Family and Friends Join Together in Support of KidneyTexas, Inc.        
KidneyTexas, Inc. The Runway Report 2018 Luncheon and Fashion Show  Theme Transforming Lives Honorary Chairs and Beneficiaries Announced

Lisa Cooley, Ciara Cooley and Bela Cooley, Honorary Chairs
 Annalee Aston, Luncheon Chair | Anna Bland “AB”  Aston, Co-Chair
Therese Rourk, Underwriting Chair | Lauryn Gayle White, Luncheon Advisory
Mary Lee Cox, President

KidneyTexas, Inc. luncheon chair Annalee Aston, and her co-chair and mother Anna Bland "AB" Aston; along with Mary Lee Cox, president of KidneyTexas, Inc. and her daughter Therese Rourk, Advisory Board chair and luncheon underwriting chair, along with dear friend Lauryn Gayle White, Luncheon Advisory; announce Lisa Cooley, her daughter Ciara Cooley and daughter-in-law Bela Cooley as honorary chairs of the September 27, 2018 Fashion Show and Luncheon  themed Transforming Lives at Brook Hollow Golf Club.  It's a family and friends affair for sure!

          Since its founding in 1999, KidneyTexas, Inc. has provided more than $3.5 million in local funding to help in the search for a cure, to promote research, enhance treatment and support quality renal care in our community.

          This year's beneficiaries are:
*        Baylor Health Care System Foundation, $28,955 for a Program Coordinator;

*        Children's Medical Center Foundation, $26,000 for a Nephrology Child Life Specialist;

*        Camp Reynal, $19,500 for campers and counselors;

*        Methodist Health System Foundation, $30,000 for a Kidney Transplant Study;

*        Parkland Health & Hospital Foundation, $30,500 for a Kidney Dialysis Unit;

*        Texas Health Resources Foundation, $10,943 for a Hemodialysis Unit;

*        UT Southwestern Medical Center, $10,950 for PKD drug research.

Each and every year, more people die from kidney disease than from breast cancer or prostate cancer and thousands more, including both children and adults, are profoundly affected by the tremendous physical, financial and emotional toil brought on by kidney disease. 
         

Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved in KidneyTexas, Inc., along with underwriters, supporters, community and business leaders, this organization is Transforming Lives. North Texans living with kidney disease and the diseases this research impacts have reason to hope for a better life. 
         

One of the first major fashion shows and luncheons of the fall season, fashion show sponsor TOOTSIES works hand-in-hand with the fabulous Jan Strimple who produces a fashion show with surprises that consistently hits everyone's Insta and FB immediately. 

Media sponsors are Modern Luxury Dallas, The Park Cities News/The Waters Family and MySweetCharity.com.
         

Underwriting begins at $2,500 and is available at levels up to $50,000. Table host, sponsor and underwriter benefits include preferred seating, special program visibility and more. A limited number of $250 seats are available. Patron Individual seating tickets are at $500 and $1,000.
         

For more information, visit the web site at  http://www.kidneytexas.org, email kidneytexas@sbcglobal.net or call 214-891-0896.

Now is the time to join KidneyTexas, Inc. and get in on the ground floor of this year’s exciting private events, including teas and parties at private homes and Fashion Show and Luncheon announcements.
         

Membership in KidneyTexas, Inc. is open to the public and offers many benefits. Men are invited to join in their own special category, Men of Kidney. There is also a special Young Adult membership level for those from 21 – 35 at a discounted rate. Sign up through the website at at http://www.kidneytexas.org, contact 214-891-0896 or email kidneytexas@sbcglobal.net         

Mission Statement: The purpose of KidneyTexas, Inc. is to provide funding to improve the methods of treatment, the search for a cure and prevention of kidney disease and other kindred or contributory diseases; and to develop more adequate provision for the care of persons suffering from such diseases.

Statistics: Debilitating kidney diseases impact approximately 20 million people in the United States today. Groups at high risk include African Americans, Hispanics, senior citizens and people with diabetes. In Texas, there are over 30,000 people on dialysis and 4,000 on a transplant list. The number of patients on dialysis is anticipated to double this decade.

History: Since 1999, the dedicated volunteers of KidneyTexas, Inc. have worked in tandem with our generous underwriters to raise over $3.5 million for local efforts to improve the ability to diagnose and manage kidney disease. 

