What did you expect? A vintage car collection? Silly.

Besides the drop-dead gorgeous spring and summer fashions, ball chair Cynthia Mitchell welcomed the newest members of CCB including Angie Kadesky, Kay Beecherl, and Suzy Giekere (pictured) and

Janie Cooke, Leslie Diers, Rozalyn Colombo, and Alicia Wood (pictured)

The six hardworking and very fortunate beneficiaries for this year’s ball were also revealed including

1. Boys & Girls Clubs,
2. Children’s Medical Center,
3. Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center,
4. Parkland Foundation,
5. Texas Home Access Fund and
6. The Family Place

(Photos by Dana Driensky)

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

Since this group of very un-bookworms cuts to the chase, the author announcement was made early in the evening — Chicago’s Jen Lancaster. If that name is new to you, settle back, have a good laugh, and join her fan club. Getting her start as a blogger, Jen’s talents have resulted in such books as Bitter is the New Black; Bright Lights, Big A-s ( a word that SweetCharity is not allowed to use); Such a Pretty Fat; and Pretty in Plaid.

Now normally guests exit quickly after such an announcement is made, but, oh, no, not with this group! They stayed; they chatted; they drank; they met Chick Lit Luncheon sponsors Lara (pictured) and Robert Tafel; they tried on clothes; they bought clothes, perfume, purses (with a nice percentage going to Community Partners of Dallas).

Must admit that the shower curtain-style changing rooms at times proved to be a bit revealing themselves. As one guest passed by, her purse accidentally pulled the curtain open revealing a guest who was in a state of undress. Thank heaven, she heeded her mama’s advice to wear her prettiest undies. Oh, well, it was a girly party, so what the diff.

And speaking of girls, those gals responsible for the Chick Lit fun

were the likes of Event Chair Jennifer Tobin and Honorary Chair Sarah Losinger. And of course, since the whole Chick Lit program benefits CPD, its President Paige McDaniel (pictured) provided her well-known magic spark of energy and zeal. Has she ever met a stranger?

Bit of trivia: Did you know that last year’s luncheon raised $70,000 for CPD to provide necessities for the children in the care of Dallas County Child Protective Services?

Suggestion: Make plans to attend the luncheon, but for heaven sakes start following Jen’s blog and read her books. You’ll laugh all the way to the luncheon.

Take a deep breath and think about that number –a one with eight zeroes. Need a comparison? That is more than the marvelous Crystal Charity Ball has raised since its founding in 1953. And this $100M gift, as well as many previous acts of Sammons generosity, is the legacy provided by an Oklahoma orphan, who made Dallas his home.

“With this historic contribution we are honoring Mr. Sammons’ conviction that the worth of a company should be based on its profitability and its contribution to the community,” said Sammons Dallas Foundation President Heather Kreager. “The beneficiaries will be able to continue their missions of helping improve the quality of life for the people within our community who are facing challenges.”

The six groups reeling from their good fortune and which were identified by Mr. Sammons prior to his death in 1988 are:

• Baylor Health Care System Foundation, on behalf of Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas: the $20 million will benefit the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and its new cancer complex that will include both inpatient and outpatient services as well as clinical research facilities. An endowed breast cancer research chair will be named in honor of Charles Sammons’ two sisters, Hattie Belle and Mary Sammons, who both had cancer.
• The Salvation Army of Dallas County: $15 million will establish the Elaine and Charles Sammons Endowment to support the Dallas County programs.
• Methodist Health System Foundation: $20 million will establish an endowment to deliver quality indigent care or emergency room trauma services.
• Communities Foundation of Texas: $20 million will support the foundation’s discretionary grant making in perpetuity, extending the Sammons legacy each year through grants invested by the foundation in projects which demonstrate the greatest positive impact in the Dallas community.
• The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas: $20 million will endow heart, lung and vascular patient programs at UT Southwestern University Hospital with a proposed name of the Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons Heart, Lung and Vascular Comprehensive Center that will include both inpatient and outpatient services as well as clinical and translational research program. This endowment will complement previous gifts from the Elaine Dewey Sammons Foundation.
• The educational trust fund of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas: $5 million will establish The Charles A. and Elaine D. Sammons Diocesan Education Trust Fund. The fund will provide financial aid and tuition to elementary school children attending parish schools and students attending the three diocesan high schools.

Mr. Sammons, his family, and his associates are to be commended for providing their community with financial support and an excellent example of philanthropy.

Okay, now that we’ve gotten the niceties out of the way, let’s talk party.

If you had planned to dine at Patrizio in Highland Park Village Tuesday night, you were disappointed. Bill took over the whole place and white carpeted and tented a walkway leading from his jewelry box of a boutique to Patrizio. While some shoppers wondered what the heck was going, veteran Parkies matter-of-factly smiled, “Oh, it’s Bill’s Christmas party!”

