dined on a delectable lunch of herb grilled chicken salad with alternating desserts of a strawberry shortcake and a strawberry Linzer cookie in the foyer.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a worldwide leader in the fight against cancer, working to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Who: Honorary chairs Debbie Hayhurst, Libby Hunt and Sharon McCullough, LLS Red River Region executive director Leah Swanson, actress, author and philanthropist Alana Stewart, advisory chairs Maggie Kipp and Nancy Gopez, Rusty Duvall, Janet Evans, Kristin Hallam, Nancy Rogers, Peggy Sewell, Lynae Fearing and Doug Cochran, Wanda and Dean Fearing, Elisa Summers, Heather Washburne, Marjon Henderson, Louise Griffeth, Moll and Charlie Anderson, Prissy Gravely, Kristen Sanger, Heather Randall, Yvette Ostolaza, Andrea Cheek, Melissa Sherrill Martin, Becky Frey, Venise Stuart, Jill Goldberg, Lauren Laughry, Kate Boatright, Victoria Snee, Cordelia Boone, Jennifer Morris, Josie Sewell, Natalie Lesikar, Dawn Mellon, Katy Bock, Muffin Lemak, Susan Palma, Angie Kadesky, Tanya Foster, Lora Farris, Beth Thoele, Elizabeth Gambrell, and many more.

Still We Rise

Dallas' Black Tie Dinner rises high in 2025 as equality endures

Photo by Jonathan Zizzo Photography

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Libby Gonzales, Liliana Villarreal, Deidre Coleman.

On the same weekend the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed marriage equality by refusing to revisit the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case, more than 2,000 guests filled the Sheraton Dallas for a night that celebrated resilience, love, and progress at the 44th annual Black Tie Dinner.

The timing of the November 8 gala, America’s largest LGBTQ+ fundraiser and one of Dallas' most anticipated of the season, couldn’t have been more poignant. The evening’s keynote speaker, Jim Obergefell, whose name became synonymous with marriage equality, received Black Tie Dinner's Equality Award and urged attendees to remember both the progress made and the challenges still ahead.

Marking a milestone in representation, this year’s event was co-chaired by Liliana Villarreal and Deirdre Coleman, the first time in the organization’s history that two women — not to mention two women of color — have steered the evening.

Black Tie Dinner Dallas 2025 There was no shortage of photo ops.Photo by Jonathan Zizzo Photography

Photo by Jonathan Zizzo Photography

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Libby Gonzales, Liliana Villarreal, Deidre Coleman.

But first the event, with the theme this year of "Still We Rise," welcomed glamorously attired guests down the gold carpet (a nod to Wicked, perhaps?) for a lively cocktail hour spent browsing the extensive silent auction and capturing their striking ensembles at the many photo ops. Guests also vied for a $50,000 luxury car credit courtesy of Park Place Motorcars Dallas, marking the 17th year of partnership with the long-standing supporter.

Inside the ballroom, DFW's own Denise Lee began the program with a powerful performance of Andra Day's "Rise Up" before the BTD board of directors was introduced by U.S. Representative Julie Johnson, the first openly gay member of Congress from the South and the first woman to ever represent Texas' District 32.

Carl Nassib, the NFL's first openly gay active player, then introduced Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, who was honored with the Kuchling Humanitarian Award for their life-saving work supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

A fast-paced live auction was followed by representatives of the BTD 2025 beneficiaries:

Abounding Prosperity, Inc.
ASD - A Home for Life
Cathedral of Hope
Celebration Community Church
Dallas Hope Charities
Equality Texas Foundation
Finn's Place
Galileo Church / NTTN
HELP Center for LGBT Health & Wellness
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Kind Clinic
Legacy Cares
LGBTQ SAVES
Northaven Church
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
Resource Center
Synergy Wesley Foundation
Transition Resource Action Center
Turtle Creek Chorale
Uptown Players
The Women's Chorus of Dallas

Dallas native Hayley Orrantia and the band Extended Play entertained during dinner, before Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett brought the crowd to its feet with a message of unity and perseverance. She introduced Libby Gonzales, this year's recipient of the Mike Anglin Trailblazer Award, which is given to an LGBTQ+ individual under the age of 25 who has proven to be a change agent for the LGBTQ+ community on a local or national level.

Jasmine Crockett Black Tie Dinner Dallas 2025 Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.Photo by Selig Polyscope Company

Following an introduction by actor actor Brian Michael Smith, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, continued that call to action, reminding guests that courage — like fear — can be contagious.

From its beginnings in 1982 as a small gathering of friends to a national symbol of LGBTQ+ unity, Black Tie Dinner continues to define what it means to rise, again and again, together. Proceeds from the Dinner will be announced December 18 at The Empire Room in Dallas.

The 45th Annual Black Tie Dinner will take place November 14, 2026.

fundraisers charity lgbtq black tie dinner galas