Each fall KidneyTexas, Inc. hosts its Fashion Show and Luncheon in an effort to raise money for designated beneficiaries and awareness for a disease that affects millions of people each year. The success of this event depends heavily upon the contributions and dedication of our Dallas business and community leaders, and we're asking for your support.   

About TOOTSIES: Housed in a vast 20,000 square foot space in the Plaza at Preston Center, Tootsies is a modern full line specialty store offering the very best dresses, denim, ready to wear, shoes, handbags and jewelry.  We are a one stop shop known for exceptional service and on site personal styling in addition to our curated collection of designers including A.L.C.  Aquazurra, Brandon Maxwell, Cinq a' Sept, Self Portrait, Ulla Johnson and Veronica Beard.  

* Photos by Dana Driensky

The Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society (PCHPS) and The Friends of the University Park Library celebrated the dedication of The Archives of the Park Cities at an event held at the University Park Library earlier this month. 
          

They were joined by representatives from Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD) and the Highland Park Educational Foundation, along with HPHS football Coach Randy Allen and players from the 1945, 1957, 2005, 2016 and 2017 football teams – representing the five years HPHS has won Football State Championships. Highland Park Mayor Margo Goodwin attended, along with PCHPS president Venise Stuart and Melissa Rieman, president of the Friends of the University Park Library.
          

PCHPS is working with HPISD to store and display their archives, including memorabilia from those five years HPHS has won Football State Championships, including trophies, uniforms, photos, souvenirs and more. Coach Allen shared stories beginning with the 1945 State Championship.  He recognized members from the 1957 championship team who were present, as well as members from the 2016 and 2017 teams, including Thomas Shelmire, Finn Corwin and Colby Hopkins, who shared insightful stories about their experiences and camaraderie as HPHS players. HPHS Yearbooks beginning in 1924 through to the present are also stored and some on display.
          

Taylor Armstrong, PCHPS board member, gave special thanks to the HPISD Education Foundation for contributing its collections to the archives. PCHPS has designed and built the cabinets to store archives and memorabilia for the Park Cities, which are located on the second floor in the University Park Library. Residents are encouraged to bring their memorabilia to the library for consideration for display. Some items one might think are old relics and not important may in fact be items of historical significance and interest to residents and history enthusiasts.
          

The cabinets also house maps and the Brown Books that are a valuable resource for the residents of University Park. The books have a photo of each home with related statistics and dates. Residents took a few minutes to research their own homes and those of their parents, as well.
          

Everyone is encouraged to drop by the UP Library located at 8383 Preston Center Plaza #200, Dallas, TX 75225 (on the east side) and take a few minutes to reflect on the history that is displayed in this wonderful ongoing exhibit.  You can find hours of operation at the website https://www.uptexas.org/Government/UP-Public-Library  or call 214-363-9095.  
          

Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society’s mission, the central purpose and mission of the Society, is to preserve and promote the history, architecture, aesthetics and cultural traditions of the Park Cities, “Shaping the Future of Our Past.”  PCHPS vision, the desired future vision for the Society, is to inspire passionate community support for the preservation of historic homes, buildings, parks, landmarks and traditions of the Park Cities.      
          

Membership in PCHPS is open to the public and includes such benefits as educational meetings in private homes, opportunities to become involved in the Taste*Tour*Explore events each spring, including the Distinguished Speaker Luncheon, Historic Home Tour and the Classic and Antique Car Show, participate in the annual July 4^th parade and more. Visit the website at pchps.org for more information.

* Photos by Rob Wythe/Gittings.

Sarah Secor-MacElroy Shares Her Story from Debutante to Despair to Loving Mother and Entrepreneur on WFAA Channel 8’s Good Morning Texas on Tuesday, June 26
She is a co-author of ‘You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide To Embracing The Chaos And Living An Empowered Life’

A coauthor book led by Sabrina Greer featuring The Mama Tribe

 Lakewood resident and author Sarah Secor-MacElroy will be appearing on WFAA Channel 8’s Good Morning Texas on Tuesday, June 26 sharing her story from debutante to despair to loving mother and entrepreneur. The show runs from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
         

She is a co-author of “You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide To Embracing The Chaos And Living An Empowered Life,” the first installment in the just-released narrative nonfiction series from Golden Brick Road Publishing for not only mothers but any woman who has a mother or desires to be a mother.
           

This book is a collection of inspirational accounts written by twenty women from all walks of life and stages of motherhood. She is currently writing for “You've Got This, Mama Too” due out May 2019.
         

