The smize queen herself, Tyra Banks, dropped by Community Partners of Dallas' 16^th annual Chick Lit Luncheon on September 30 at the Hilton Anatole.

Luncheon co-chairs Errika Flood-Moultrie and Renita Joyce Smith, with honorary chair Cynt Marshall, were joined by more than 1,300 attendees at the annual event. Top sponsors got to gather in the nearby Wedgwood Ballroom during the pre-luncheon reception, which included a fun and festive Q&A with CPD president and CEO Paige McDaniel and Banks. Before leaving to get ready for the luncheon, Banks posed for a group photo with all attendees in the background.

Raffle tickets were available for a chance to win fabulous prizes, such as:

• a Balenciaga Hourglass Top-Handle bag courtesy of Neiman Marcus
• a $2,500 gift certificate for the Temple St. Clair collection at Eiseman Jewels NorthPark Center
• a fabulous getaway for two to New York City with airfare and two-night accommodations
• first-class roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the continental 48 US from Delta Air Lines
• a monthly gift card to shop at Elizabeth W boutique
• a hand-carved quartz onyx bowl by Pierre Verona

Attendees then took their seats in the ballroom as co-chairs Flood-Moultrie and Smith gave special thanks to underwriting chairs Bonner Allen, Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Kheana Pollard, and Kim Stephens-Olusanya; raffle chair Elizabeth Ward Creel; and the many sponsors and volunteers who helped make the day possible.

Reverend Elizabeth Moseley, associate pastor at Highland Park United Methodist Church’s Uptown Campus, gave the invocation before the co-chairs returned to the podium for a bit of fun. They directed everyone to look under their chairs, where 50 guests found a special note that they would receive a four-pack of Tyra Bank’s Smize Cream. Next was another fun drawing where a lucky VIP sponsor was the winner of two roundtrip tickets on Delta Air Lines.

Attendees then enjoyed lunch of an herb-roasted chicken and pear salad with baby lettuce, tender oak leaves, endive, goat cheese and candied pecans with a burnt honey rosemary dressing followed by a lemon meringue tart for dessert.

A video salute to longtime CPD supporter Crystal Charity Ball’s 70 years of transforming the lives of Dallas County children was next, culminating with an announcement that the shoe department in CPD’s Rainbow Room would be named in their honor.

Another, more somber video followed, showing the heart-wrenching story of Isabel and Marisol, who were abused by their father. While the video detailed the nightmare lived by Isabel and Marisol, it also showed how Marisol went on to live out her dream as a CPS caseworker, who now keeps other kids safe.

The audience was reminded that Isabel, and Marisol are just some of the 15,000 children that Community Partners of Dallas will serve this year. CPD is there for all the child-victims of abuse in Dallas County and helps kids in all levels of care with CPS, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day by providing new clothing, shoes, hygiene products, lice treatment, and more.

Moderator Kellie Rasberry, co-host of The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, sat down with Banks for a lively chat about the books Banks has authored, her businesses, her favorite books, being a mom, her modeling career, and her Smize Cream ice cream.

Famous for making up her own words, such as smizing (smiling with your eyes) and flawsome (embracing your flaws and knowing you are awesome regardless), Banks made up a new word about the day’s event: “Chick Lit-ified.” She said, “If you come to the Chick Lit Luncheon and you look good – you are Chick Lit-ified!”

As the event came to a close, attendees received a hot pink gift bag that included, among other items, a save-the-date postcard for next year’s Chick Lit Luncheon on April 21, 2023.

Supporters spotted in the crowd included Melissa Ellis, Erin Hendricks, Arden Ellis, Caroline Settle, Lindsay Jacaman, Bianca Davis, Robin Stubblefield, Sarah Thomas, Kyle Huckaby, Suzie Forsberg, Amanda Ward, Shelly Capriotti, Lara Tafel, Michelle Hartmann, Kala Garner, Chris McSwain, Imani Daniel, Mel Horne, Samantha Wortley, Kelli Little, Brandi Chalmers, Sarah Katherine Zavala, Shannon Henderson, Olivia Barder, Krystie Womack, Maggie Kipp, Kim Hext, Tamara Bickel, Cory Brown, Andrea Cheek, Lindsay Doramus, Erica Brown, Brooke Garner, Laura Price, and many more.

Since 1989, Community Partners of Dallas has ensured safety and restored dignity and hope to abused and neglected children by providing crucial resources and support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services.

Community Partners of Dallas provides items such as winter coats, diapers and formula, holiday gifts, school uniforms, personal hygiene products, food and more, to send the abused children in our community the message that someone does care.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Kellie Rasberry, Rhonda Sargent Chambers