Design & Dine presented by Tower Club Dallas benefiting Vogel Alcove
Featured Exciting Elements from the Worlds of Art, Food and Music
Regina Bruce and Graham Merriman, Chairs
Design & Dine presented by Tower Club Dallas was an exciting event that combined elements from the worlds of art, food, music and fun for a great cause - helping homeless children in Dallas benefiting Vogel Alcove.
Chairs Regina Bruce and Graham Merriman began the evening with a VIP reception and the Ambassadors of Hope Awards Ceremony which featured entertainment by World Piano Man Martyn Lucas. Martyn was a striking figure in his formal tuxedo jacket covered in gold sequins that was given to him by Sir Elton John. Martyn is an exceptionally talented performer who sang at Prince Harry and Meagan Markle’s wedding this past summer and wowed this crowd with his renditions of songs in the voices of Sir Elton John, Pavarotti, Michael Jackson, Bryan Adams, Richard Marx, Axel Rose, Sir Paul McCartney and Louis Armstrong.
Karen Hughes, Vogel Alcove’s president and CEO, began the awards ceremony by welcoming past board chair Rick Lacher, who assisted in presenting the awards celebrating the people and companies that have gone above and beyond to help Vogel Alcove succeed this year. They were: Susan Hirsch who received the Doris Budner Award for leadership in advancing the Vogel Alcove mission; Jamie Perkins was honored with the Thelma Vogel Award for vision and collaborative efforts in advancing services to homeless children and families; Colliers International, Corporate Champion; Read Gendler, Volunteer Award; Ann Marie Painter, Board Excellence; Anna de Haro, Media Partner; Truman Wilson, Kids Helping Kids and Dallas Psychoanalytic Center, Community Partner Award was accepted by Gail Marshall on behalf of the Center.
The live artist performances in the Design Showcase room spotlighted Chris Adams, Shayema Rahim, Toni Martin and SAL who created artworks as guests looked on. Local art was on display in partnership with local artists from Frisco Fine Arts and decorative birdhouses were created by the Collin College Art Club. As Martyn continued to entertain everyone in the lounge, guests also enjoyed the photo booth sponsored by Yelp Dallas, which was a very popular feature.
Party goers made the social rounds with friends and enjoyed delicious food with complimentary beer and wine, a raffle/silent auction with a variety of unique prizes and entertainment by Dallas’ premier party band, Emerald City Band, which had the crowd on its feet and dancing until the lights came on signaling the end of a fabulous evening!
A special highlight of the evening was a dramatic presentation by Empressive GeoDesigns, which included the owner, Micah Gilbert, and the founder, Empress, who installed an entirely separate vignette of stunning minerals and fossils. Their display included a pair of huge amethyst and pink quartz geodes that naturally form the appearance of wings and were the perfect Instagram photo op, as well as a giant mosasaur skull that formidably displayed its powerful jaws and deadly teeth. There were also multiple minerals and fossils up for bid in the silent auction, along with over 100 smaller geodes for purchase. They generously donated 100% of the proceeds to Vogel Alcove in support of its mission.
Heisman Trophy Award winner and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Tim Brown and his wife, Sherice, chairs of the Purple Purse Challenge, joined us at Design & Dine where they drew the raffle ticket for the Purple Purse designed by Serena Williams. Tim is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas. While at Notre Dame he earned the Heisman Trophy Award and had an illustrious career for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL. It was all part of the Allstate Purple Purse Challenge to bring awareness and support for nonprofits serving victims of domestic violence. Vogel Alcove was chosen as a recipient of the purse to use as a fundraiser during the Purple Purse Challenge.
Visit the Vogel Alcove FB page to see pictures from the event, learn more about the artists, Purple Purse Challenge: https://www.facebook.com/vogelalcove/
And here is more info.: https://www.purplepurse.com/
All proceeds from Design & Dine benefit Vogel Alcove, an early childhood education center that is working to Break the Cycle of Poverty for homeless children and families in Dallas. Vogel Alcove provides educational, developmental and therapeutic services to children and families affected by homelessness. All of these services are free to the families and are provided in a safe and nurturing environment to learn and grow. To learn more, visit the website at www.vogelalcove.org
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About Vogel Alcove:
Vogel Alcove is a 501c3 nonprofit agency which provides therapeutic early childhood services, school-age programs and family support services for homeless children ages six weeks to 12 years old, and their families. Since 1987, the agency has served more than 16,000 Dallas-area homeless children. We’re on a mission to help young children, and their families, overcome the lasting and traumatic effects of homelessness. It is our vision that every child in our community has a home, a self-sufficient family and a foundation for success in school and life.
Photos by Danny Campbell and Dana Driensky