In addition to inspirational nonfiction, Sarah's children's fiction debut, “Leaping Lumberjacks,” a plucky book about ballet and always being true to yourself, is due out later this year.
         

She is the founder of Mother Of Wildthings, a blog where she shares stories about her life with her husband, Drew and their three sons along with empowering posts about overcoming the obstacles life can throw at us.

Sarah is the daughter of Sandra and John Secor MD of Highland Park. She is a graduate of Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano and attended Baylor University where during her sophomore year in 2006, she was a Dallas Symphony Debutante. She later graduated from the Art Institute of Dallas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion and Retail Management.

Here’s a revealing excerpt from the book: “Sarah Secor-MacElroy is a serial daydreamer with a gypsy soul. Over the past decade, Texas, Oregon, Czech Republic, Germany, and Montana have all been called home. She has always been resourceful and imaginative. From a young age, she put pen to paper and soon realized she could materialize these daydreams with her tenacity, some ingenuity, and the occasional PowerPoint. Growing up, Sarah was shy and suffered from severe anxiety, always trying to seem aloof, she gained a reputation as the “bad girl.”

 “Sarah has always been impetuous, like the time she went to get her first tattoo and left with her entire back covered. She was [formerly] a reluctant debutante and college dropout, sinking back into anxiety and alcoholism. Eventually, Sarah found salvation in motherhood…”

“You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide To Embracing The Chaos And Living An Empowered Life” is a beautiful collection of heartwarming and inspiring stories told by the real mothers who experienced them. Motherhood is the hardest job you’ll ever love, and it is not meant to be braved alone. It takes a village, right? We are your village and are here to let you know you are not alone on your motherhood journey.

One, if not many, of these gorgeous souls will provide you with that. This book, much like motherhood, is full of emotion, and their stories encompass loss, love, infidelity. The authors share their most intimate journeys and reflections with you in hopes to empower and provide you the judgment-free support we all deserve.     

“You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide To Embracing The Chaos And Living An Empowered Life” is published by Golden brick Road Publishing. It is available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. 

Learn more at the publisher’s website: https://www.goldenbrickroad.pub/youve-got-this-mama and the blog: http://ygtmama.com/

Visit Sarah’s blog at MotherOfWildthings.com.

Photo of Sarah Secor MacElroy by Andrew MacElroy.

Jolie Humphrey and Josey Kennington, Chairs | Kim and David McDavid, Jr., Honorary Chairs
Venise Stuart, President, AWARE

The iconic Statler in downtown Dallas set the scene for the AWARE AFFAIR Celebrate the Moments – A Modern American Evening by welcoming an old friend to pose for photos with the crowd.  As an homage to Llinda Lee Llama, the real llama, Hollywood and Broadway star who was a guest at The Statler at the invitation of then hotel owner Conrad Hilton during the 1959 Neiman Marcus Fortnight, two llamas from Shangri Llama joined the swish crowd in selfies and photo ops and lent their smiles to the beginning of a festive and fun evening.
         

Gala chairs Jolie Humphrey and Josey Kennington took the celebration a step further with the JoJo signature cocktail mixed with a special recipe including Elderflower liqueur from donor GLASS vodka in a commemorative brass cup, which was so popular, it sold out early in the evening.
         

AWARE is a Dallas-based charity founded in 1989 that has donated over $12,750,000 toward its mission of fighting Alzheimer’s disease by providing funding and support to programs, projects, and research provided by nonprofit organizations and public entities that actively help all individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease in Dallas and the greater north Texas area.
         

Guests mingled and bidding was competitive on the fabulous silent auction items accompanied by musicians from the trio L’Aquestra.  AWARE president, Venise Stuart welcomed the crowd and introduced The Reverend Nicole Bates from Westminster Presbyterian Church for the invocation.
         

The savory three-course dinner included a first course of profound microgreens, second course of NY strip with a Szechuan steak sauce and poached shrimp with mushroom trio, finished off with individual dessert plates of cream puffs, smoked chocolate ganache brownies and pumpkin cheesecake.
         

Emcee Ron Corning began the evening welcoming everyone, thanking underwriters and introducing honorary chairs Kim and David McDavid, Jr. via an emotional video portraying her story of being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. They were joined on stage by Jolie and Josey, who through tears and hugs were presented with a lovely crystal host gift.
         