The Noble boutique was so packed that there was hardly room for a pair of diamond earrings to wedge through. That said, someone has to explain how they got that red-hot-red mini-grand piano bar into the back of the boutique. Only thing missing was Michelle Pfeiffer.

Over at Patrizio, it wasn’t quite as crowded the first hour, but that was another story come hour #2. (Perhaps that’s why Patrizio-guy Ed Bailey was smiling.) The usual tables and chairs had been removed to make room for a sleigh that carried Santa and five of his elvettes wearing more jewelry that a Donald Trump ex.

By 8:30, you could barely see Santa from the crowd that filled the room. With a band playing on the patio, the smell of garlic from those yummy crab claws, and the wine, champagne, and Bellinis flowing, it’s no wonder the party turned into a holiday gathering of the happy and beautiful gems of noble society.

Jan Pickens (pictured) hardly made it through the door when she was greeted like a rock star. Understand that the good folks at the Salvation Army have Jan high on the very-good-little-girl list this year . . Jeanne Marie Clossey had to eat and run to make curtain time for the first showing of South Pacific at the Winspear. . . . Terry Van Willson was wondering what the younger generation was coming to. Seems that his goddaughter had been offered a role in All My Children and turned it down because of a BF. Oh, girls and boys!. . . . Derrill Osborn (pictured) was the eye-catcher of the night. Chuckling that they needed one homeless-looking person to balance out the posh crowd, Derrill looked like a natty elf of old in his PJ’s. His beard and candy cane in the handkerchief pocket  (pictured) alone were worth the price of admission. Wait, there was no price for admission!. . . Denise Wolford popped in wearing a smashing black and white outfit highlighted with jewelry that would make Mr. Noble’s year. . .  Lezlie Noble (pictured) was blonder than ever greeting everyone as they walked into Patrizio. It’s so nice to see blondes again. So many went brunette this past year. . . . Noble elvette Laura McClung (pictured) poked some fun at the Santa in his sleigh, claiming that she had spotted him at another retail center the week before. Hey, Laura, he was probably comparison shopping and look where he wound up. Surrounded by Noble gems!

Hopefully, Jan and Elizabeth have all their Christmas shopping because they’re going to be busy girls the next few days benefiting others:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 (7 to 9 p.m.) – Benefiting The Family Place, December Decadence 2009 will take place at Forty Five Ten with Honorary Chairs Jan Showers and Cameron Silver. With 10% of all sales from the evening going to TFP, the evening will feature Cameron, Jan signing her Glamorous Rooms, Elizabeth Showers, Raven Kauffman, and Waylande Gregory.  Hosts of the event are Forty Five Ten, PaperCity, and Kimberly Schlegel Whitman.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14  (11:00 a.m.) — Elizabeth is going solo at the December Fashion Dish series at Craft. Benefiting Two by Two for AIDS and Art, Elizabeth’s 18-karat Gold Couture Collection will be on hand for viewing; lunch will be delicious; and you’ll be able to “mingle with Elizabeth.” Reservations are a must!

And, no, Jason won’t be cooking up each burger. You know he’s got a day job.

Just in front of The Alley (adjacent to the valet stand in the Fountain Circle Drive), the national Cadillac team will have a 2010 Cadillac SRX, Lexus RX350, BMW X5, and Mercedes GLK for your sampling. Duh factor– You have to be over  21 and have a valid driver’s license.

How does The Family Place benefit from your fun? They get $10 for each test driver courtesy of Cadillac.

Added plus–Bon Appetit and Gourmet have arranged to have chef Scott Gottlich of Bijoux and Second Floor on site for cooking demonstration throughout the days.

To get a preferred timeslot, be smart and get an advance reservation.

Judy Shepard, mother of the late Matthew Shepard, will be signing copies of her just-released book, The Meaning of Matthew: My Son’s Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed. Tomorrow night she’ll receive the 2009 Elizabeth Birch Equality Award at the BTD.

The preview party will be a party in itself with DJ Micah B handling the entertainment and featured cocktails and vodka drinks compliments of Grey Goose Vodka.

Starting time tonight: 8 p.m.

Attire: business casual or festive attire.

Reminder: Don’t party too hard tonight, my darlings. You’ll need to be in shape for tomorrow night’s gala.

Actually, Tuesday night is just a smidgen of “The Charity Classic,” which is the world’s largest multi-site charity golf and dining event, with participating clubs teeing up from California to New York. This year 140 of Dallas-based ClubCorp’s country clubs, private business and sports clubs and resorts will participate to raise money for nearly 100 charities.

The lucky local beneficiaries are Dallas Can! Academy, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and ClubCorp’s Employee Partners Care Foundation.

Participating golf clubs slated to hold tournaments for the causes are Oakmont Country Club in Corinth (October 2), Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco (October 9), and Shady Valley Country Club in Arlington (November 13).

It’s a great opportunity to sample the ClubCorp way of life and to help the three beneficiaries.