Fur Ball 2016 Raises Funds For SPCA of Texas

Photos c/o Thomas Garza Photography


The SPCA of Texas' Fur Ball 2016, “Shedding Light on Their Future,” was held on Saturday, September 24 at the Omni Dallas hotel. The elegantly futuristic, totally sold out, black-tie evening included dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions for 1,200 guests. Guests were greeted with passed bubbly and savory hors d’oeuvres as they made their way up to the Omni’s Dallas Ballroom. During cocktail hour, elegantly clad ladies and gentlemen walked the purple carpet and chatted with M.C. and Real Housewives of Dallas star LeeAnne Locken and America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru Steve Kemble about everything from what they were wearing to why supporting the animals is so important. A three-piece combo from Limelight jazzed it up and a whole passel of puppies from the SPCA of Texas’ iFoster program (all spayed and neutered!) romped and played as they were cooed over and petted by the glittering guests. Competition was fierce at the over 300-item silent auction, which featured everything from sports memorabilia, fabulous spa packages, high-end jewelry, dining experiences (from the fun to the fine) and so much more.

Join Me At Fur Ball 2016: Shedding Light on Their Future

photos c/o SPCA of Texas


The SPCA of Texas is the leading animal welfare agency in North Texas. The non-profit organization operates two shelters and three spay/neuter clinics located in Dallas and McKinney, and maintains a team of animal cruelty investigators to respond to thousands of calls in North Texas counties. Moreover, the SPCA of Texas serves as an active resource center for an array of services that bring people and animals together to enrich each other's lives. The SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the City of Dallas, State of Texas, federal government or any other humane organization so fundraising is important! And here's where you come in.  The SPCA of Texas will present Fur Ball 2016, “Shedding Light on Their Future,” on Saturday, September 24 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Omni Dallas Hotel. This gala is the a salute to the bond between people and their pets and a celebration of the SPCA of Texas’ important mission to provide every animal exceptional care and a loving home. The elegant, black-tie gala will include dinner, dancing, and live and silent auctions for over 1,000 guests. This year’s Fur Ball is raising the bar with headline entertainment by Limelight, a party, variety and dance band that features top flight singers and musicians from around the country. Fur Ball 2016 is sure to be a tail-wagging success thanks to honorary chairs D’Andra Simmons & Jeremy Lock, Anne & Steve Stodghill and Drs. Wendy & John Vandermeer; chair Phyllis Comu; co-chair Kristen Greenberg; auction chair Sandra Fite; and event emcee LeeAnne Locken.

Heidi Dillon Hosts Holiday Soiree at TOM FORD

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Photos c/o Quoc Cong QC - XO Photography


The dramatic TOM FORD store represents Ford’s extremely modern vision of a complete world of menswear and womenswear that is made to the highest level of craftsmanship, personalized to the wearer’s needs, and delivered in a sumptuous and sensual atmosphere. (At least that's what the Highland Park Village website says.) Heidi Dillon hosted a holiday soiree earlier this week for select fashionable friends to view the latest collections and experience an interactive makeup tutorial. The Fashionistas founder has always been known for her style, but this past year she has developed a new obsession with makeup - even training at the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy in NYC to harness her prowess with a brush and palate. The Tom Ford boutique, run by manager Joe Flores, encompasses the complete menswear and womenswear collections, including ready-to-wear, men’s made-to-measure, footwear, accessories, eyewear, fragrance, and beauty under the TOM FORD label. You can visit this beautiful boutique in Highland Park Village at Preston and Mockingbird.

SPCA of Texas' Cosmic Holiday Celebration for Fur Ball 2016

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photos c/o Thomas Garza


Animal lovers gathered at Matthew Trent Jewelry Design Studio at the Plaza at Preston Center in Dallas on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 for a Cosmic Holiday Celebration to support the SPCA of Texas’ upcoming Fur Ball 2016. Guests were all decked out in holiday splendor, and joined Chair Phyllis Comu, Co-Chair Kristen Greenberg and Auction Chair Sandra Fite for a cosmically fantastic night filled with holiday cheer. Not only did Matthew Trent design delicate dog bone necklaces in gold, white gold and silver just for the soiree, - he also donated 10% of proceeds from the evening's sales to the SPCA of Texas. The Cosmic Holiday Celebration was held in support of the SPCA of Texas’ Fur Ball 2016, DFW’s salute to the bond between people and their pets. The elegant black-tie gala will delight the senses with dancing, headline entertainment and live and silent auctions. SPCA of Texas’ Fur Ball 2016 will be held on Saturday, September 24 from 6:30 p.m. - midnight at the Omni Dallas. All money raised through the Cosmic Holiday Celebration and Fur Ball 2016 will go towards the SPCA of Texas' important mission to rescue, heal, and find loving homes for vulnerable animals. To learn more, visit www.spca.org.

