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Network Of Community Ministries Proceeds With Fundraiser Despite Change Of Leadership
After serving as president and CEO of Network Of Community Ministries (Network) for three years, Abigail “Abbie” Kauffman is stepping down.
According to information from the non-profit, she has “chosen to step back from full-time non-profit leadership to prioritize her family while remaining active in the Richardson community through her civic and volunteer roles.”
Abbie previously had held leadership roles at Centers for Children and Families, Jewish Family Service, Catholic Charities Dallas and CitySquare.
As a search is underway for her replacement, the Network board of directors has named Chief Program Officer Celeste Sneeze as interim president and CEO, with Abbie assuming the role of CEO emeritus.
In making the announcement, Board Chair Lindsay Turman said, “We are deeply grateful to Abbie for her exceptional leadership and vision. We’re fortunate that Celeste is already a trusted and respected leader within our Network family. With Abbie’s continued support during this transition, we are confident that Celeste will provide steady guidance and ensure a seamless hand off of leadership.”
In the meantime, Network is preparing for its annual Shamrocks and Shenanigans casino party on Saturday, October 25, benefiting the Pat Doherty Memorial For Consulting Education at its headquarters.
As “one of Network’s original volunteers, Pat had spent 10 years in the reception area where she helped individuals and families coming for assistance.” Having logged more than 3,000 volunteer hours before she died in 2023 from cancer, Pat’s family created a foundation to honor her legacy.
As Pat’s daughter/Shamrocks and Shenanigans Chair Colleen Doherty Askew said, “As an educator herself, mother believed that everyone deserved access to education and opportunity. We hope that her legacy can live on through the foundation support of Network’s continuing education programs.”
Thanks to the event, funds will support Network’s helping neighbors to upskill/reskill “in their journey to self-sufficiency by proving scholarships for trade certifications, licensing exams and college courses to help by eliminating barriers that are preventing them from obtaining a steady job with a livable wage.”
With sponsorships still available, individual tickets are going for $50 which includes $2,000 in chips and can be purchased here.
JUST IN: Baylor Scott And White Dallas Foundation Busts $1B Mark In Supporting North Texans’ Healthcare
Milestones are remarkable moments in a person’s or an organization’s journey. It can be an anniversary or just a “Wow!” big deal experience. So, Baylor Scott And White Foundation Dallas (the Foundation) just celebrated a remarkable point in its 47-year history.
Since legendary CEO Boone Powell Sr. became the founding father of the Foundation back in 1978 with a $5M endowment, the dynamics and dedication to North Texas healthcare has grown to address the needs of more than the area, but also to be shared with the world at large.
It has just been announced that the Foundation has disbursed more than $1B over the past 47 years. And what a 47 years it’s been!
According to Baylor Scott And White Foundation Dallas Board of Directors Chair Norm Bagwell, “It’s not really about the billion. It’s about the impact created by donors who so generously supported this mission-driven work. This milestone is a record of trust that donors place in Baylor Scott And White to turn generosity into progress. It’s the result of thousands of gifts, large and small, from people who saw something worth investing in.”
The highlights of reaching this milestone include the following
1982
- The Baylor Research Foundation is established to advance medical research, clinical care and public health.
- A major gift from A. Webb Roberts funds a 17-story patient tower that builds on his earlier gift, which established the continuing medical education center that still bears his name.
1996
- Major gifts from the James M. Collins Foundation and Hillcrest Foundation will help open The James M. and Dorothy D. Collins Women and Children’s Center at Baylor University Medical Center.
1999
- The annual Celebrating Women Luncheon is launched, resulting in providing more than $42M over the years to advance the fight against breast cancer.
2000
- The W.W. Caruth Jr. Foundation at Communities Foundation Of Texas provides a $5M gift to establish the Program in Organ Transplantation Immunology.
2002
- Thanks to Jane and Jack Hamilton‘s transformative gift, the first North Texas hospital dedicated solely to heart and vascular care opens.
2007
- The Community Care Clinics program is launched to provide care for underserved North Texans.
2008
- The Level I Trauma Center at Baylor University Medical Center is named after Dr. Leonard R. Riggs Jr. Donor support shapes care at the Riggs Emergency Department, training future emergency medicine physicians and sustaining programs like SANE that serve patients in crisis.
2010
- Annette and Harold Simmons‘ gift of $20M for the Transplant Institute.
- In partnership with the City of Dallas and thanks to donor support, Baylor opens the BSW Health And Wellness Center at Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center to offer comprehensive care and wellness services.
2011
- The Baylor Charles A. Sammons Center opens thanks partly to a $20M gift from Sammon Enterprises as well as support from the Crowley-Carter Foundation to represent a new model for comprehensive outpatient cancer care in North Texas.
2012
- Deerbrook Charitable Trust contributes more that $12M to support nursing education and workforce develop at Baylor Scott And White.
- The Baylor T. Boone Pickens Cancer hospital opens as part of Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. It is the first dedicated cancer hospital in North Texas, named in honor of a $10 million gift from the legendary oil and gas entrepreneur and philanthropist.
