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    Philanthropy fun

    The 8 hottest galas & parties every Dallas YP must attend in spring 2025

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Feb 5, 2025 | 3:54 pm
    Yellow Rose Gala 2023

    Save the date for the Yellow Rose Gala on March 29.

    Photo by It’s Your Night Entertainment

    Spring is the season for Dallas' dynamic young philanthropists to work hard and play hard for the causes they care about most. The next few months will bring a high-energy casino party, night at the museum, and chances to dance the night away at glamorous black-tie galas. Save the date for the biggest foodie event of the year, and put a ring on a Beyoncé-Beethoven experience like no other.

    Here are the eight top social events for every Dallas young professional's spring 2025 calendar.

    CASAblanca Casino Party, February 7 at The Hall on Dragon
    Per tradition, the Dallas CASA Young Professionals will kick off YP social season with a rollicking casino party filled with games, cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres, silent auctions, prizes, and dancing. After trying their luck at the blackjack and roulette tables, guests can get down on the dance floor to the sounds of The Special Edition band. The cocktail-attire gala is under the guidance of co-chairs Brooke Farrelly, Hannah Harpole, Vivian Satterfield, Seth Stukalin. Proceeds benefit the children served by Dallas CASA, helping to ensure they have safe, loving homes. Tickets (starting at $175 for general admission) and more information are available here.

    CASAblancaThe CASAblanca Casino Party kicks off the season. Photo courtesy of Dallas CASA Young Professionals

    Genesis Masquerade, February 28 at The Perot Museum
    The Genesis Young Leaders are making their 10th annual black-tie affair a "Night at the Museum." The event promises a roaming dinner throughout the museum, signature cocktails, silent auction, live entertainment, and more. Genesis Young Leaders is an auxiliary group of young professionals dedicated to ending domestic violence. All proceeds go to the many programs of Genesis Women's Shelter & Support. Tickets (starting at $125) are available here.

    Yellow Rose Gala, March 29 at Longhorn Ballroom
    Grab your hats and boots. The Yellow Rose Gala Foundation channels its Texas roots with the theme of “Ropin' in the Cure” and a venue change to the historic Longhorn Ballroom. The night will feature dinner, cocktails, auctions, and two-stepping to a live band. Nita Patel and Andrea Reich are the event co-chairs who'll help the organization raise money for a cure for MS. Members of the Scott Burford family are the honorary co-chairs, the Dee Wynne Courage award will be presented to Louis B. Harrell, Jr., and the night will honor the memory of Jane Lombardi. Tickets (starting at $175 for those age 35 and under) are available here.

    Junior League Milestones Luncheon, April 11 at Omni Dallas Hotel
    Known for attracting high-profile celebrity speakers, this year's Junior League power lunch will be headlined by Alex Snodgrass, best-selling cookbook author and creator of The Defined Dish (word is, her recipes will be served for lunch). Peggy Sewell will be honored as Sustainer of the Year at the event, co-chaired by Lauren Combest and Debbie Oates. The luncheon benefits the Junior League of Dallas Community Service Fund, which supports the organization's many civic causes throughout greater Dallas. For more information and tickets (starting at $250 for general admission), go here.

    Alex SnodgrassJunior League Milestones Luncheon presents Alex Snodgrass of The Defined Dish. Photo courtesy of Alex Snodgrass

    Dallas Cotillion Club Annual Gala & Silent Auction, April 26
    The Dallas Cotillion Club’s 81st annual Gala & Silent Auction promises to bring together the city’s young professionals for a black-tie evening of elegance and impact, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support. The gala, chaired by Ali Hejny, will start with a dinner for VIP ticket-holders, and while the Cotillion Club is a private, membership-based social club for women, the gala is open to all young adults in Dallas. This year’s location, theme, and more details will be revealed at a Gala Reveal Party on February 18 at La Mina in The Village. Tickets to the reveal party (starting at $55 for non-members) are available here, and gala tickets will go on sale after the party. For more information, visit the website.

    CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, May 1 at Astoria Event Venue
    Save the date for the most delicious food event of the year (okay, we're a little biased) and get ready to raise a glass to Dallas' restaurant and bar stars. The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards is a spring tradition — and tickets are already on sale. Join us Thursday, May 1 at a new location - the Astoria Event Venue - for an evening honoring the very best of Dallas' culinary scene, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Harvest Project Food Rescue. A limited number of pre-sale tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $50 for general admission and $85 for VIP (includes early access to the event, dedicated bar, and more perks). Prices will go up soon. Nab early tickets here.

    Dallas Tastemaker AwardsCheers to the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Day at the Races, May 3 at Turtle Creek Park
    If you can't make it to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, Dallas has the next best thing in this annual soiree starring big hats and mint juleps. Guests should show up to Turtle Creek Park/Arlington Hall dressed in their Derby best for a VIP reception followed by the main event featuring Southern food and beverages, a silent auction, table games, "wagering," live music, dancing, a best-dressed and best-hat competition, and of course, Kentucky Derby viewing on the big screen. The 2025 event, now in its 17th year, is chaired by Shannon Graham and Beth Layton and benefits the work of Turtle Creek Conservancy. For more information and tickets (starting at $300), go here.

    Dallas Symphony Beethoven x Beyoncé YP Experience, May 17 at Meyerson Symphony Center
    As a little twist on a traditional gala, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra young professionals group will attend the DSO's concert-mashup of pop and classical music, followed by their own party. Composed and conducted by Steve Hackman, the new work promises a thrilling blend of Beyoncé’s iconic repertoire (“Girls,” “Crazy in Love,” “Texas Hold ‘Em”) seamlessly interwoven with Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. It will be performed by three powerhouse female soloists and accompanied by a guest drummer, guitarist/keyboardist, and bassist. While the concert is open to the public (tickets start at $59), YPs can upgrade to VIP admission to the exclusive YPX VIP After-Party, which will include a complimentary drink and appetizers from 9-10:30 pm in the Loge. Tickets are available here.

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    Expedition d’ Elegance

    Dallas Crystal Charity Ball 2025 takes elegant expedition to South of France

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Dec 9, 2025 | 4:58 pm
    Crystal Charity Ball 2025
    Photo by Ashley Gongora
    Crystal Charity Ball is Dallas' biggest formal fashion moment: Laura Pierson (in Lela Rose), Francis Harrison (in St. John) Julianne Santarosa (in Terry John), Bailey Harrison (in Sue Gragg), Sharon Lee Clark (in Ese Azenabor), and Caroline Harrison (in Sue Gragg).

    Attendees of the 2025 Crystal Charity Ball were promised an Expedition d’ Elegance, and indeed, Dallas’ grand dame gala delivered a night of globe-trotting glamour.

    Ball chair Mary Martha Pickens selected the jet-setting theme to reflect her love of world travel, but waited to reveal the final port of call until the doors opened.

    As always, Crystal Charity Ball's true “destinations” remain the local children’s nonprofits that will benefit from the millions of dollars raised by the organization.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025

    Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Laura Pierson (in Lela Rose), Francis Harrison (in St. John) Julianne Santarosa (in Terry John), Bailey Harrison (in Sue Gragg), Sharon Lee Clark (in Ese Azenabor), Caroline Harrison (in Sue Gragg)

    Doormen in white tie and top hats greeted 1,540 guests as they strolled into the Hilton Anatole on Saturday, December 6.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 The central foyer was transformed into a South-of-France villa, and harpists played on terraces.Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Hanging wisteria and small fields of sunflowers colored the landscape of Pickens' final destination choice - the South of France, said to be her favorite place to travel. The hotel's central foyer had been transformed into a colorful seaside villa, complete with harpists from the Octavia Harp Ensemble serenading on terraces.

    Tres magnifique.

    After posing for professional portraits by James French Photography and showing off their 'fits for the NorthPark Fashion Cam, guests grabbed glasses of wine or hand-crafted cocktails and noshed on salumi boats, artisan cheese cones, and jumbo shrimp at the Corient /Thoele Family Cocktail Reception.

    New this year was the Aligned Data Centers Lounge, a martini-sports bar in the far corner of the foyer where guests hungry for heartier sustenance could snack on sliders and watch a football game on TV.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 The prettiest seaside "shrimp boat" you'll ever see.Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Patrons could also try their luck in the casino, then redeem their winnings for home decor, children's toys, and gifts in the Boutique d’Elegance.

    The silent auction featured dozens upon dozens of magnificent trips, fine jewelry, artwork, runway fashion experiences, one-of-a-kind accessories, and many more exquisite items. Bidders checked their phones all night to see if they were still in the running. They could also buy Contribution Tickets for the chance to win a luxury car from Sewell or a Highland Park Village shopping spree.

    Fashion moment
    Crystal Charity Ball is not only the grandest gala of the year in Dallas, it's also the city's biggest formal fashion moment. Dallas' best-dressed women dazzled in their glamorous gowns.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 Ball chair Mary Martha Pickens in a vibrant green and blue Michael Faircloth gown (with Dr. John Pickens).Photo by Tamytha Cameron

    Shades of blue that matched the water and sky motifs of the evening were popular (as seen on Julianne Santarosa, Kim Hodge, and Leila Henderson-Gary). So were vibrant jewel tones (Anne Davidson, Monica Davy, Cary Deuber); holiday reds (Heather Wick, Haley Dearman, Veronica Moye, Laurie Sands Harrison); and various shades of white (Caroline Harrison, Sharon Lee Clark, Victoria Cullum, and Sabrina Harrison - whose sculptural gown seemed the embodiment of Pantone's 2026 color of the year, "Cloud Dancer").

    Beloved local designers were well-represented, including Nardos, Michael Faircloth, Patti Flowers, Ese Azenabor, and Venny Etienne.

    In a fun Dallas charity-fashion mashup, quite a few attendees wore gowns purchased at the Salvation Army Fashion Show & Luncheon: Candace Winslow donned a hand-painted Patti Flowers ballgown that was the grand finale look of 2025 event, and the 2025 chair Stacey Walker wore a Roland Nivelais number. 2026 chair Katherine Coker sparkled in a gold Monique Lhuillier dress, and longtime auxiliary member Maggie Kipp wore a black Carolina Herrera.

    (Scroll through the photo gallery, above, to see dozens of gorgeous looks from the evening.)

    Dancing, dinner, more dancing
    When doors opened to the massive Chantilly Ballroom for dinner at 9 pm, musicians from Dallas Live Orchestra, perched on pedestals, played electric violins while dancers from Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, clad in all white, twirled and leaped across the dance floor. Splendid rose-filled centerpieces, with hanging crystals and votive candles, filled each table.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 Dancers from Bruce Wood Dance Dallas and electric violin players from Dallas Live Orchestra entertained before dinner.Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Guests sat down to a decadent meal of Arcadian salad topped with a goat cheese crisp; filet with dauphinoise potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots; and a dainty “Flower Dream” mousse-cake on a pistachio shell for dessert.

    An orchestra composed of local musicians provided the dinner music, and once the last morsels had been eaten, the party revved up. The party band Simply Irresistible kicked things into high gear with their covers of hit pop and disco songs, and the dance floor filled quickly.

    Those who wanted to call it a night scooped up their party favors - an exquisite Nambe bowl courtesy of sponsor Amase Stays - and picked some hot coffee and freshly made doughnuts on the way to the valet stand. Surprise! There was another gift, a golf umbrella from PlainsCapital Bank, left inside the car at valet.

    Pulling the extravagant event together was a massive team that included producer Tom Addis of Tom Addis Productions, Inc.; Junior Villanueva of The Garden Gate for the florals; Lambert's, which donated all the greenery, trees, and flowers; Hilton Anatole executive banquet chef Matthew Martin, and hundreds more.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 The ball was attended by 1,540 guests.Photo by Ashley Gongora

    The point of it all
    The Crystal Charity Ball’s purpose is to aid, support, and make contributions to charitable organizations dedicated to the welfare of children located in Dallas County. The ball has distributed about $200 million since 1953.

    The 2025 Crystal Charity Ball will fund seven Dallas beneficiaries with an extraordinary collective commitment of $7,459,305: Café Momentum, Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, Dallas CASA, Foundation for the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Retina Foundation of the Southwest, The Stewpot, and West Dallas Community School.

    The celebration ball is held annually to express appreciation to the organization's generous donors.

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