Schoolyard Fun at Recess! Benefiting Dallas Afterschool

Friday, April 29, 2016

Sixty Five Hundred

7:00 - 11:00 PM

 

ATTIRE: Casual Chic

HONORARY CHAIR: Serena Simmons Connelly

 

Join us for a casual evening of schoolyard fun! With gourmet ‘cafeteria’ food, music, games and more, you can be a kid again at RECESS. You won't want to miss the famous Sandbox for your chance to discover some amazing luxury prizes or the auction stocked with one-of-a-kind field trips and toys. Bring your friends and enjoy this adults-only party!

 

All proceeds from RECESS! directly support Dallas Afterschool's mission to improve the quality of afterschool and summer programs in our community. Working with 416 staff members at 120 sites throughout Dallas, they inform, train, support and evaluate programs collectively serving 9,000 disadvantaged K-12 grade students.

 

Dallas International Art, Antique and Jewelry Show Returns to Market Center

The Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, the largest and most prestigious fine art show in the Southwest, will once again feature an exciting roster of more than 80 international exhibitors when it makes its return to Dallas. The highly anticipated show returns to Dallas for the 5^th year and has become the art and antique event of the season, attracting notable guests, respected dealers, and some of the most prestigious fine art, antique and jewelry collectors in the world.

 

Adding to its cultural appeal, the DIAAJS is partnering with several local charitable groups. This year's show will benefit with Texas Cultural Trust, Dallas AfterSchool, The Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum.

 

The Dallas Market Center, host of the 2014 Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, is celebrated as the world's most complete marketplace, where buyers come from around the world to shop the collections of retailers.

 

The DIAAJS will take place on November 6-10, 2014 at the Dallas Market Hall. For additional information, please visit www.dallasfallshow.com. General admission to the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show is $20 for a four-day pass.

 

2nd Annual Dallas Afterschool Fundraiser Earns an A+

On May 5, Faye Briggs' beautiful backyard became a playground for a grown up version of everyone's favorite school activity, RECESS! The 2^nd annual RECESS! benefiting Dallas Afterschool was a huge success, as guests took advantage of the immaculate weather to join Briggs and event co-chairs Meredith Camp and Christina Norris for an evening of fun and games. 

Leigh Anne Haugh, Kate Rose Marquez, Julie Bagley

Guests were welcomed to the converted backyard for a recess-themed evening, complete with a Cafeteria, Art Class, Gym, Monkey and Hopscotch Bars with drinks provided by Moet Hennessy USA, and of course, a Sandbox. But this wasn't just any sandbox. Guests dug through the Sandbox, sponsored by Neiman Marcus Sandbox, in search of coins redeemable for prizes such as a $1,000 Neiman's gift card and Waterford crystal. The Sandbox was designed and constructed by students from Color Me Empowered, one of Dallas AfterSchool's partner programs along with Big Thought, Bridge Lacrosse, Circle of Support, Communities in Schools, Dallas Can Academies, Dallas ISD's After School Achievers, City of Dallas Park & Recreation, Family Place, