D

TACA Silver Cup Luncheon Gets People Like Kenny Goss Thinking and Talking

What do international art collector/hottie Kenny Goss (pictured) and former JCPenney President and COO/Dallas Opera General Director John T. Cody Jr. have in common? Later. . . But first, let’s cover the 32nd TACA Silver Cup Award Luncheon.

If you just arrived in the area, you probably don’t realize that this luncheon is the pinnacle gathering of the area art groups and those who tirelessly support them. Each year a man and woman are honored for their efforts. This year the luncheon recipients were Cindy Rachofsky and John T. Cody Jr. (pictured) at the Anatole.

But before the luncheon, which is an artistic occasion in itself, past Silver Cup recipients, VIP’s and honorees gathered for a “catch your breath” reception. It also allowed for a group picture to be taken of past recipients with the “new kids on the block.”

After the official photos were taken, Cindy and John were presented with boxes that would have been too big for Santa to fit in his Christmas sack. Like two eager children, the two pulled off the ribbons, dug through paper stuffing, and discovered their silver cups (pictured).

But before you go off thinking that this heady group of art lovers was only involved in discussing the intellectual side of the arts, back up and rethink. (more…)

Dallas Dozen’s Cindy Rachofsky to be Honored Friday at TACA Silver Cup

If you haven’t had a chance to read about the Dallas Dozen in this month’s issue of D, you might not know that Cindy “Homecoming Queen” Rachofsky (pictured) is one of the DD’s.

Photo provided by Dallas Opera

This Friday Cindy’s also going to chalk up another honor. She’ll join the illustrious list of recipients of TACA’s Silver Cup Award along with the Dallas Opera’s main man John T. Cody Jr. (pictured) at the Anatole.

The luncheon is presented by Chase and Neiman’s. Ticket info is available by calling 214-520-3930.

Just in case you’re wondering who are the people behind the scenes making this shindig happen, here you go: (more…)

TACA Silver Cup Award to Salute Cindy Rachofsky and John Cody Next Friday

In 1979 before there was a Meyerson Symphony Center and when the Dallas Theater Center on Turtle Creek was still considered the new-kid-on-the-block, Dallas’ numero uno fundraiser Annette Strauss created the TACA Silver Cup Award.

(Yes, we’re talking about Annette the Socialite before she was Annette the Mayor of Dallas.)

This very hardworking and savvy lady recognized the need for recognition of one man and one woman who had made outstanding contributions to the arts in Dallas. Annette also saw the opportunity to raise funds for the arts by presenting the awards at a luncheon.

Since then, the TACA Silver Cup Award has been presented to 30 men and 30 women who have been instrumental to the incredible growth of the Dallas arts community. On Friday, March 5, Cindy Rachofsky (pictured) and John Cody Jr. (pictured) will have their names officially added to that list at the TACA Silver Cup Award Luncheon sponsored by Chase and Neiman Marcus.

Now, we know what you’re thinking. Cindy and John probably gave a bundle of money and this is their thank you. Oh, we thought we knew you so much better than that. Both Cindy and John have been down in the trenches working tirelessly to not only encourage others to support the arts, but to make the various arts accessible to those without the means.

As luncheon chair Rebecca Fletcher put it so perfectly, “Cindy and John are giants in the Dallas arts community. It is our privilege to honor them and shine the spotlight on two volunteers who are setting an example of excellence in all they do.”

To show their appreciation, members of Big Thought, The Dallas Opera, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Wind Symphony, Fine Arts Chamber Players, Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and Meadows School of the Arts of SMU will perform at the luncheon.

Shameless bragging: SweetCharity is the very proud blog sponsor of the TACA Silver Cup Award.

By the way, we realize that you probably haven’t memorized the other 30 pairs, so here they are: (more…)

TACA Board Weathers Friday’s Storm with Strawberry Kisses

Photo by Dana Driensky

Friday night when half the city was without electricity and streets were literally obstacle courses of downed tree limbs, the TACA Board of Governors held its annual Valentine’s party at Kelly and Norm Green‘s (pictured) home. With SweetCharity’s home team literally homebound, Dillard Spring filed this report –

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TACA Rises To The Financial Occasion And Gives Away $1M

With final tallies for businesses and nonprofits in 2009 looking as dismal as Toyota salesmen, it’s amazing to report that one group managed to hit its projected goals. In fact, it’s a real celebration. That’s what happened Monday night at the Museum of Art when TACA in one breath announced that the group had made their million-dollar fund raising goal and in the next breath gave it all away.

TACA Chair Lynn McBee admitted that the goal looked in jeopardy around the holidays, so she decided to take a pass on a Christmas vacation and womaned the phones to make the million dollar mark. For her efforts and those of the other  dedicated TACA mainstays, 35 Dallas County performing arts groups were more than appreciative in receiving their shares of the million.

The arts groups have really been stretched to the max this past year and every cent helps. One member of the arts community confessed that many of their supporters had targeted their money to the AT&T Performing Arts Center this past year, “but that was perfectly understandable. It just made us tighten our belts a bit more than usual.”

Not only were TACA officials well aware of the financial pressures, they used it as call for action and it worked.