Crystal gifts were also presented to honorees BvB Dallas, the powder-puff football game and fundraiser young professionals support group for their efforts over the past nine years raising over $3.5 million and recruiting over 1,000 volunteers to help with Alzheimer’s research and care in North Texas.  The memory of Frances B. Chantilis, was honored by her family, Cheryl and Sam Chantilis, M.D.; Stephanie and Bennie Bray, as they joined the chairs on stage.
         

A touching video shared the story of Amy Osler, AWARE’s Spirit of Education Leader, the namesake of the Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership Award. She became involved with AWARE a few years ago shortly after she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s.  Amy has used her public speaking background and her story to help bring about awareness of this horrible disease. She and her husband, Greg, were joined on stage by Holly Hull Miori, recipient of the 2018 award. The award is given to an AWARE member who has demonstrated a high level of leadership in educating members and the general public about AWARE, its mission and Alzheimer’s disease.
         

Acknowledgment was also given to the Myrna D. Schlegel/AWARE Scholarship Fund, which for over two decades has awarded scholarships to nursing students from Baylor and Texas Women’s University to further their studies in the field of gerontology, especially dementia.

 Some seen in the crowd included Stacey and Charles Angel, Janet and Jack Broyles, Carla and Pat Hrncir, Bart Humphrey, Craig Kennington, Chris and Clark Kennington, Evelyn Ponder, Penny Reid and Thomas Nolan, Dyann Skelton, Therese and Chris Rourk, Carol Stabler, Larry Stuart, Sharon Walker and more.
         

After a spirited live auction which included David McDavid, Jr. auctioning off his purple jacket – being the signature color representing Alzheimer’s awareness – guests finalized their silent auction bids and danced the night away to tunes spun by DJ Steffi Burns.
         

Membership in AWARE is open to the public and more information is available byvisiting the website at AWAREDallas.org
         

2018 AWARE Grant Recipients are:

• Baylor Health Care System Foundation – Support for the salary of a Ph.D. Neuropsychology Intern for Baylor AT&T Memory Center. 
   
• Center for BrainHealth - Discovery Group - Support for the Discovery Group, a program designed to help individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias focus on preserving abilities and tapping strengths to promote meaningful engagement and slow the progression of the disease.
  
  
• Dallas Museum of Art - Memory Moments – Support for teaching honorariums, supplies, and staffing for Memory Moments, a program designed to provide participants with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias ways to engage in art that are revitalizing and gratifying.
  
  
• Jewish Family Service - Support for the salary of a Clinical Social Worker to provide independent living services to adults with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their families/caregivers.
  
  
• Juliette Fowler Communities – Support for group and individual therapy sessions with a Certified Music Therapist for memory care residents, and to help purchase additional instruments and therapeutic tools.
  
  
• NorthPark Presbyterian Church - Casa de Vida – Support the Casa de Vida program, which gives relief to families/caregivers by providing one-on-one care to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias at the church for programs involving art, music, games, and lunch one day per week from 9:30 until 1:30.
  
  
• Texas Winds Musical Outreach - Support for two concerts by professional musicians in 87 nursing homes and adult daycare facilities that serve individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
  
  
• Presbyterian Communities & Services Foundation - Broad Strokes – Support for the Broad Strokes program at Grace Presbyterian Village that provides music and art therapy to residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
  
  
• The Senior Source - Senior Companions - Support for the Senior Companion Program matching volunteers with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their families needing assistance with meals, light housekeeping, and companionship.
  
  
• UT Southwestern Medical Center - Support to advance Dr. Roger Rosenberg’s research and clinical trials on a DNA Vaccine to clear amyloid plaques in the brain to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
  
  
• The Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund - Recipients are Nora Drutz-Rogney, Baylor University; Lindsay Ross, Texas Christian University.
      

Special thanks was also given to Patron Party hosts D’Andra Simmons Lock and her husband, Jeremy Lock, for opening up their wonderful home to underwriters just a few days earlier.
         
Beverage sponsors also included Oak Cliff Cellars, Highland Park Scotch Whiskey, J.R. Ewing Bourbon, Lakewood Brewing Co. ROXOR Artisan Gin and Tequila Partida.
         
Media Sponsors are PaperCity Magazine, The Park Cities News/The Waters Family, MySweetCharity, and Downtown Business News.
         
