Rob Giardinelli
The gala season in Texas this spring is in such full swing during April with so many great events that we are providing two columns for the month. Here are ten stellar galas and signature fundraising events we recommend you have on your radar in the Lone Star state between April 16th and April 30th. See you there?
Austin – Texas Cultural Trust – Texas Young Masters – April 16
Seeking the next generation of artistic dynamos with Texas roots? Then attending Young Masters is a must. One of the signature events of the Texas Cultural Trust, Young Masters will highlight 15 Texas-based youth whose burgeoning artistic contributions are set to make a mark on the world.
Held at ZACH Theatre, the night will start with a reception in the lobby of the theatre before patrons take to their seats for an entertaining night of programming. In addition to performances by many of this year’s Young Masters recipients, guests will also be treated to live performances from an array of established Texas-based musicians including Texas Medal of Arts Award recipient, Ray Benson.
Dallas – Women’s Council of The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden – Mad Hatter’s Garden Of Greece Luncheon – April 18
One of the state’s most coveted luncheon tickets is the 36th Annual Mad Hatter’s Luncheon benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The sold-out crowd, featuring 500 of the city’s most chic and fashionable sociables, will descend upon the stunning garden grounds for an epic afternoon of fun. Proceeds from the afternoon will benefit the upkeep of A Woman’s Garden on the venue’s grounds.
This year’s event, chaired by Allison Brodnax, will feature a Gardens of Greece theme, where impeccably dressed people will don hats that are true works of art. Many have been working on their hat designs for months for entry into one of this year’s hat-judging categories like: My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Olympic Games, Greek Mythology, Greek Life, and Greek Goddess for prizes and bragging rights. The afternoon will include a seated luncheon in Rosine Hall with a program helmed by the legendary fashion producer Jan Strimple.
Houston – Memorial Park Conservancy – The Park Ball – April 18
One of Houston’s most treasured outdoor spaces is turning 100…in great style. The Park Ball, benefiting the Memorial Park Conservancy, will feature several hundred of Space City’s most notable nature lovers, sociables, and philanthropists for a night of revelry and fun. This year’s event will be held al fresco in the Clay Family Eastern Glades section of the 1,100-acre park.
Chaired by Karol and Paul Barnhart, Kate and Steven Gibson, and Diane and David Modsett, the night will feature a picnic-chic attire where people will don their best boots, blazers, and baubles. The night, which will honor Christopher Knapp for his tireless support of the park will include a cocktail hour, seated dinner, and program under an open-aired tent.
Houston – Menil – Studio Menil Presents – April 18
One of Houston’s most anticipated art events, The Menil Collection’s annual spring soirée, Studio Menil Presents, will feature several hundred of the city’s top art patrons for a fabulous night of both fun and fundraising. Held in Richmond Hall, on the fabulous ground of The Menil, the night’s theme Alphabet Soup, promises to be an enchanting evening that will show innovative ways that acclaimed artists will weave letters of the alphabet into their artistic works.
Co-chaired by Leslie Hewitt and Jamal Cyrus, Dillon Kyle and Sam Lasseter, Cullen and Robert Muse, and Karlsson and Brian Salek, the night will include a cocktail hour with specialty cocktails, an artfully presented seated dinner, and entertainment that will keep the crowd engaged throughout the night. Proceeds raised from the event help ensure that everyone continues to have access to The Menil’s grounds and art spaces free of charge.
Austin – Elizabeth Ann Seton Board – La Dolce Vita Gala – April 20
Always one of Austin’s most anticipated and widely attended spring events is the Elizabeth Ann Seton Board Gala hosted by Ascension Seton. This year’s theme, La Dolce Vita, will draw approximately a thouand of the city’s most notable community leaders, sociables, and philanthropists to one of Texas’ most fantastic…and unique event spaces, Camp Mabry, for an unforgettable evening of fun and fundraising. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Marialice Shivers and Dell Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Kathryn Frances Walker Center for Neonatal Intensive Care and Family Support.
Chaired by Wesley Joseph and Meredith Spears, the spring-chic attired crowd can expect a cocktail hour followed by dinner and a live auction held in an open-aired tent on the Camp Mabry grounds. The gala will be capped with an after-party that will feature live music, and experiential activations to keep guests engaged…and the merriment that will continue well into the night.
