Dallas’ Icons Of Texas Trailblazers

Texas Trailblazer’s Luncheon For The Family Place Features Keynote From Brooke Shields

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography by Tamytha Cameron and Kelly Alexander

THE SCENE: The Hilton Anatole in Dallas was the recent setting for one of the state’s largest and most well-attended annual luncheons. Over 700 of the city’s most notable philanthropists, sociables, and community leaders turned out for the 27^th annual Texas Trailblazers Luncheon, hosted by The Family Place. The afternoon featured touching tributes and words from a cultural icon that those on hand will remember long after the festivities ended.

THE VIBE: The luncheon-chic crowd began the afternoon with a champagne reception for a meet and greet with featured keynote speaker Brooke Shields. Guests then headed to the area outside of the Anatole ballroom for a larger reception where attendees mingled and were able to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one of two Shop Til You Drop packages valued at over $5,000 each with gift cards from several top Dallas retailers including Neiman Marcus, NorthPark Center, Stanley Korshak, Tootsies, and Veronica Beard just to name a few.

At promptly 11:30, guests took to their seats inside the venue for the main program. As patrons dined on their multi-course meal, emcee and NBC5 News Anchor Meredith Land welcomed the crowd and kept the festivities flowing at a fun, brisk pace. During the first part of the program, guests were treated to words from The Family Place board members and top advocates including CEO Mimi Sterling as well as touching video tributes highlighting the great work The Family Place does to positively impact the Dallas community.

Next, came the presentation of the 2023 Texas Trailblazers Award to Mary Kay CEO Ryan Rogers, for the work of the Mary Kay Ash Foundation, which has donated over $92 million dollars to domestic violence service providers, emergency shelters, cancer research programs, and other causes. The afternoon was capped off with a 30-minute revealing Q&A between emcee Meredith Land with keynote speaker, cultural icon, and activist Brooke Shields.

THE NON-PROFIT: The event was co-chaired by Lindsay Jacaman and Holly Krug, with Stephanie and Travis Hollman serving as honorary chairs, raised funds for The Family Place, which aims to provide brighter futures for survivors of family violence. Exceeding its goal, funds raised from the luncheon will go towards providing services for those who survive family violence including transitional housing, medical, dental, and job training programs. Serving North Texas since 1978, The Family Place is the largest provider of family violence services in the state of Texas, serving nearly 20,000 people in 2022.