The Dallas Foundation, a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity, is the fiscal sponsor of AWARE. For more information please visit the website at AWAREDallas.org

About AWARE: The Dallas Foundation, a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity, is the fiscal sponsor of AWARE. In partnership with the Foundation, AWARE conducts an annual grant application review process resulting in the selection of the most exemplary nonprofit organizations working on the front lines in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease in Dallas and the North Texas region. AWARE provides funding and support to these outstanding groups that offer services, programs, education, and resources to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers, and to organizations doing valuable research to find a prevention and cure.  Since its founding in 1989, AWARE has donated over $12,750,000 towards this cause.

About The Statler: The Statler is a modern-day redevelopment of a landmark Dallas hotel set to open in 2017.  Opening its doors for the first time in 16 years, The Statler will feature a luxury boutique hotel and residences, with restaurants, nightlife, boutique retail, meeting spaces and a multi-purpose events and concert venue. Encompassing style, status and sophistication, The Statler features 219 luxury residences and 159 hotel rooms. Originally opening as the Statler Hilton in 1956, the hotel was a destination for the elite, attracting the world’s most distinguished dignitaries and celebrities. The Statler, part of Curio – A Collection by Hilton, is the iconic downtown Dallas experience. Visit the website at http://thestatlerdallas.com/

Book Signing:
Sunday, June 10 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble at Preston/Royal

Sarah Secor-MacElroy Shares Her Story from Debutante to Despair to Loving Mother and Entrepreneur in ‘You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide To Embracing The Chaos And Living An Empowered Life’

A coauthor book led by Sabrina Greer featuring The Mama Tribe

 Lakewood resident Sarah Secor-MacElroy is a co-author of “You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide To Embracing The Chaos And Living An Empowered Life,” the first installment in the just-released narrative nonfiction series from Golden Brick Road Publishing for not only mothers but any woman who has a mother or desires to be a mother.
         

She will be signing copies of the book on Sunday, June 10 from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble at Preston Royal Shopping Center, 5959 Royal Ln #616, Dallas, TX 75230.
           

This book is a collection of inspirational accounts written by twenty women from all walks of life and stages of motherhood. She is currently writing for “You've Got This, Mama Too” due out May 2019. In addition to inspirational nonfiction, Sarah's children's fiction debut, “Leaping Lumberjacks,” a plucky book about ballet and always being true to yourself, is due out later this year. She is the founder of Mother Of Wildthings, a blog where she shares stories about her life with her husband, Drew and their three sons along with empowering posts about overcoming the obstacles life can throw at us.

Sarah is the daughter of Sandra and John Secor MD of Highland Park. She is a graduate of Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano and attended Baylor University where during her sophomore year in 2006, she was a Dallas Symphony Debutante. She later graduated from the Art Institute of Dallas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion and Retail Management.

Here’s a revealing excerpt from the book: “Sarah Secor-MacElroy is a serial daydreamer with a gypsy soul. Over the past decade, Texas, Oregon, Czech Republic, Germany, and Montana have all been called home. She has always been resourceful and imaginative. From a young age, she put pen to paper and soon realized she could materialize these daydreams with her tenacity, some ingenuity, and the occasional PowerPoint. Growing up, Sarah was shy and suffered from severe anxiety, always trying to seem aloof, she gained a reputation as the “bad girl.”

“Sarah has always been impetuous, like the time she went to get her first tattoo and left with her entire back covered. She was [formerly] a reluctant debutante and college dropout, sinking back into anxiety and alcoholism. Eventually, Sarah found salvation in motherhood…”

“You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide To Embracing The Chaos And Living An Empowered Life” is a beautiful collection of heartwarming and inspiring stories told by the real mothers who experienced them. Motherhood is the hardest job you’ll ever love, and it is not meant to be braved alone. It takes a village, right? We are your village and are here to let you know you are not alone on your motherhood journey.

One, if not many, of these gorgeous souls will provide you with that. This book, much like motherhood, is full of emotion, and their stories encompass loss, love, infidelity. The authors share their most intimate journeys and reflections with you in hopes to empower and provide you the judgment-free support we all deserve.     

“You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide To Embracing The Chaos And Living An Empowered Life” is published by Golden brick Road Publishing. It is available on Amazon.com, at Barnes & Noble. 

Learn more at the publisher’s website: https://www.goldenbrickroad.pub/youve-got-this-mama and the blog: http://ygtmama.com/

 Visit Sarah’s blog at MotherOfWildthings.com.