Northwood University honored Park Cities resident Brian Black as one of eight nationally-known business people at its 33rd Annual Outstanding Business Leader Awards Gala. Every year, Northwood University recognizes a select group of men and women for their business achievements and for their support and exemplary leadership of the communities in which they live and work. Black is the president of Hatch Restaurant Management Group and Owner of Mi Piaci Ristorante and Ocho Kitchen + Cocktails. When not operating his enterprises, Black consults and mentors others to achieve their goals in the competitive restaurant industry. Heavily involved in assisting the community, Black is associated with programs that raise funds for the Dallas March of Dimes and Family Place. Black has accomplished a lot, but said, “Nothing amounts to the joy of spending time with my wife Sonia and our three boys, and coaching their soccer and football teams.”
When an Armstrong/Hyer Elementary Destination Imagination third grade team was asked to implement a community service project, the students knew they wanted to help other kids. Team member Regan Williams said, “We wanted to help kids with cancer more than anything else.” The team then voted to help one of the team member’s friends who has childhood cancer. The group teamed up with Wipe Out Kids Cancer to make “Buddy Bags” for patients at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. The bags consist of common personal items that parents would need for an unexpected overnight stay at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. The group emailed family and friends to donate sample sized toiletries and placed boxes around the Park Cities for collection. The group even wrote and recorded a Public Service Announcement for Destination Imagination. The philanthropic group of girls who are making a difference in this fight against cancer includes Sydney Cruz, Catherine Hunt, Olivia Johnson, Reese Kirkham, Riley Khetan and Regan Williams. To see their public service announcement, CLICK HERE.
Kay Honeyman, eighth grade teacher at Highland Park Middle School, has debuted her first novel, The Fire Horse Girl. The novel is about a young girl who immigrates to the United States from China. Honeyman became fascinated with the history of Chinese immigration to the United States when she and her husband decided to adopt a child from China. They adopted their first child in 2010 and their second in 2012. Honeyman said, “I started writing Fire Horse Girl during the long wait to adopt our first child from China. I wanted to understand my child's culture and history. I was also trying to imagine what it would mean for him to come to America and be Chinese-American instead of just Chinese.” For more information on Honeyman and her debut novel, CLICK HERE.
The Dallas Division of the American Heart Association (AHA) is excited about its annual Côtes du Coeur event, which will be held on April 6 at the Hilton Anatole. This year’s event is co-chaired by Park Cities residents Brenda and Bill Bogart. Proceeds from Côtes du Coeur go directly to the AHA for cardiovascular research and heart health educational programs. Attendees experience multi-course fine dining created around a specific wine varietal for each dish. The gala includes a silent auction of more than 2,000 wines. During its 21-year history, Côtes du Coeur has attracted more than 18,000 attendees and has raised more than $18 million. Co-chair Bill Bogart said, “Chairing Côtes du Coeur is an honor. Most of the funds go to cardiovascular research right here in Dallas. The event has grown from a small group of doctors having dinner, to a major black tie gala attended by 1,300 people. The evening brings together some of the world’s best wines, with the best Dallas chefs, to make the night one of Dallas’ best parties of the year.”