SPCA Celebrates 20 Years of Paws Cause on June 14

Sponsored post:

Paws Cause is a group of volunteers who raise funds to support the SPCA of Texas’ Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair in South Dallas by supporting the clinic’s efforts to reduce the number of unwanted animals and assist people in caring for their beloved pets. You can “lend a paw” to this important effort by purchasing tickets and attending the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Paws Cause to be held on Sunday, June 14th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center. You know I am all about partying for a cause and this is a great one! Guests will enjoy strolling bites by Food Glorious Food, purr-fect cocktails by Carlo Barone with One Bar USA and Justin Erickson with Patrón Spirits, dancing and live music by The British Are Coming. If they sound familiar, it's probably because they play a regular set at The Mansion. Although they do play Beatles tunes, they are not a Beatles cover band (which is what I assumed). They play all the famous British band classics that will have your toes tapping and your booty shaking: everything from Elton John to the Kinks to the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart. The annual event will also feature the famous “Bone Appetit” restaurant drawing and an irresistible silent auction.

Paws Cause 2015 Chair Phyllis Comu

The SPCA of Texas is the leading animal welfare agency in North Texas. The non-profit organization operates two shelters and three spay/neuter clinics located in Dallas and McKinney, and maintains a team of six animal cruelty investigators to respond to thousands of calls in eight North Texas counties. Moreover, the SPCA of Texas serves as an active resource center for an array of services that bring people and animals together to enrich each other’s lives.

The SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the City of Dallas, State of Texas, federal government or any other humane organization. The SPCA of Texas is dedicated to providing every animal exceptional care and a loving home.

Attire is summer cocktail, and complimentary valet parking will be available. Ticket prices are $150, and all money raised through Paws Cause 2015 will go directly to the SPCA of Texas’ Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic to help provide more than 11,000 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and 15,000 health and wellness treatments in 2015. For more information, visit www.pawscausedallas.org.

This post was brought to you by the SPCA of Texas. While I did receive compensation for authoring this post; product selections, descriptions, and opinions are 100% my own. Interested in a sponsored post or product review for your brand or event? Contact me for rates and details.

Oh So Charitable: SPCA Paws Cause Kickoff Party

Karen Lufkin, Tiffany Hendra, Marie Reyes, Billy Fulmer, LeeAnne Locken, Cathy Vieth  | photo c/o Cathy Vieth

Last week, Shane Walker and Billy Fulmer hosted Dallas animal lovers at Flower Reign gift and floral shop, for the SPCA of Texas Paws Cause 2015 kickoff party. The party featured a Photomadic photo booth and caricature sketches, bites by Food Glorious Food and champagne donated by Kristen and Scott Greenberg. Among those in attendance were event chair Phyllis Comu, Diane Brierley, LeeAnne Locken, Steve Kemble, Ashley Berges, Karen Lukin, Holly Forsythe, Tiffany Hendra and Rob Bradford. There were even a few four-legged guests in attendance who happily greeted guests with tail wags and lots of licks. Flower Reign donated 20 percent of party proceeds to the SPCA’s Mary Spencer/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair in South Dallas. Paws Cause, will take place on Sunday, June 14 at the SPCA’s Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in West Dallas. Look for more nibbles from Food Glorious Food, musical entertainment by the British Are Coming, a silent auction, the famous Bone Appetit restaurant drawing and more. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased online.

Photomadic fun (left) LeeAnne Locken, Tiffany Hendra, Marie Reyes (right) Phyllis Comu, Cynthia Smoot

Ladies Who Luxe for KidneyTexas 2012

LeeAnne Locken, Cathy Vieth, Phyllis Comu, Kelly Stafford and D'Andra Simmons

Jan Strimple

On September 17, KidneyTexas held a "Ladies Who Luxe" luncheon and fashion show at the recently renovated Dallas Country Club.  Luncheon Chairmen, Emilynn Wilson and her committee played hostess to several hundred guests there to support KidneyTexas in their fundraising efforts raising funds for this year's beneficiaries, Camp Reynal and Children's Medical Center.

Turns out the only problem with choosing CBS 11 anchor Karen Borta as the emcee for this event, was that she couldn't stay for the entire show, having to scurry back to her news desk for the afternoon news! The always elegant Jan Strimple stepped out from behind the catwalk to take over the live-auction duties and she did a skillful job of sweet-talking money right out of the pocketbooks of these ladies!

Among those taking in the fashions and the auction items were Leigh Bailey, Nancy Gopez, Dee and D'Andra Simmons, Kelly Stafford, Carmaleta Whitely, Barbara Daske, Faye Briggs and Doris and Teffy Jacobs.  

The only moment that gave me pause, was when we sat down for lunch. The first course was the DCC's famous vichyssoise soup, which was delicious. But the main course had everyone perplexed. It was chilled marinated beef tenderloin tips, roast beets, and green beans over arugula with blue cheese crumbles and a balsamic vinaigrette.  Beets and green beans? In a salad???? While it looked pretty, every single person was picking at it, shuffling the beets to the side and asking for the bread basket. I went through McDonald's on my way home.

Overall, despite the snafu of the menu, it was a fantastic, well-executed event raising much needed funds for victims of kidney disease in our community. To learn more about KidneyTexas, visit http://www.kidneytexas.org/

2011 Stepping Out In Style for KidneyTexas

Stepping Out in Style was the theme of this years fundraising luncheon and fashion show benefiting KidneyTexas, Inc.  Luncheon Chairman, Pat McDonough and Marianne Wilshusen, made for a dynamic Mother/Daughter team and were joined by Honorary Luncheon Chairman, Charlotte Kimberlin, in their efforts to step out and make a difference in this year's event.  Funds raised from their efforts provided beneficiaries with much needed resources to fight against kidney-related diseases as well as supporting Camp Reynal, Children's Medical Center and the PKD Foundation.

(top left)  Pat McDonough, Marianne Wilshusen and Megan Meyercord (top right) Jill Rowlett with Barbara Brice

(bottom left) Doris Jacobs with guest (bottom right)  Phyllis Comu, Cathy Vieth and Shannon Brower

Megan Meyercord, President of KidneyTexas, welcomed a very fashionable crowd of over 400 guests and kicked off a tremendous fashion show created by the reigning Queen of Dallas fashion, Jan Strimple.  Master of Ceremonies, Tracy Rowlett, got a big laugh by joking, "It's been a long time since I attended a KidneyTexas event. I've turned a lot grayer since I last saw you, and many of you have turned... well, a lot blonder." Ba dum dum.

The fashion show was comprised of several segments: Sophisticated Color, Martinis, Olives and Animal instincts,  Kid Biz, Red Licorice, Tootsie's Tootsies and High Voltage Dressing. But my favorite was the Family Segment, with high-profile family members like Yvonne, Bri and Samantha Crum and Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban with his three small children strutting to show support.

Most of the fashions from TOOTSIES, Kid Biz and Orvis were strutted by professional models. But the real stars of the runway were Kidney transplant donors and recipients who walked together in unity of this cause: Andy Meyercord with his sister, Martha Wilson who donated her kidney for her brother and Bernadette "Gail" Moten with her donor Brandon Vance.

Gail and Brandon provided one of the days "tear jerker" moments when, as they walked the runway, Rowlett told the story of how Gail happened to encounter Kidd Kraddock's morning radio show one day when they were filming a segment at a gas station. They washed her car and filled it up with gas as part of a bit they were doing that day and when they pushed a microphone in her face and asked her if she needed anything else, she relied, "Well, I am on dialysis, so if anyone would be willing to give me a kidney - I sure could use it!".  Five people called int the radio show that day with interest. Two of them actually went to the hospital to be tested and one person, Brandon Vance, turned out to be a perfect match. When asked why he would donate his kidney and undergo surgery for a perfect stranger, Vance replied, "I have served our Country in Afghanistan and taken lives. This was a way for me to serve my Country and give life back to someone." Well, I'm telling you, there was not a dry eye in the place... I'm tearing up all over again just typing out their story. What a guy!!

For more information on KidneyTexas, visit http://kidneytexas.org/