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Thank Heaven for Dallas Defenders’ Day Jobs and a SMU Journalism Major

Even SweetCharity cannot be everywhere all the time, so we asked SMU journalism major Jaimie Marie Siegle to cover the Dallas Defenders this weekend. What? You know the Cowboys, Mavs, and Stars, but not the Defenders? Settle back and learn.

Sports fans throughout the DFW gathered Saturday night at their favorite watering hole to celebrate the Dallas Stars’ and the Mavs’ wins on the road.

Photo provided by Jaimie Marie Siegle

Still, the weekend’s sweetest sports victory went down just across the pond in Frisco, where more than 400 football fans witnessed the Dallas Defenders’ 30-0 sweep against the Houston Gunners.

Muchos kudos to those who already knew Dallas had its own semi-pro football team made up of policemen, firefighters and EMT personnel from all over the Metroplex; for those who weren’t already aware, the Dallas Defenders are civil servants by day and philanthropic athletes by night. The football club raises money to fund community outreach programs and support families whose loved ones have died in the line of duty through the Guns & Hoses Foundation of North Texas.

Defenders Football Club players, coaches and supporters commemorated their season’s first victory at TopGolf Dallas for a Guns & Hoses fundraising event on March 27, but all you gotta do to help out the team is attend the Dallas Stars hockey game on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center. For more information about ordering tickets, call Chad Pennington at (214)387–5583.

Catch the fourth and final game against the Charlotte Cobras on May 15 at Frisco Memorial Stadium. E-mail the club’s president here if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, trying out for the football team or auditioning to be a Spirit Girl. We’re so not here to judge.

Hey, Jaimie, we didn’t change one word. Blog well done.

Chris Murzin Family, University Park to be Honored at “A Child Can Do All Things Luncheon”

Back in 2008 Chris Murzin shaved his head. It wasn’t due to a trendy new hair style. It was to draw attention to a cause that affected his family deeply. You see, one of Chris’s children is forced to use a wheelchair and this fact made Chris realize how limited area parks are for the physically challenged.

Thanks to the Murzin family’s efforts, Coffee Park in University Park is barrier-free and includes a trail system with dioramas depicting the history of University Park, new picnic facilities, athletic field improvements, park entrance signage, decorative fencing, expanded acreage on the park’s northern edge (made possible because of the Northwest Parkway Wall) and the City’s first barrier-free playground to provide fun for children of all ages and abilities.

Photo provided by A Child Can Do All Things

” A Child Can Do All Things Luncheon” Chair Alicia Wood (pictured left with, from the left, Blackie Holmes, Jerry Bradley, Christina Murzin, and Heather Pujats) announced at a breakfast at Tiffany & Co., that the Murzin family and the City of University Park will be awarded  the “Child Impact Award” at the annual luncheon on Tuesday, March 30, at Brook Hollow Golf Club.

In an addition to the presentation of the award, a NorthPark Center-sponsored fashion show under the direction of Rhonda Sargent Chambers will feature clothes from Barney’s New York, Peek. . . Aren’t You Curious, and Play @ Planet Funk.

For ticket and sponsorship information, just check here.

Henry “The Fonz” Winkler Brought Life Lessons to The Destiny Awards Luncheon

Happy Days’ Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli was a very cool Italian kid, whose parents abandoned him, in Milwaukee. He was a high school dropout, never married, and a bit of a ladies’ man.

Henry Winkler (pictured), who portrayed “Fonzie,” is the son of Jewish immigrants who left Nazi Germany in 1939 just before the Holocaust.  He earned a master’s degree from the Yale School of Drama and has been happily married since 1978.

So, what does the fictional character of the 50′s and the man who portrayed him have in common? Both have the ability and sincerity to influence others for their own betterment through life lessons. And that’s exactly what Henry did last Thursday when he came to town for the 10th annual Destiny Luncheon benefiting the St. Philip’s School & Community Center.

Known within the entertainment industry for being down to earth and having a genuine interest in others, Henry with Fredye Factor as his escort started of the day with a rise-and-shine appearance at St. Philip’s. (No problem for Henry since his Labradoodle and Great Dane usually are climbing all over him first thing in the morning back home in California) With parents lining the walls of the gym and uniformed munchkins (pictured) filling every seat in the bleachers, Henry had his work cut out for him. Within minutes of watching the interaction between St. Philip’s headmaster Terry Flowers and the youngsters, Henry looked right at home. You couldn’t help but wonder if Henry sorta wished he’d had a St. Philip’s in his life growing up.

One of the things that you learn from a St. Philip’s experience is the magic of Terry.

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Brinker’s Doug Brooks Isn’t Asking Much This Saturday. . . Just an Arm or a Leg

Let’s play “The Five Minute Game.” What, you don’t have five minutes right now? That’s okay. You can play it whenever and wherever you want. It requires only you.

Now, here are the rules. (more…)

Executives in Action Are Celebrating Their First Anny Today

Executives in Action are celebrating their first anniversary today with a “virtual event.” Translation: You don’t have to dress up and get in your car. You just have to get on the Internet.

According to EIA Executive Director Jeremy Gregg,”We are asking all of our supporters, members, and more to Tweet, blog, update Facebook/LinkedIn and email their supporters about our anniversary.”

As an anniversary gift, they just received a $500,000 challenge grant from their board to expand their efforts in 2010. As you probably know, this group engages transitioning, senior executives in short-term, high-yield consulting projects with local nonprofit organizations. In its first year, EIA has placed nearly 130 such executives on high-impact projects throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth nonprofit community  – and is on pace to hit 300 later this year.