2019
- Crystal Charity Ball helps launch the Tiniest Texans initiative in the Level IV NICU at Baylor University Medical Center to help premature and critically ill babies receive life-saving, family-centered care.
2021
- Thanks to 100% of philanthropy from such donors as the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation, the Don and Trudy Steen Charitable Foundation and Carmen and Jeff York, The American Cancer Society Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge opens on the Baylor University Medical Center campus.
2023
- T. Boone Pickens establishes a $10M endowment for graduate medical students.
2024
- The Rees-Jones Foundation provides a lead gift to built the new Baylor Scott and White Community Care Clinic-St. Philip’s.
2025
- With a $7M lead gift from the Jeff and Carmen York Family, Baylor Scott And White launches the Texas Cancer Interception Institute dedicated to detecting and treating cancer before it is even visible on standard imaging.
Ronan Kelly, Evan and Tiffany York, Stacey Webb, Carmen and Jeff York, Kathryn York and JaNeene Jones
In announcing the milestone occasion, Baylor Scott And White Foundation Dallas President Christina Goodman said, “As we celebrate this $1B milestone, we know our work is far from over. There are new challenges to face, new communities to serve and new breakthroughs waiting to be discovered. Your continued support will help write the next chapter. What will the next billion make possible?”
MySweetCharity Photo Gallery Alert: 2025 10 Best Dressed Fashion Show And Luncheon
Originally described by organizers as the “grand finale” fashion show for Neiman Marcus Downtown following the purchase of NM by Saks Global, the 2025 Crystal Charity Ball 10 Best Dressed Fashion Show And Luncheon carried on taking over three floors of the store on Thursday, September 11.
Unlike years past, when Nancy Rogers hosted a private pre-event celebration for the 10 Best Dressed, Hall Of Famers and friends, Nancy’s get-together didn’t happen this year. Seems she was out of town. As a result, the 2025 10 Best Dressed (Jacquelin Sewell Atkinson, Julie Bagley, Shelby Goff, Shannon Graham, Tracey Kozmetsky, Tracy Lange, Wendy Messmann, Lisa Rocchio, Sunie Solomon and Katherine Wyker) and Hall Of Famer Honoree Aileen Pratt, 2025 CCB Chair Mary Martha Pickens and Fashion Show Chair Amy Hegi were able to chill on the second floor in the dressing rooms following a walk-thru of the big show and a group photo session.
In the meantime, hundreds of the well-coiffed and well-heeled crowd were shoulder-to-shoulder on the main floor, sipping champagne and catching up on summer sojourns.
Right on schedule at 11:15, the guests escalated or elevatored up to the second floor’s showroom for the presentation of the 10BD, Aileen and designer Brunello Cucinelli fashions. For most it would also be the first occasion to see Saks Global President Emily Essner.
The program got underway with only a tiny oop’s that was quickly forgotten as the guests once again used the elevators and escalators to rise to the fourth floor for the seated luncheon with their besties.
While the post is being dolled up, check out more than 90 looks of the day’s faces and fashions at MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.
JUST IN: Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation Gifts $25M For North Texas’ New Pediatric Campus
Once again North Texans are showing their philanthropic genes through their legacies. Today the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, which gifted the Dallas Historical Society with $7M to enhance it offerings last October, stepped up to support the $5 billion fundraising goal of a new pediatric campus in Dallas.
It was announced by UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health that the Foundation made a gift of $25M to the campus directed through Southwestern Medical Foundation.
According to Bass Foundation President and trustee Michael Calhoun, “We are proud to support UT Southwestern and Children’s Health in this dynamic project to provide a new level of care for children in Dallas.”
In a show of appreciation for the gift, the lobby of the new campus’ Specialty Center, which will house out-patent clinics, will be named the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation Lobby.
In making the announcement, UT Southwestern President Dr. Daniel Podolsky said, “The Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation has long shared in UT Southwestern’s vision of transforming the future of medicine. With its extraordinary support of the new pediatric campus, we will advance care and accelerate discoveries that bring hope to families, healing to children and the promise of a healthier tomorrow.”
The late Harry W. Bass Jr. was a highly successful businessman, philanthropist and advocate for innovation. He also had a broad range of interests. One of those areas was his “world-renowned collection of rare U.S. gold coins.” Having started collecting coins in the 1960s, his “hobby” resulted in his investing “millions of dollars” in coins by 1976. He claimed that he “had 25% of my portfolio in coins.” Thanks to the collection’s being carefully curated for its historic and artistic significance, it now helps fuel the Foundation’s legacy of philanthropy.
As Children’s Health President/CEO Christopher Durovich said, “Harry W. Bass Jr. was a visionary who believed in the power of generosity to transform lives. This incredible gift allows us to continue redefining pediatric care in North Texas and beyond for generations to come.”
