As the 2014 fundraising season slowly winds up, the awards and celebrations only geared up on Wednesday, November 12, with:
Hiett Prize In The Humanities Luncheon
Jared Farmer and Larry Allums*
His heroes, he said, are Gustave Mahler—the personally conflicted Austrian composer and conductor—and Edward Abbey, the writer and radical environmentalist. He himself has been called “one of the best and most original writers of western history.” So it made sense that Jared Farmer, Ph.D., was named this year’s winner of the Hiett Prize in the Humanities, which is awarded annually by the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture.
Sybil Novinski and Gail Thomas*
Farmer accepted the honor, which recognizes candidates in the early stages of their humanities careers and includes a $50,000 cash award, at the 10th annual Hiett Luncheon at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. About 150 people turned out for the event, which featured remarks by Larry Allums, the Institute’s executive director, and a new video about previous Hiett winners that was produced by Judy Kelly. Attendees included Kim Hiett Jordan, the Cain sisters (Nancy Cain Marcus and Nelda Cain Pickens), Sally Hoglund, Joanne Stroud, Lynne and Roy Sheldon, Gail Thomas, Sybil Novinski, Betty Regard, Katie Beautel, Catherine Cuellar, Brad Oldham, Tom Huang, and Michael Rodgers.
Kim Hiett Jordan*
In his featured talk, titled “Environmental History and the Future of the Humanities,” Farmer said trendy talk about the “the humanities in crisis” is overblown and off-base. He’s an optimist, he said, especially about the future of the “environmental humanities,” which he described as an outgrowth of third-wave environmentalism. Calling himself an “earth-based humanist,” Farmer also talked briefly about his much-lauded latest book, “Trees in Paradise: A California History.” It tells the history of the Golden State through its eucalyptus, orange, palm, and redwood trees.
Crystal Charity Ball Wrap-up Luncheon
Libby Allred
The Crystal Charity Ball royals with their adorable crowns held their wrap-up luncheon at Nick and Sam’s with big smiles, former chairmen (Cynthia Mitchell, Barbara Stuart, Vicki Chapman, Caren Kline, Debbie Oates and Louise Griffeth) the announcement of who had raised the most funding in specific categories. But before the reveals were made, Robyn Conlon told of getting a call from Nick and Sam’s Terri Russo to arrange for the luncheon. As it turned out, both Robyn and Terri were Hillcrest classmates, who graduated in 1974. This became a line of jokes, when luncheon host Northern Trust Bank’s Mark Flagg thanked Robyn adding, “I’m just glad to know there’s somebody else here who graduated in 1974, when I graduated.” This reference was followed by Lyles-DeGrazier jewelry designer Scott Polk who created the charms and bracelets for the top fundrisers, as well as a beautiful floral ring for the ball’s silent auction. He teased Mark saying, “Mark, I was born in ‘74… not really.” Without missing a beat, Mark responded, “I set you up for that.” Scott came back saying that his table was the most fun because it had the most tiaras worn and then suggested that Mark’s table should coax him into donning a crown, which the good banker did with a smile and a laugh.
Michal Powell
As for the announcements, the top fundraisers were:
- Foundations — Sarah Losinger
- Underwriting — Michal Powell
- Children’s Book — Lynn McBee
- Silent Auction/Special Gifts — Shelle Sills
Little did the ladies know that when they checked their mailboxes, there would be letters announcing the 2015 Crystal Charity Ball Chair — Christie Carter.
Dallas Foundation 85th Anniversary Dinner
David Corrigan, Valerie Freeman and Jere Thompson Jr.**
Later in the day, about 180 people gathered at the Belo Mansion for the Dallas Foundation’s 85th Anniversary Dinner. Attendees were a true who’s who of the city’s civic and business leadership, from Peter Beck, John Scovell and Lyda Hill to Jere Thompson Jr., David Corrigan, Gail Thomas and George Schrader.
Mary Jalonick and Mike Rawlings**
After John P. Puckett III, chairman of the foundation’s board of governors, welcomed everyone to the event, there were brief remarks by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, who said he “relies on the Dallas Foundation day in and day out.” The mayor got his biggest reaction, though, when he announced that “some lady dropped her bracelet in the valet line, and I have it here in my hand!” When a flustered member of the audience raced to the podium to retrieve her bauble, Rawlings said, “That’s happened to [Rawlings’ wife] Micki before, so I feel like Santa Claus!”
Darwin Payne**
The incident, the mayor chuckled, should be remembered by “those who say your mayor never does anything for you!” Next, foundation President Mary Jalonick recognized the nonprofit’s current and former chairmen. They included Beck (who, Jalonick noted, once said that “we must solve the problem, not serve the problem”); John Castle (well-known for helping the homeless); Ruben Esquivel (“the busiest community volunteer I know. His wife has said, ‘I need to start a nonprofit to see him!’”); and Schrader (“truly the father of the modern Dallas Foundation”). Thanks to Schrader, Jalonick said, the organization now has 17 employees and more than 200 donor-advised funds.
The anniversary event concluded with a talk titled, “The Dallas Foundation: 85 Years of Impact in the City of Dallas,” by Dallas historian and SMU Professor Emeritus Darwin Payne. Jalonick was the foundation’s first full-time employee, Payne noted during his presentation. He also recalled former Dallas mayor and foundation chairman J. Erik Jonsson saying that “the hardest thing” is knowing how to give away money. That’s become less hard for many, the evening made clear, thanks to the success of the Dallas Foundation.
* Photos provided by the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture ** Photo credit: Jason Janik