Houston – Memorial Hermann – No Mountain High Enough – April 20
Each spring, Memorial Hermann hosts Houston’s most-anticipated annual fundraising events, often raising several million dollars for the organization. This year that spirit is continued with a No Mountain High Enough theme that celebrates the promise of tomorrow. Held at the Hilton Americas-Houston, the event will feature hundreds of Houstonians who will don their finest black-tie ensembles for a night of revelry and fun.
Chaired by Hallie Vanderheider, the night will honor several individuals and businesses who have made an impact on the organization including: Plains All American, Melinda and Greg Armstrong, Linda and Willie Chiang, and Jane and Harry Pefanis. The night will include a cocktail reception and seated dinner accompanied by a brief program. After dinner, the party will continue well into the night with dancing and live entertainment.
Fort Worth – Texas Rangers Foundation – The TEX Gala – April 22
The reigning World Series Champions are back with their annual fundraising gala that is expected to raise over $2 million. The TEX Gala, benefiting the Texas Ranger Foundation will draw several hundred sports enthusiasts, music lovers, sociables, and philanthropists from North Texas and beyond. Revelers will descend upon Globe Life Field for an unforgettable experience: a private, on-field gala.
The casual-chic audience will begin the night with red-carpet arrivals, followed by a VIP reception where guests will get to mingle with their favorite Rangers players, past and present. Next, the crowd will converge onto the field for a seated dinner, program, and live auction. The night will be capped off with a concert performance by Brooks & Dunn where partygoers will no doubt be dancing on the field to the band’s iconic tunes.
Austin – Mack, Jack & McConaughey – April 25-26
Texas’ top fundraiser in 2023 is back for another unforgettable year. Several hundred music lovers, sociables, and philanthropists from around Texas will hit the floor of ACL Live at the Moody Theatre for the Mack, Jack, and McConaughey event for what we expect to be another eight-figure haul for the organization with its proceeds benefiting five children’s-oriented nonprofits.
Hosted by Mack and Sally Brown, Amy and Jack Ingram, & Camilla and Matthew McConaughey, the two-day extravaganza will begin with red-carpet arrivals and a VIP reception on the ACL’s al fresco terrace. Revelers will then meet at the orchestra level of ACL for a seated dinner and Texas’ best live auction helmed by Heath Hale of Cowboy Auctioneer. At the end of the evening, over 1,000 more guests will fill the upper levels of ACL for the first-day nightcap: a concert by Grammy-Award nominated musician Luke Combs.
The following morning, the men will hit the links for the annual golf tournament while the ladies will experience a fashion show courtesy of Neiman Marcus and the legendary designer Oscar de la Renta. The two days will cap off back where it started, ACL Live for Jack & Friends, a special concert by host Jack Ingram and special musical guests.
Dallas – Equest – Blue Ribbon Ball – April 27
The 43rd Annual Blue Ribbon Ball benefiting Equest has been one of Dallas’ top annual fundraising galas for decades. This year proves to be no different as 600 of the city’s top community leaders, sociables, and philanthropists will descend on the Hilton Anatole in their finest Western-chic attire for an evening of fun and fundraising. Proceeds raised from the event will provide equine programs to enhance the quality of life of children and adults.
Co-chaired by Calvert Collins-Bratton and Melissa Oates, the night will honor Pamela Petty and Carolyn Anderson for their longtime support of the organization. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, seated dinner, and program. The festivities will be capped off with live entertainment where revelers will dance the night away to the tunes of The Manhattan Orchestra of the Khan Music Company.
Dallas – DIFFA – April 27
DIFFA, one of Texas’ best fundraising events when it comes to blending fashion and philanthropy, is back and once again raising the bar. This year’s theme Royalty Untamed will bring 1,500 of the state’s most fun, fashionable, and philanthropic guests to the Sheraton Dallas Hotel for an epic night of fun…and where fashion from the avant-garde, black tie crowd will turn almost as many heads as the expected seven-figure fundraising efforts to benefit those living with HIV and AIDS in North Texas.
Co-chaired by Tim Garippa and Jacob Samson, the night will kick off with a cocktail reception and silent auction featuring a large array of bespoke jackets created by local, national, and international designers with select jackets sported by models in runway poses. The action will then move to the ballroom for a seated dinner, live auction, and dazzling fashion show on one the longest runways you will ever see in a ballroom, and of course an after party where the fun extends well into the night.