The organization’s executives have been placed at nearly 50 nonprofits over the past year including the American Red Cross, Central Dallas Ministries, and the Samaritan House of Fort Worth.

EIA is the brainchild of Ashlee and Chris Kleinert along with Jeremy, Pam Gerber, Cynthia Nunn, and Brent Christopher.

Happy anniversary to EIA and congratulations to the nonprofits that benefit from its efforts.

LeBron and JAY-Z Support Dallas’ Boys & Girls Club With Sprite and Coke

Photo provided by Aardvark Communications

While many of the celebs in town for the All-Star game were supporting Dallas’ economy by exercising their credit cards at NorthPark, two of the beyond-well-known-names of the super universe were working with kids. LeBron James and Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter (pictured from the left) worked with 100 kids from the East Dallas Club of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas Saturday afternoon.

Yes, there were the mandatory media opps, but when it came to the mentoring part of the program, LeBron and JAY-Z met privately with the students. (more…)

Let’s Breakfast With Bill Lively And June Jones For Communities In Schools

Did you know that football season never really ends? That’s right especially in Dallas. If you have any question about that, reserve a seat for the 7 a.m. Communities in Schools Dallas Region breakfast Wednesday at Prestonwood Country Club. No, they won’t be tossing a pigskin around. Better! North Texas Super Bowl XLV President/ CEO Bill Lively (pictured) and SMU Head Football Coach June Jones will be the featured speakers.

Trust us. Having Bill and June talk to you first thing in the morning is better than three shots of espresso in your latte with a Red Bull chaser.

But they’re not going to be pitching folks for sponsorships or tickets. Rather they’re going to share “stories about achieving their dreams.” You see, the breakfast is just the first of three “Dream Achiever Breakfasts” held in connection with the year-long CISDR’s 25th anniversary celebration.

According to Jeff Morris, President/CEO of ALON USA and CISDR Endowment President, “The CISDR model is proven to be successful and makes the future much brighter for thousands of young people. ALON USA has committed to supporting CISDR’s yearlong 25^th birthday celebration and we look forward to seeing what the organization will accomplish in the future.”

Despite Stormy Weather, Wyly World Opens Its Door For “Hearts of Texas” VIP’s

Thursday night’s sweeping downpours of rain and just plain cold temperatures were reason enough to stay at home. However, 75 of Dallas’s finest ventured out for the patrons’ dinner honoring “Hearts of Texas” recipient Dr. Bobby Lyle (pictured with Lottye Brodsky) at the Dee and Charles Wyly home. Hosted by Charles, Jack Furst, Lynn McBee, and Gerald Turner, the evening was a warm-up for the fourth annual Hearts of Texas Awards lunch (February 16) benefiting the Volunteer Center of North Texas.

SIDE NOTE: Dee and Charles (pictured) may be the perfect hosts. Their home is a divine party venue blending elegance and comfort while still managing to be a home. (The mini-glass palace atrium just off the entry is the centerpiece of the partying that can handle any type of weather. Dee admits that their original tent years ago caused them to take a long stick to prevent sagging during downpours.) Their menus are masterpieces that have guests lining up for seconds and thirds. The serving staff seamlessly provides for every need. The pianist’s selection is perfectly suited for this occasion and never upstages the conversations taking place during the reception and dinner.

But what truly is the piece de resistance of the Wylys’ entertaining talents is their own graciousness. As you enter the door, there is Charles immediately greeting you with a smile and handshake. He can recall little moments of past meetings that would challenge the greatest memory banks. There is a true sense of fellowship in his eyes.

Then there is Dee to greet you like an old, dear friend. No guest is secondary in her book. With twinkling eyes, an adorable Dutch-boy haircut, and a homecoming queen smile, she has never met a stranger.

But back to the party.

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Staubach, Aikman Lead The Cowboys Once Again For “Beyond The Rainbow” Luncheon

Photo provided by Reyond the Rainbow

Before there was a Jerry Jones associated with the Dallas Cowboys, the Children’s Cancer Fund (their new website just went up!) was part of America’s Team. Since 1982, this group has teamed up with past and present Cowboys to present the “Beyond the Rainbow Luncheon and Fashion Show,” an annual fashion show with terrific clothes and even more terrific models — Dallas Cowboys, celebrities, and children who are cancer veterans.

The lineup for the April 23 event at the Hilton Anatole has been announced and it smacks of Super Bowl with Super Bowl heroes Roger “The Dodger” Staubach and Troy Aikman (pictured with Christian Houston, center) serving as honorary co-chairs. Marisa Huckin and Adelina Kainer will be doing the heavy lifting as event chairs, and FOX Channel 4′s Clarice Tinsley and Steve Eagar will provided the play-by-play as MC’s. They’re expecting 1,000+ attendees.

So far the event partners include

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Dyson Communicates The Need For Communication At MLK Jr. Events

If you weren’t part of the 650 attending Dr. Michael E. Dyson‘s talk at the Winspear for The Dallas Institute‘s Fifth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium, you missed a truly memorable event. Simply amazing to say the very least. He encouraged communications between the generations pointing out that the younger generation is more likely to know the words from Lil  Wayne than those of Dr. King.

Photo provided by The Dallas Institute

But the good Dr. Dyson didn’t limit his availability to the grown up set like Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price and Dr. Larry Allums (pictured right with, from the left, Marcia Louise Dyson, Commissioner Price, and Dr. Dyson).

Earlier in the day Dr. Dyson talked with 40 high schoolers at a Teen Symposium at The Dallas Institute. Once again communication was focus of his talk. He emphasized the need “to engage in conversation that will continue to affect their futures.”

Thank you, Dr. Dyson, for reminding all of us of the power of the word and the importance of ongoing conversation.