*Rendering provided by Children's Health
JUST IN: At The Swanky Old Parkland Campus, Goodwill Dallas Touts A Sold-Out Luncheon
Not every non-profit can throw the patron party for its signature fundraiser in the Freedom Place office building at Dallas’ Old Parkland, Harlan Crow‘s super-exclusive business campus off Oak Lawn Avenue. But when the office tenant was the person responsible for creating the annual event, you’ve got a better shot at making it happen.
That’s why about 70 people were gathered Wednesday night, October 1, at the Miller Family Office of Carolyn and David B. Miller and Katy and Kyle Miller on Freedom Place’s fifth floor.
The occasion was the “kick-off” party for Goodwill Industries of Dallas Inc.‘s 11th annual The Lunch event, which will be presented by JPMorgan Chase on Wednesday, October 15, at the Omni Dallas Hotel.
If you haven’t reserved a seat yet for the luncheon — it will feature a conversation between sportscaster Joe Buck and author/speaker John O’Leary — you might consider bribing somebody.
Because all 800 seats for the event have been sold out.
“I heard that we’ve sold every table — that the space is filled,” David’s son Kyle, who hosted the party with Katy, announced to the guests Wednesday.
Then he added: “That means we’re gonna charge more for tables next year!”, which brought down the house.
Kyle also explained that it was his father who’d come up with the idea for the annual luncheon. It replaced a golf tournament and has “netted about $1 million-plus” for Goodwill Dallas every year since it started, he said.
The non-profit provides job training and workforce development for individuals with employment barriers.
The Lunch Co-Chairs Tana and Tim Roberts presented themselves to the group before Kyle’s talk, with Tim disclosing that the upcoming event has raised “just under $1.4 million” to date.
Also speaking were Goodwill President and CEO Tim Heis and Doug Jackson, managing director of JPMorgan Private Bank.
With the office’s outside doors open to the patio on such a pleasant evening, guests enthusiastically enjoyed chit-chat, libations and a sampling of hors d’oeuvres.
Among the attendees were United Way of Metropolitan Dallas President/CEO Jennifer Sampson, city of Dallas workforce czar Lynn McBee — she’d just come from an event at Old Parkland’s Debate Chamber — and Goodwill Vice President of Donated Goods Joel Ibanez.
Also attending were Goodwill Foundation board members Rowland K. Robinson and Frank Mihalopoulos. Both Robin and Frank graduated from Southern Methodist University, where David also graduated and is a major benefactor.
While David didn’t address the crowd Wednesday, someone confided that he likes to do business, and surround himself, with Hilltop types. And, that sure seemed to be the case. In his remarks, Tim pointed out that former President George W. Bush, whose library and presidential center are housed at the university, was The Lunch’s inaugural speaker back in 2015. It also turns out that Bush’s private office is now located on the sixth floor at Freedom Place, right above the Millers’ space.
* Photo credit: Glenn Hunter
Big Week Ahead For Klyde Warren Park Including The Smithsonian Channel And Party In The Park
Klyde Warren Park President/CEO Kit Sawers and her team have their sights on a clear night and temperatures ideal for sundresses and khaki slacks for Klyde Warren's Party In The Park on Thursday, October 9. But this Sunday night, they'll no doubt be home watching TV. That's the night that The … Read More...
JUST IN: 2024-2025 Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Provides $940K For Area Salvation Army Programs
This morning the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Dallas (SAWA) held its annual meeting and the official passing of the torch from the previous year’s leader to the next at “a local country club” to a packed ballroom of SAWA members. Following the welcome by 2025-2026 SAWA President Kimber … Read More...
JUST IN: Champion Of Children Award Dinner Patrons Felt Right At Home With Cynt Marshall
While State Fair Of Texas visitors were doing selfies with Big Tex, North Texas non-profits didn't hold back rallying their supporters on Tuesday, September 30 (aka the final day of September). In Highland Park Village alone, Equest was kicking off its plans by Co-Chairs Melinda and Mark Knowles at … Read More...
JUST IN: 2026 St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon And Fashion Show Honorees Announced
Tuesday night (aka September 30) so much was going on in Highland Park Village besides shopping. Besides the 2026 Equest Gala getting kicked off at Veronica Beard, the 2026 St. Valentine's Day Luncheon And Fashion Show Kick-Off Party was being held at The Market. While the racks and shelves of … Read More...
Crystal Charity Ball 10 Best Dressed Cocktail Party Was An Early Night On The Eve Of The Big Show
North Texas' too-young-to-be-a-legend Elaine Agather has weathered more challenges than the early pioneer women could have imagined. But the lady who's broken all types of glass ceilings with smarts and grace — from the amazing banking world to the Fort Worth Stock Show — may have finally met her … Read More...
JUST IN: Cliburn Board To Continue Making Beautiful Music With New Board Chair Michelle Marlow
The Cliburn board of directors has just announced the election of its new chair — children's author/speech language pathologist/community volunteer Michelle Marlow. According to Michelle, "As I step into this role as board chair, I carry with me a lesson my father always share: 'Never forget … Read More...