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.

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.

Happy Days’

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.

With a combination of Benjamin Franklin wisdom, Morgan Freeman cool and Dr. Huxtable charm, he shows respect for the students and expects it in return. With statements like, “If we were both alike, one of us would not be necessary,” he gets his message across that the students are there for more than adding and subtracting. Self-esteem and preparation for adulthood are just as important. St. Philip’s students have an air of confidence, not cockiness about them, that is rooted in their pride of achievement thanks to Terry, his staff, and the parents who are so involved with the school.

Then Henry spoke to the hundreds of students. While the parents may have remembered him from his leather-jack days as Fonzie, the kids recognized him from his series of children’s novels about Hank Zipzer: The World’s Most Amazing Under-Achiever and more recent television shows and movies.  It didn’t matter which character they recalled because Thursday they got to know Henry. Masterfully talking to the entire gym full of students and adults, he made them feel like an old friend admitting that life had not been a snap of the fingers for him.

• His parents had called him “dumb dog” because he didn’t seem all that bright in school.
• The only thing that he was good at in school was lunch.
• Test scores placed him the bottom percentile as a youngster.
• His father, who owned a lumber company, had been disappointed in his son for not taking over the family business which he had brought over from Germany. “You mean it didn’t have anything to do with the Nazis?” Henry asked his father.
• He discovered that he was dyslexic at the age of 31.

When he discovered he suffered from dyslexia, he admitted that at first he was very angry. It all made sense. Because of the condition he had been made to feel dumb and lack self confidence throughout his childhood and early adulthood. Then he realized that if it hadn’t been for the dyslexia, his life might have been entirely different.  He might have not gone into acting, gotten the role, met his wife, had his kids, etc.

But he also knew that no child needed to carry the burden of poor self-esteem. To carry on a campaign to counter this situation, he started his Hank the Zipzer series, became a major supporter of various children’s charities (United Friends of the Children, Children’s Action Network, Cerebral Palsy Telethon, Toys for Tots, the Special Olympics, and the Los Angeles Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival for Children), and motivated youngsters and adults to communicate.

That last one is very important to Henry. As he told the graduating class of Austin College in 2002, “Thank you for listening to me. . . my parents never did.”

After he got a standing ovation from the students, it was picture time and he settled right in with the multitude of kids surrounding him (pictured).

Then it was on to Belo Mansion for The Destiny Award Luncheon, where once again he was on time, extremely at home with one and all, and championing the cause for children.

But the luncheon wasn’t just to see Fonzie/Henry, though. It was also to present awards to outstanding members of the community who have time and time again been role models and gone the extra mile for the community. This year’s Destiny Awards were presented to:

• Jewish Family Services – Organization
• Annette Simmons - Leadership
  
• AT&T – Corporation
• Linda Walker - Unsung Hero
  

In the crowd was Shannon Skokos (pictured), who had a pencil and tablet for conversing. Seems that between spring allergies and hollering for the Mavericks, she had lost her voice. . .  Barbara and Stan Levenson arrived looking ever fashionable and wonderful. Barbara looked especially relieved reporting that Stan’s recovery from cancer had been highly successful. Stan, with a twinkle in those bluer-than-blue eyes, smiled that Barbara had been doing all the heavy lifting at their agency during his recovery. . Ever gracious and articulate Pat Smith (pictured) handled emcee duties with ease despite wearing the highest of platform heels. To the delight of the crowd, she confided that she and husband Emmitt were expecting a baby in October. . . Laura “First Lady of Dallas” Leppert (pictured) admitted that she and husband Tom had to miss the Faith Hill concert in Fort Worth due to a prior commitment. That’s one problem Mayor T just can’t solve. How to be in two places at the same time. . . Liz Minyard-Lokey (pictured) kept getting pats on the back for chairing the flawless event. . . Alas, Annette Simmons was out of town and had to send a sub to accept her award.

And let’s not forget the sponsors, who made the event happen like:

Title Sponsor – Citi

Magna cum laude – Balfour Beatty

Dean’s list sponsors – AT&T, Liz and Tom Halsey, Liz Minyard-Lokey, and Southwest Securities

Honor roll sponsors – Bridge Lacrosse Dallas, Dr. and Mrs. Bob Kramer, Mayor and Mrs. Tom Leppert, and Mona and David Munson

A true scholar sponsors – Bank of America, Steve Becker, Center Operating Group, Claude Connelly, David Cowling/Amy Youngquist, DART, Mike Davis, Episcopal School of Dallas, Susan and Hollye Fiske, Jewish Family Services, The Hockaday School, Diana and Todd Maclin, Martineau Petroleum, Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger, Northern Trust Bank, Parish Episcopal School, Raymond Construction, Andrew Sinwell, Bonnie and Peter Smith, St. Mark’s School of Texas, St. Philip’s Foundation, Strong AV, and Weber Shandwick

Table sponsors — Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Anne and Wes Goyer, Suki Jarzemsky, Schatzie and George Lee, Seabridge, Dan Stansbury Jr., T. Howard and Associate, Texas Instruments, and Weber Shandwick

Friends — The Adolphus, Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House, Chocolate Secrets, Kelly and Norman Green, and Neiman Marcus

Now, here are the rules.

