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Attitudes & Attire Puts Teeth Into Annual Fashion Show/Luncheon

If you had no money and had lost several teeth due to drug abuse, what would you do? Wednesday some of Dallas most caring and supportive women and men could hardly believe their ears when they heard what one woman did. But first, let’s set the stage.

The annual Attitudes & Attire covered the full range of emotions today  at the Dallas Trade Mart. Ranging from the runway antics of playful models wearing delicious clothes designed by Paulette Martsolf (pictured) of Allie-Coosh to the heart rendering stories from beneficiaries of the A&A program, the room of ladies and gents had a memorable time.

Surprise highlight was Ebby Halliday Acers, who donated one of her suits to A&A, and then pulled out her ukulele to sing a tribute to honoree Caroline Rose Hunt. At one point, Ebby kept strumming and stopped singing trying to recall the lyrics. Then the nearly 99-year old smiled and said, still strumming, “I’m showing my age.” She brought the house down.

As hard as it was to follow up that act, A&A Executive Director Lyn Berman started the presentation of the Kim Dawson Attitude Award by introducing Laurie Harrison and her mother Caroline Rose Hunt (pictured with Laurie). It was Laurie’s task to introduce her mother. It was a marvelously rich and strong introduction filled with a daughter’s love and admiration. So much so that Caroline hesitated to receive her award. “I didn’t know what Laurie was going to say,” as she teared up. Capturing the mother-daughter exchange was Caroline’s granddaughter/Laurie’s daughter Hassie Harrison (pictured) with her trusty iPhone. What a cutie!

Instead of the traditional bouquet of roses, Lyn presented Caroline with a bouquet of flowers with “teeth” added in. Why teeth? Why to promote A&A’s highly-successful dental program, of course! After all, it takes more than clothes to develop a healthy attitude.

The next part of the day’s agenda were testimonials from three women who had participated in the program. Each woman came from a different backgrounds, but each had truly fallen on hard times. The last speaker (let’s call her Ms. T) brought home the need for the dental appearance/care. Guests learned that due to her years of drug abuse, she had lost many of her teeth. Trying to recover and salvage her appearance with no funds, she started using Super Glue to attach everything from artificial nails to whatever in place of the missing teeth. Eventually her oral health was at risk and she learned about the A&A program. Voila! Ms. T received “new teeth” from A&A. Not only did her physical well being return, but her self-esteem changed her life. At the end of the talk, Ms. T flashed a beautiful smile and was rewarded with applause and smiles in return.

With that story, hands went up to buy more raffle tickets to support the efforts of A&A. In the crowd were Ellen Terry with card playing compatriot Nance Chapman (pictured left with Ellen), who reported that Dee Lincoln has her sights on adding another restaurant to her stable. This one will be in Lewisville. And Dee’s successful wine room at Cowboys Stadium has been such a hit, she’s looking to other sports venues. Hmm, Nancy, you need to check with Dee.. . . Sisters Barbara Crow and Libby Allred with their mom Nancy Hunt were beaming as their aunt Caroline and cousin Laurie made their way to the stage. They were equally pleased to hear the many success stories that have resulted from A&A. How about 13,000!

And drum roll for the sponsors who gave this event special meaning to guests and A&A participants:

• Platinum Sponsors ($20,000)- Allie-Coosh, Dallas Market Center, Ming Wang, Nortex, and The B.E.L.I.E.F. Foundation
• Gold Sponsors ($10,000) – Cheryl MacLennan, I Make Your Video, Margaret and Al G. Hill Family, and Sephora
• Silver Sponsors ($5,000) – E-Rewards Inc., ExxonMobil, FedEx Kinkos, Mrs. Trammell Crow, Sarah Losinger, and The Rosewood Corporation
• Bronze sponsors ($2,500) – 7-Eleven Inc., Bibbentuckers, Brinker International, Frost Bank, Lay and Associates, Rebecca L. Euwer M.D., Republic National Distributing Company, Wendy Krispin Caterer, and Whole Foods
• Pewter Sponsors ($1,500) – BeautiControl, Ebby Halliday Realtors, Harold B. Berman – Attorney, Kathleen Smith, Kim Dawson Agency, MPD Ventures, Neiman Marcus Group, Peter and Lael Brodsky, Rent-A-Center, Roach Howard Smith and Barton Inc., SAP, Stila Cosmetics, Taylor Winfield, and Tom Thumb