Rob Giardinelli
The Texas fall gala season starts with a bang in September and features a fun mix of beloved nonprofit events around Texas. Below are ten stellar galas and signature fundraising events we recommend you have on your radar in the Lone Star state between now and late September.
Austin – Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Central Texas Ice Ball – August 24
Kicking off the Texas gala festivities for the fall 2024 social season is an event that is so hot that it is cool. The Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Texas Ice Ball turns twenty this year with what is bound to be an epic celebration to celebrate an event that went from raising $6,000 in its first year to becoming a $1 million+, must-attend event.
Held this year at the JW Marriott, event Co-chairs Jason Vitanza and Philisa Giannukos will helm an event that will bring back event chairs from previous Ice Ball that will provide great memories from years past while creating new ones. Guests attending can expect a cocktail hour, a multi-course meal, silent and live auctions, and an afterparty that is bound to go well into the night.
Houston – Houston PetSet Fierce & Fabulous Soirée – September 6
Kicking off the fall social season in Houston is another top, must-attend event that is also turning 20 this year. The Fierce & Fabulous Soirée benefiting Houston PetSet will celebrate this milestone with a fabulous bash that will highlight and showcase the incredible work the organization has done over the years to advance animal advocacy in Space City.
Held again this year at The Post Oak Hotel, Co-Presidents Tama Lundquist and Tena Lundquist Faust, along with Co-chair Deborah Duncan, will oversee the jubilant night of revelry. The night will include one of the state’s best silent auctions, a five-star multicourse meal, and a spirited live auction. The night will be capped off with a live performance from by Grammy-nominated country music artist and native Texan Pat Green.
Houston – Houston Ballet Onstage Dinner – September 6
The arts season in Houston starts with a multi-act night that mixes performance, socializing, and fundraising. Art patrons will head to one of Texas’ best performing arts venues, the Wortham Center the Houston Ballet Opening Night Performance and Onstage Dinner. The night will feature a performance of The Little Mermaid, which will be helmed by two world-renowned artists: choreographer John Neumeier and composer Lera Auerbach.
Guests will then mingle before taking the stage for the second act of the night: a dazzling onstage dinner, which features an all-star lineup headed by event co-chairs and well-known Houston philanthropists Mignon and Steve Gill, and Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin. On-stage guests will experience a multi-course meal and be capped off by honoring iconic ballet dancer and Texas Medal of Arts Award Recipient Lauren Anderson for her many years as principal dancer of the Houston Ballet.
Dallas – Crystal Charity Ball 10 Best Dressed Luncheon – September 12
In a city known for hosting world-class, fabulous luncheons, The Crystal Charity Ball 10 Best Dressed Luncheon stands out. The afternoon will include hundreds of the city’s most well-heeled sociables and philanthropists will be on hand to honor ten women who are both stylish and made their mark in the Dallas philanthropic scene.
Held at the downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus, the event will be chaired by 2024 Fashion Show Chairman Kim Hext. The afternoon will feature fun, food, and of course a fashion show featuring dazzling looks from one of the world’s top luxury retailers. What makes the luncheon unique is that all of the proceeds from the luncheon will completely underwrite The Crystal Charity Ball that will be held on December 7th, which is expected to raise over $7 million for projects that benefit children’s nonprofits in North Texas.
This year’s honorees include Monica Eastin, Tracey Kozmetsky, Meredith Land, Tracy Lange, Anne McPherson, Wendy Messman, Kim Quinn, Lisa Rocchio, Sunie Solomon, and Katherine Wyker. Additionally, Dallas (and Texas) philanthropist Lisa Cooley will serve as the 2024 Hall of Fame Honoree for her tireless support of the organization.
Austin – Texas Advocacy Project Black & White Ball – September 14
Photo courtesy of the Texas Advocacy Project
The Texas Advocacy Project’s Black & White Ball has long been one of Austin’s favorite events. Last year’s ball exceeded $1 million for the first time and will be back this year for another can’t-miss night of fun and fundraising. Held at the JW Marriott, the event will draw close to five hundred of the city’s top sociables, philanthropists, and community leaders.