Here’s a breakdown of how the funds were distributed: (more…)

TACA Announces New Board Members and Officers

TACA’s announcement of new board members and officers had some very well-known names in the line up.

New board members include: Lucy Paige Billingsley, Connie Carreker, Janie Cooke, Jennifer Eagle, Lauren Embrey, Ann Hobson, Eric Johnson, Jacquelin Sewell, and Zannie Voss.

Board members returning for their second three-year term include: Nancy Carlson, Barbara Daseke, Jan Deatherage, Duncan Graham, Jeff Netzer, Kemp Sawers, Andy Teller, and Marnie Wildenthal.

Leading these art-loving troopers for 2010 are Chairman Lynn McBee, Treasurer Jim Nugent, Secretary Tara Lewis, and Vice Chairman of Programs Karol Omlor.

Chairmen Emeriti include Sis Carr, Jane Dunne, Ed Fjordbak, and Linda Gibbons.

Last Call For The Chase For Millions!

Tomorrow is the last day to register your vote for nonprofits that might get a chunk of the Chase Community Giving’s $5M. Local charities that we’ve heard in the running are TACA and the Museum of Nature & Science.

Now wouldn’t it  be quite lovely to have some of that lovely Chase money end up here in Biggest D?

TACA’s Private Preview of Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show Has “Wonderful Things”

The pashminas were out Thursday night at the TACA preview party of the Dallas International Art, Antiques & Jewelry Show. Nowadays you just never know if the weather is going to change on you or if the AC is going to be in overdrive.

Speaking of overdrive, the collection of finery in the Dallas Convention Center could only be described as Howard Carter once put it, “Yes, wonderful things!” Everything from centuries-old antique Asian saddles to gems that needed no light to sparkle to one-of-kind ancient Chinese screens inlaid with little vignettes (pictured)–row after row of mini-boutiques caught the eyes of folks like Kelly and Norm Green, Barbara Bigham, Linda and Steve Ivy, and the usual suspects.

Such a suspect was Ritzy chef Dean Fearing (pictured) who looked more like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland as he scampered down the aisle to check on the Ritz cafe saying, “I have to be back at the hotel in 45 minutes.” One would have expected him to say, “I’m late. I’m late for a very important date.”

(Between you and SweetCharity, Dean did have an important date back at the Ritz.)

But back to the show–  (more…)

TACA Silver Cup 2010 Recipients Announced Amid Art of the Eagles

While we hear that the AT&T Performing Arts Center is doing warm-ups for next week’s opening of the mega-complex, TACA announced the recipients of the 2009 2010 Silver Cup Awards at Jennifer and John Eagle’s place. Ah, but before we get to the drum roll for the announced winners, let’s bravo the Eagles. Their formerly-owned Bruno Graf oh-so-perfection-for-the-arts home was in stellar form. With “lifeguards” available at every step, the art was amazing and there were absolutely no drownings. What the heck does that mean? Well, you see, Bruno (way before you were a gleam in your mother’s eye) had architect Edward Durell create this amazing home/museum back in the 1950s. It was the talk of the town. With its showcase white walls (eat your hearts out, museums) and clean lines, it was the absolutely ideal place for a lover of art to showcase everything from sculptures to paintings. Thank heaven, Jennifer and John (pictured) did just that and spent three years bringing the home into the 21st century.

It also was the ideal backdrop for the announcement of the 2010 TACA recipients. Now the drum roll, please. No, wait. There are just a couple of more housekeeping items to take care of. You see, when Bruno owned the place (which was incredibly well built from a construction point of view), the giggly press loved reporting that every now and then a guest would leave din-din sopping wet. What’s that, you ask? Sopping wet dinner? Well, you see, the dining room is terribly surrounded by a moat, or a lake, or a pond, or a pool. Whatever you want to call it, you’re in trouble if you scoot your chair too far back. The moat also separates the living room from the dining room. So the lifeguards, or servers, kept vigilant eyes on potential drowning victims. That explains why half the staff attending tonight’s event were serving as “lifeguards.” No guest was lost thanks to the able-bodied guards.

Oh, and by the by, there is an embargo on the announcement of the 2009 2010 TACA Silver Cup recipents, but SweetCharity was there, so we were granted dispensation. We always want you to have the sneak preview of the real news, not the press release handouts.

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TACA’s Outdoor Party Has Moved Indoors

The Mansion folks decided that Mother Nature is a tricky old gal. They weren’t going to let TACA’s 400+ beautiful guests and celebrity chefs possibly be drenched by one of her downpours tonight at “Party on the Green”. So, they’ve notified TACA Chair Lynn McBee and TACA Party on the Green Chair D’Andra Simmons that the whole kit and kaboodle was moving inside The Mansion.   

UPDATE from last night’s TACA auction:  Seems the bidders got wrapped up in vying for the “Magical Maui Retreat” (14-day stay for six people at a plantation-style estate on the Garden Isle’s North Shore). After the auction was over, Lynn realized something was up when she heard two different groups talking about their winning Maui bid. After placing a couple of calls to the very right people, Lynn managed a win-win —both groups get their trips and TACA doubled their income on the item.