Society

PARTIES TO ASPIRE TO

When my editor Tom Boone wanted me to step in as society editor, I asked what I’d done to make him hate me.

Covering society wasn’t why I’d studied journalism. And the mere idea of replacing stalwarts Agness and Tom Robertson was daunting. However, I was able to chart my own path. People knew I respected

CAROLYN confidences and kept my

TILLERY word. I listened as excited chairs shared their plans, later privately fretted, and even cried from the stress. Under that enormous responsibility – and obvious capability – they were still busy wives, moms, daughters, and, in most cases, professional women.

They taught me much, as did the kind folks at Neiman Marcus when I’d call and ask, “What does one wear to…?”

Social events aren’t all cocktails and couture. They raise a shocking amount of money for charity, and most chairs have personal connections to the causes. For example, many Cattle Baron’s Ball chairs had family members who’d battled cancer, some successfully, others not.

Crystal Charity Ball – the grand dame of Dallas society – was a dream to cover. From the top-tier fashion designers to ball chair profiles to patrons’ incredible homes, features to write proved endless. When the giant doors opened, it was magical.

I always thought Cattle Baron’s Ball was what a fun party should aspire to be when it grew up. Take the best of country music, add great food and drinks, chic clothes, and you get the idea.

Despite weather curses that meant either sweating profusely or getting drenched by storms, having the infamous affair at an actual ranch was incredible.

My favorite CBB memory was Cindy Crawford telling me she wished she had on what I did, not having realized she’d be attending a ranch cocktail party.

I’ve always loved hats, so covering Mad Hatter’s Tea Party was delightful. Women can spend months building their hats, some elegant, others outrageous. I’ve seen a running waterfall, a caged bird, and creations so tall and heavy their wearers suffered headaches..

For all the fun, there were trying times. The day after 9-11, I interviewed the CBB cochairs for their scheduled profile. We all felt being there trivial, but we had jobs to do.

Some friends I worked with are sadly gone.

Covering four events a night was my limit, and James Hatcher, valet parker de jour, always kept my car close to the door. He was funny, kind, and we enjoyed talking about gardening.

I never saw Andy Hanson without his camera. Each year, he arrived at our Fourth of July party after everyone was gone, camera around his neck. We’d visit as he ate, played with our dog, and shared his career stories about “the good old days.” DAndra Simmons Lock; Mad Hatter’s 2016

Crystal Charity Ball chairman Lydia Novakov with “toy soldiers”. (PHOTO: Scott Wilson)

Gina Rogers and Pam Denesuk; 2003 Junior League Ball Spring Social Tea, 1997

Susannah Cullum; 2002 La Fiesta De Las Seis Banderas Mayor Ron Kirk and Matrice-Ellis Kirk with Jim and Linda Beach.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Nexus Celebrates Half-Century of Supporting Sobriety Recovery Center houses women and their children during life-changing journey

INSIDE THE CAUSE: RECOVERY CENTER

The Auxiliary of Nexus canceled its May 21 luncheon because of COVID-19 concerns, but benefactors can still support Nexus Recovery Center through the agency’s 50 for 50 Anniversary Campaign. The goal is to raise at least 50 gifts of $50,000 each. Visit nexus50for50.org.

Through various therapies, activities, and other services, Nexus Recovery Center supports women and their children through addiction recovery. (COURTESY PHOTOS)

By Maddie Spera

Special Contributor

When Zenovia Petty needed it, Nexus Recovery Center was there for her with open doors, open arms, and an open bed.

Petty has since gotten sober, now works at the center as a recovery support services coach, and couldn’t be more grateful for the nonprofit organization and the care it provides.

“I’ve been clean for three years and two months,” Petty said. “And it’s because of Nexus, so now it’s important for me to give back and show other women who come here repeatedly that recovery is possible. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall down. Just pick yourself back up and fight.”

The nonprofit founded in 1971 is marking 50 years of comforting and supporting women struggling with substance abuse.

Helping other women get sober and just live the lives they were meant to live, I just feel like it’s what I’m meant to do. Heather Ormand

Even during the onset of the COVID-19 shutdown, the facility remained open at full capacity, offering its highly-regarded recovery program provided by genuine people in a welcoming environment.

“The people at Nexus are so loving, and the care was like no other,” Petty said. “There were women just like me struggling, and the groups we had were teaching me about self-acceptance and self-love, and it really helped. So I knew if I wanted that type of attention and love, Nexus was the place to come.”

Before she was involved with Nexus, new CEO Heather Ormand also saw and appreciated the center’s work. She took her position at Nexus last summer, following the retirement of previous CEO Becca Crowell.

“Because I’m sober and have been sober for a while, the mission of Nexus has just always spoken to me,” Ormand said. “I knew I had to be here because this means everything to me, and helping other women get sober and just live the lives they were meant to live, I just feel like it’s what I’m meant to do.”

Ormand mentioned that there are many supporters of The Auxiliary of Nexus (the fundraising and volunteering arm of Nexus) in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow area.

Something else that sets Nexus apart is allowing children to accompany their mothers into treatment.

“We have several therapy specialists that provide trauma-informed play therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy,” Ormand said. “So kids get treatment but also get to see their mom change before their very eyes, and we’re the only facility that allows that to happen.”

Texas Women’s Foundation Honors Seven for Leadership, Service

Trisha Cunningham Jin-Ya Huang Revati “Rani” Puranik Judy Treviño Cheryl Polote Williamson Diana Mao Kim Roxie

LEADERSHIP FORUM & AWARDS CELEBRATION

WHAT: The virtual event, presented by AT&T, features keynote speaker Adriana Gascoigne, author of Tech Boss Lady and founder and CEO of San Francisco-based nonprofit Girls in Tech. WHEN: 10 a.m. April 29 TICKETS: $42 in honor of the 42nd anniversary of the Maura Women Helping Women and Young Leader Awards. Visit txwfleadership.org or contact Ashley Lindsay, alindsay@ txwf.org or 214-525-5311.

The Texas Women’s Foundation is honoring seven women with 2021 Maura Women Helping Women and Young Leader Awards, which recognize leaders positively impacting women and girls’ lives.

“We are excited to celebrate the remarkable achievements and inspiring stories of our Maura and Young Leader award recipients, who truly are agents of powerful and positive change for women and girls in Texas and beyond,” said Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Texas Women’s Foundation president and chief executive officer.

Maura honorees:

• Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), a $200 million nonprofit leading the fight against hunger in North Texas; • Jin-Ya Huang an interdisciplinary artist, author, and founder of Break Bread, Break Borders, a culinary training social enterprise that economically empowers refugee women from war-torn countries through the storytelling of cooking, food, and culture; • Revati “Rani” Puranik, author, co-owner and global CFO of Houston-based Worldwide Oilfield Machine and executive director of the Puranik Foundation, representing three generations of women committed to education, wellness, and sustainability; • Judy Treviño, executive director for CCVI Ministries, Inc., an international nonprofit organization sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word; • Cheryl Polote Williamson, a filmmaker, author, and the founder and CEO of Williamson Media Group LLC, Cheryl Polote Williamson LLC, and nonprofit Soul Reborn, which helps previously incarcerated women.

Young Leader honorees:

• Diana Mao, an abolitionist who works through the Nomi Network to create pathways to safe employment and empower women and girls to break cycles of slavery; • Kim Roxie, founder and CEO of LAMIK Beauty, a clean beauty brand that caters to multicultural women.