You may pick the limb of your choice. No, not a tree limb. An arm or a leg. Once you’ve decided which limb it is, go five minutes without use of that limb. Some of you are saying, “Hey, that’s a snap. What kind of game is this?” Others are grumbling, “This doesn’t sound like fun.” Excuses, excuses, excuses. Go ahead and try functioning without that limb for just five minutes. If you pick a leg, you’re going to have a great time just trying to get up from your computer. If you picked an arm, you’re swearing at your keyboard by now. If you really want a challenge, try taking a shower or putting on clothes.

Photo provided by Brinker International

Once your five-minute “game” is up, think about Brinker International’s Chairman of the Board/President/CEO Doug Brooks (pictured). Back on July 22, 1998, while training in Plano for the New York Marathon, he was struck by a car and had to have his left leg amputated above the knee. Yes, he had excellent medical care and through technology he has a extremely high-tech prosthetic leg. But even with all of this, it’s not the same ease, agility and convenience of having the original leg.

Instead of grousing about his loss, he took on another type of marathon — the Limbs for Life Foundation.

For the past nine years, he and his wife Holly along with their limbed and limbless pals like Toni and the late Norman Brinker, Peter Cancro, Pat and Pete Schenkel, and Craig Gavras have nurtured LFL to provide fully-functional prosthetic care for individuals who cannot otherwise afford it and raise awareness of the challenges facing amputees.

Approximately 380 children and adults in the area have benefited from LFL. Why, did you know that the nationwide average for a below-knee prosthesis is $7,000 and an above-the-knee prosthesis is $16,500? Thanks to the foundation, LFL can purchase a below-the-knee prosthesis for $1,500 and an above-the-knee prosthesis for $2,000.

Photo provided by Brinker International

This Saturday LFL will hold “The Roaring 20′s” at the Dallas Trade Center including live and silent auctions, a four-course meal, cocktails, and a casino reminiscent of the real Roaring 20′s underground. Guests are encouraged to “shake a leg.” Hey, just because you lose a limb, doesn’t mean you lose your sense of humor. As Doug (pictured right with Craig Gavras and Holly) told ChainLeader, “We’re not asking for much, just an arm and a leg.”

Past honorary event chairs and other notable attendees have included Honorary Underwriting Chairs Toni and Norm, Marianne and Roger Staubach, Matrice and former Dallas Mayor/present U.S. Trade Rep Ron Kirk, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children President JC Montgomery Jr., and Iron Chef America contestant/Abacus and Jasper’s headman Kent Rathbun.

Benefit partners include Andrews Distributing Company of North Texas, Anheuser-Busch, Ben E. Keith Beers, Coca-Cola North America Food Service, ColorMark, Devin Lindsey Photography, Glass Lake Production Group, Glazer’s Distributors, Jo Tiller Interiors, Ten Eighty Media and nFusion.

Tickets are still available by calling Julie Smith at 972.770.9504.

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.

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.

“We are so thrilled that Sprite is giving students from the Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola program and BGC the opportunity to meet and interact with two of America’s most talented and celebrated individuals, JAY-Z and LeBron James,” said Charles English, president  of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas. “It is great to see that they care about the community and want to provide this special session to young people.”

The Dallas Elevators Powered by Coca-Cola is designed to provide real-life inspiration and role modeling in several key areas of personal development through structured learning and interaction with top leadership from different industries. Through the Heart of a Champion curriculum, students learn about integrity, honesty, perseverance, and other character-building traits that make a successful individual in the business world.

Photo provided by Aardvark Communications

Thanks to Sprite, they were also able to provide scholarships to Dallas Elevators participants like Adriana Cedillo (pictured with LeBron and JAY-Z) on behalf of the two super nice guys.

“Giving back to the community is part of everything that we do,” said Santiago Blanco, VP Sprite & Flavors for Coca-Cola North America. “It is fitting for Sprite to partner with creative and iconic individuals like JAY-Z and LeBron James, who inspire today’s youth to be original and innovative.”

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.”

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.

Black-tied guest wrangler Frank Keenan smoothly herded guests from the reception to the buffet stations at just the appropriate time. There was no clanging of bells or whispers in ears. Just Frank calmly suggesting that guests might like to visit one of the buffets set up in the dining and sitting rooms. In the meantime, Wyly chef Darren “The Royal Chef” McGrady (pictured) was in the spotless kitchen smiling and surrounded by staff. He was having so much fun, it was a pity that he couldn’t have joined the guests. When told that there were a couple of guests who wanted to kidnap him, he smiled with a twinkle in his eye. Why does one suspect he’s heard those rumors before?

