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Spring Cleaning Benefits Junior League of Dallas’ “Trinkets & Treasures”

After planting trees on Arbor Day (Friday), we’re committing our entire weekend to a muchly-feared, annual challenge — spring cleaning of the “scary closets.”

What’s a scary closet? It’s a closet that you’ve avoided like a bill collector. There are things in that closet that you just don’t to face and admit that you haven’t used in ages or you’ve found a nifty replacement. But we’ve got to gut up and let go of the stuff because someone else can use it.

This year we’re dividing up our closet finds into two categories. One group will destined for the curb and the other will be for the May 1st “Trinkets and Treasures Rummage Sale” organized by the Junior League of Dallas.

They’ll be accepting  donations at Armoires & More on the following dates: (more…)

Giving a Chick Ain’t Chic

You give gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays, but what about Easter? Have you ever thought about giving a baby chick or bunny?

Well, don’t!

Society Bakery is raising “awareness and encouraging people to NOT give rabbits and chicks this Easter” by asking their customers to add an extra dollar to their purchases now through Easter. The funds raised will be donated to the North Texas Rabbit Sanctuary.

Sounds a little strange until you realize that 90% of all rabbits purchased as pets are abandoned at animal shelters or die from improper care.

By the way, if you are feeling a bit generous, why not kick in a little more than a dollar for the cause.

Now, hop to it!

Matthew Trent Donates One-of-a-Kind to Texas Discovery Gardens Fundraiser

Graphic provided by Texas Discovery Gardens

Is sterling silver organic? Well, tonight it doesn’t matter at the Texas Discovery Gardens’ Organic in the City Fashion Show + Auction thanks to Dallas jewelry designer Matthew Trent. He’s has “fashioned a sterling silver pin modeling it after the ‘Butterfly Maiden’ logo (pictured).”

According to Texas Discovery Gardens’ Sarah Gardner, “These pins, generously created for Texas Discovery Gardens, have been donated to be released at the close of the fashion show for a special price.”

Don’t you always love the phrase “special price”?

Walmart Makes Nice Donations to Visiting Nurses, Tarrant County’s Meals on Wheels

Congratulations to the Visiting Nurses Association and the Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County. They’re two of 147 very lucky local programs providing meals to homebound seniors and other seniors in need. Why are they lucky? Because the Walmart Foundation is divvying up a $2.2 million donation among the 147 to provide essential items like stoves, refrigerators, freezers, delivery vehicles, and other equipment.

“Seniors have been hit especially hard in this economy and we feel a responsibility to help,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “We’re proud to support Meals On Wheels programs across the U.S. who work on the front lines of ending senior hunger.”

Let’s Take A Walk Thanks To Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

There are times when spectacular things happen. No, they don’t always demand a gala nor a press conference. They’re just very cool and long lasting. So, the announcement that Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake will sponsor the one-mile fitness trail at the Dallas Arboretum is one of those times.

“We look for specific opportunities to sponsor programs, organizations and sites in Dallas that support our mission to be committed to the care and improvement of our community.  The One-Mile Fitness Trail at the Arboretum fits our mission well and we are pleased to have been given the opportunity to join them,” said Scott Manis, newly-appointed Doctors Hospital CEO.

The Doctors Hospital Fitness Trail features quarter-mile markers and takes walkers throughout the Arboretum’s most beautiful landscapes including the Jonsson Color Garden, Palmer Fern Dell, Paseo de Flores, and around the historic Alexander Camp House. Since 2001 the Fitness Trail has attracted Dallas and Fort Worth residents for their daily walks.

Despite Nasty Spill, The Catholic Foundation Salutes Rev. Phil Postell

Friday night we were still living on NyQuil, but have learned the following took place at The Catholic Foundation’s 28th annual award’s dinner at the InterContinental Dallas:

Photo by Kristina Bowman

Even before invitations were sent out, the event was not only hitting an all-time record attendance (1,400), but was more or less sold out. Organizers even had to move the location due to the growing number who wanted to attend. The reason for this dramatic growth in attendance was the honoree — Rev. Phil Postell (pictured), head of Jesuit Preparatory School of Dallas. The Jesuits love their Fr. Postell. They should. He has served as president of Jesuit Dallas since 1992.

The day of the event even the weather cleared up, so it looked like any problems were non-existent. Then it happened — an 18-wheeler with hazardous waste toppled over on LBJ closing the highway down for three hours creating a traffic migraine for the entire area. And that was the lead-off topic as guests arrived for the event — “We got stuck in all the traffic in Far North Dallas caused by the chemical spill!” or “It took us two hours to get to the hotel!” (more…)

Jamie Dimon Gets A Key, Elaine Agather Receives Kudos And Bandages

OK, so let’s admit it. Having JPMorgan Chase & Co. VMIP (Very Most Important Person) Jamie Dimon front and center for the $3M donation announcement for The Park was like having Steve Jobs on hand to activate your iPhone. Locals were so thrilled with his in-person participation, they even presented him with a key to The Park. Why do we suspect that Jamie knew that The Park is still under construction and there’s no lock in need of a key? Hey, it’s the thought that counts.

But the hometown honey of the day was that rodeoing banking lady of Chase, Elaine Agather. Looking like a homecoming queen and having the marvelously good taste to walk into the overly-crowded room of media and city alpha dogs with publishing magnate Wick Allison, Elaine actually seemed to blush as accolades kept coming and coming and coming.

And rightly deserved. In this day and age when money is especially tough to come by and banks are under scrutiny, Elaine managed to be a driving force for the donation that will result in a marvelous promenade for The Park.

Yet did anyone notice her fingers? Yup, despite holding up a billboard-size check for the multi-million $$ amount, hardly a soul saw the bandages wrapped around her fingers. Had she cut them while cutting the check? Nope. She slammed them in a door. But no harm. As she said, “I can still write and ride.”

Elaine, honey, let’s take better care of those digits.

Souper Bowl — First Week Down And Goal Still Ahead

The North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Souper Bowl of Caring launched last Friday and an estimated $42,000 in cash donations and 146,000 lbs. in food donations (that translates into $146,000) have already been received. They’re on their way to their $1.5M community goal, but their deadline is Sunday, February 7.

Two weeks left to meet their goal, so let’s get going!

Sullivan’s Steakhouse Checks In With $170,000 For Komen

Based in Southlake, Sullivan’s Steakhouse (part of the Del Frisco’s operation) just announced the donation of $170,000 to Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

Let’s keep that money coming in, folks.

Donate A Bike For Good

Did you get a special little something over the holidays? Did someone say a bicycle? How really terrific, but what about that old one that you’ve got hiding in the garage? It’s like an old pair of very worn blue jeans. You love it, but have moved on and hate to just totally dump it.

Solution! Donate it to the Loan Star Locker program. Not only can you show your accountant the tax deduction paperwork, you can also provide adult riders who cannot afford or do not have a bike of their own to borrow one for training and riding in the LSRFA.

Photo provided by Lone Star Ride For AIDS

What’s LSRFA? Where have you been for the past ten years? It’s Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS (pictured), a two-day, 165-mile cycling event on September 25 and 26 benefiting AIDS Services of Dallas, AIDS Outreach Center of Tarrant County, and Resources Center Dallas.

Ah, we know what you’re thinking — does a loaned bike really make a difference? Riders using borrowed bikes have raised more than $17,000.

Go have a heart-to-heart with your dear old Schwinn and know that its new rider will truly appreciate your old pedal pal.