Chick Lit Luncheon Benefiting Community Partners Of Dallas Scores Big With Guest Speaker Hota Kotb

The 19^th Annual Event Is Another Fashionably Chic Gathering For The Beloved Organization

By Cynthia Smoot    Photography by Tamytha Cameron and Celeste Cass, Thomas Garza, and Nate Rehlander

THE SCENE: Community Partners of Dallas (CPD) celebrated its 19^th Annual Chick Lit Luncheon, presented by Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel, at the Hilton Anatole. The luncheon co-chairs, Alison Malone and Kelley Schadt, with honorary chair Kameron Westcott, were joined by 1,100 attendees at the annual event, which featured a conversation with NBC5’s Laura Harris and award-winning anchor and journalist, New York Times best-selling author, podcast host, and adoptive mother Hoda Kotb.

THE VIBE: Upon arrival, attendees in their fabulous spring attire mingled and sipped wine at the pre-luncheon reception in the Hilton Anatole’s Chantilly Ballroom Foyer. In the nearby Wedgwood Ballroom, top sponsors gathered for champagne and mimosas, a meet and greet, and a photo opportunity with Kotb, who was stunning in a red jumpsuit and her signature smile. At the appointed time, attendees took their seats in the ballroom as co-chairs Schadt and Malone kicked off the program with a welcome to all in attendance at this year’s Chick Lit Luncheon, benefiting Community Partners of Dallas and the thousands of abused and neglected children it serves annually.

A video began that highlighted the transformational support this year’s Paige McDaniel Partners for Children Award recipient, Toyota Motor North America, gives not only to Community Partners of Dallas, but to the Dallas nonprofit community. President and CEO Joanna Clarke was then joined onstage by Toyota representatives Denita Neville and JW Washington, who accepted the award on the company’s behalf. Then, Kotb and NBC’s Laura Harris sat down in the Chick Lit “living room.” Their thoughtful, but fun-filled, chat covered topics from Kotb’s new post-retirement “minivan life” and how she now has time to take her kids to school, her journey to adopting her two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine, and lessons she has learned from some of the stories she has told as a journalist.

Like the time the Peabody Award-winning “The Education of Ms. Groves,” featured on NBC’s “Dateline;” Kotb’s time on the “Today Show” and how she knew it was time to retire; her former co-host Jenna Bush Hager, who she had a FaceTime conversation with onstage to everyone’s pure delight; her love of New Orleans; and writing a song, “Wednesdays,” with singer-songwriter Walker Hayes, who she also tried to FaceTime.

Some of the 2025 Chick Lit Luncheon attendees included: Alison and Michael Malone, Kelley and Brian Schadt, Community Partners of Dallas President and CEO Joanna Clarke, presenting sponsor Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel, honorary chair Kameron Westcott, Mary Bowman Campbell, Tanya Rice, Mary Martha Pickens, Paige McDaniel, Cathy James, Lisa Ogle, Greg Nieberding, LaVerne Nieberding, Leigh Anne Haugh, Jennifer Gates, Beth Thoele, Jill Goldberg, Kristen Gibbins, Katie Robbins, Ryan Ross, Robbie Kruithoff, Sharon Lee Clark, Megan Conlon, Machelle Davenport, Carol Holmes, Dawn Greiner, Jenna Turner Alexander, Andrea Nayfa, Marjon Henderson and Jacie Vittitow.

THE NON-PROFIT: Since 1989, Community Partners of Dallas has ensured safety and restored dignity and hope to abused and neglected children by providing crucial resources and support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services. Community Partners of Dallas provides items such as winter coats, diapers and formula, holiday gifts, school uniforms, personal hygiene products, food, and more to send the abused children in our community the message that someone does care. You can visit www.communitypartnersdallas.org for more information.