But what a feast he had prepared. Allan McBee‘s plate looked like it was a geological layering of beef, vegetables, and breads; Bobby Leach (pictured), when asked how he would like his meat by the server, said, “Rare as rare can be” and he got his wish; and, alas, Carol Seay‘s plate was only lightly filled, but she had a very good excuse — “we have another stop.”

While the torrential rain continued, the guests adjourned to tables in the atrium hardly noticing the rumblings of thunder and water cascading down the sides of the building. At one table were Ruth and Ken Altshuler with Lyda Hunt Hill, Mary McDermott Cooke, Cindy and Chuck Gummer, and Linda Gibbons. At the only reserved table were the Wylys with honoree Bobby, Lottye, co-hosts Jack, Lynn (with husband Allan), and Gerald (with wife Gail).

After dinner was finished, the music stopped and Charles was handed a microphone.

Charles officially welcomed the group to the Wyly home and then turned his attention to the honoree. “I’ve known Bobby Lyle for decades, mostly with the Salvation Army. We both come from Louisiana, and we’re both graduates of Louisiana Tech University. He’s an unsung hero, so honoring him is appropriate and wise.”

He then handed the mic to luncheon chair Lynn, who told the group that when first approached about chairing this year’s Hearts of Texas luncheon, she said no way. Then she learned it was honoring Bobby and she was hooked. “Bobby quietly goes about and does the most amazing things.”

It was then time for Jack (pictured) to give Bobby some gentle ribbing: “I’ve known Bobby since the mid-’80s. He’s a man of wisdom and persistence, and does a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Bobby didn’t go the Nancy Reagan School. He does not know how to say ‘no.’ He’s got me involved with Boy Scouts of America.” (Jack is the team leader of Project Arrow and a member of the BSA’s National Executive Board and an officer of the National Council. And you did know that that Boy Scouts of America, based in Irving, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, didn’t you? It was incorporated on February 8, 1910.)

Jack handed the mic to Gerald, who really should have his own late-night show. The man knows how to entertain. “If everybody who came from Louisiana were like Bobby Lyle and the Wylys, we’d take ‘em all!”

Telling the group that Bobby had recently drafted him on to a committee, Gerald (pictured) admitted, “I’ll stay on this committee as long as people vote for me–and as long as Ruth (Altshuler) tells me to!”

He went on to remind the group of Bobby’s involvement with the Bobby Lyle School of Engineering at SMU, the Cary Maguire Center, and numerous other SMU success stories. “The person who goes in and makes your organization better is Bobby. He’ll turn it inside out, look at it strategically … It was a good day for Dallas when Bobby Lyle decided to move to Dallas.”

Finally it was time for the man of the evening to speak. In typical Bobby fashion, he proved once again why so many follow his lead, “I have no illusion about who I am. I appreciate the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to you. I remember when Lyda Hill (pictured) was honored … She said, ‘My goodness, I didn’t know it was the end! I thought I was revisiting my own funeral!’ But, it is a milestone, a crescendo event. But tomorrow we get up and go back to work to make this a better city.”

With that last comment, the table of Volunteer Center staffers all nodded in agreement.

Following Bobby’s words the mic was returned to Charles, who invited all to have coffee and desserts, which filled a large round table. At the top of the tray with petit fours (complete with the Volunteer Centers symbol) was a gold frame with honoree Bobby’s picture (pictured). How touching. How surprising when you discovered the frame was made of chocolate and the picture was a cookie.  One guest was heard to say, “I normally don’t do desserts, but I’m definitely not going to miss these.”

As guests departed in their cars from Wyly World to the real world, they took home the memory of a excellent night for Bobby and were looking forward to the luncheon that once again will honor him.

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

The McCullough Foundation (in honor of Kaitlyn Wade), Barnabas Faith Foundation, Everitt Productions, Allcraft Printing/Shirley Williams, Capital One, BBVA Compass Bank, BMC Software, The Shwiff Family, Jennifer Stroud Foundation, Troy Aikman, T.C. Lupton Jr. Family Foundation, The Cain Foundation, RSC Show Productions, Fentress-Brown Foundation, CBS Outdoors, The Beck Group, Jack and Jill of America, and ProComputing.

Dillard’s will be the fashion presenter.

Created by a coalition of parents of children receiving cancer treatments at Children’s Medical Center, the organization has provided $7M in funding for pediatric cancer research, treatment, education, and patient care programs at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at CMC and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

It may be a ways off til April, but this one is a sellout every year.

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.