Helen and John Carona must hold a master’s degree in hosting. Their Preston Hollow estate is beyond ideal for any type of gathering, from an indoor cocktail party to a dinner for more than a hundred in the backyard overlooking a private a lake. And just in case the weather poses a challenge, the Caronas are old hands at having the expansive terraces tented.
But on Tuesday, October 29, the weather worked in their favor with no rain on this starry night for the 2024 Crystal Charity Ball Circle Of Angels dinner underwritten by Deloitte. Just to play it safe, though, Helen had the tent installed without the sides. Good move, allowing the evening breezes to cool the tables with flawless views of the lake and the main terrace’s koi pond. When asked how the fish weathered frigid temperatures, Helen smiled saying that they were smart and swam to the bottom of the pool. She added it was four years ago that each koi had been the size of a hand and now they were more than a foot long.
After being welcomed at the front door by 2024 CCB Chair Cheryl Joyner and Dinner Chair Lisa Cooley, guests made their way through the mansion to discover the elegant grounds with the lake’s lighted fountain flowing.
As guests like Annette Simmons and Gage Prichard, Lyda Hill, Mary Martha and John Pickens, Sharon Merwin with her daughter-in-law Erika Todd, Ola Fojtasek, Margaret and Barry Hancock with Margaret’s mom Marilyn Augur, Pat and Charles McEvoy, Laura and Jason Downing, Kristi and Bill Francis, Katherine and Austin Wyker, Tanya and Daniel Rice and Jennifer and David Lancashire found their place cards, the catch-up conversations included Gail Fischer and Ken Christensen reporting that they had made it official, having gotten married recently. Now, Gail was preparing to head over to Amsterdam for the arrival of her first grandbaby courtesy of daughter Elizabeth Fischer… Leslie Ann Crozier was back on the scene with Jim Pasant. She hadn’t realized that they were attending the Circle Of Angels — “I just thought we were having dinner with the Caronas.”… Co-Host John Carona couldn’t make it due to being under the weather. Something must be have been going around as Kenn George wasn’t feeling well and was also MIA. Standing in for him was his wife Tricia George…. Another spouse stand-in was Gideon Powell without his wife Felicia Powell, who was tending a youngster… Aileen and Jack Pratt arrived to the welcoming arms of their daughter Caroline Pratt Cohn… Angie Kadesky reported that the Salvation Army’s Doing The Most Good Luncheon was on schedule to take place the Thursday before Thanksgiving at the Anatole.
However, even a breeze coming off the lake couldn’t diminish the evening’s humidity. After a welcome by Cheryl and Deloitte North Texas Managing Partner Dan Berner, Cheryl announced that it would be perfectly fine if the gentlemen decided to take off their jackets.
For more looks of the night, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.
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