Chaired by Catherine Brophy, this year’s black tie event will feature guests donning their favorite black and white ensembles with an action-packed night of emotion and excitement. The night will begin with guests posing on the red carpet for photos to commemorate the evening and then the revelers will promptly head to a cocktail hour. A dazzling program will follow with dinner, emotional tributes, and testimonials, and capped off with one of Texas’ most spirited, fun, and profitable live auctions.
Dallas – Dallas Contemporary Museum Gala – September 20
One of Dallas’ most anticipated fall social events, the Dallas Contemporary Gala kicks off the arts social season in the city. Held at the Dallas Contemporary, the event will draw over 300 who will don their favorite black-tie ensembles with the city’s most notable art patrons, sociables, and philanthropists for a night of artful fun.
Chaired by Leigh Anne Clark and Casey Lemkin, and featuring a host committee that is the who’s who of the Dallas philanthropy scene, the night will feature a cocktail hour, followed by a delectable, multi-course seated dinner, courtesy of Headington Companies. The evening will also include a dazzling live auction that will feature a mix of works by acclaimed artists and luxury experiences. The night will be capped off with an epic after party that will ensure the fun will continue well into the night.
Austin – Goodwill of Central Texas A Good Night For Goodwill – September 26
Held at the Junior League of Austin, A Good Night For Goodwill benefiting Goodwill of Central Texas will feature several hundred of the city’s most notable community advocates, sociables, and philanthropists for a night of fun. The festivities will begin with a lively cocktail hour where guests will sip on their favorite spirits and pursue an impressive lot of silent auction items.
Guests will then take to their seats for a multi-course meal and a main program that will honor Lee Cooke and Les Gage with the Henna Award For Good for their leadership in the company’s most recent capital campaign. The night will continue with a dessert reception and an after-party where guests will dance the night away to the tunes of fun music
Dallas – American Cancer Society’s Cattle Baron’s Ball – September 28
One of Texas’ most storied annual galas is back and set to achieve a momentous milestone. The Cattle Baron’s Ball, benefiting The American Cancer Society, is the organization’s largest single-night fundraiser in the United States each year. This year’s event will put the event in rare company as it is poised to break the $100 million mark raised for the organization since the inception of the event in 1974.
Co-chaired by Lora Farris and Marjon Zabihi Henderson, 3,000 plus guests will don their finest Western-chic attire for a night at the iconic Southfork Ranch. The night will feature a cocktail reception and meal and a spirited live auction. The night will be capped off with a performance by Country music superstar Carrie Underwood and an epic after-party that is always known to go into the wee hours of the morning.
Dallas – Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala – September 28
One of Texas’ most fun nights celebrating the arts each year, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is well-known for its annual Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala which always features a night that is so packed with fun that it has to be told in three parts. The event, chaired by Laura Harris-Means and Patrick Means, features a black tie crowd that will begin the evening with a dazzling seated dinner at the Morton Meyerson Center before beginning the entertainment portions of the evening.
Guests will then take their seats for what is bound to be a mesmerizing, multi-musician concert led by Music Director Fabio Luisi, with the concert being capped off with a performance by one of the world’s most sought-after musicians, Lang Lang. The night will continue well past midnight where revelers will have a chance to dance the night away during an epic after party.
Houston – Sky High For Kids Ladies Who Brunch – September 29
Benefiting Sky High For Kids, Ladies Who Brunch is an event that began as a small donor event hosted by founder Brittany Hebert Franklin has blossomed into one of Texas’ best nonprofit brunches. Hundreds of Houston’s most notable sociables, community leaders, and philanthropists will head to The Revaire in their finest Brunch-chic attire for an afternoon of fun, fashion, and philanthropy.
Chaired by Jessica Morrison and Logan Lester Tafelski, the afternoon will feature welcome champagne and mimosas and peruse an impressive lot of silent auction items. Guests will then take to their seats for brunch and a main program that will include a spirited live auction with a dazzling fashion show hosted by Alchemia Style Boutique capping off the afternoon festivities.
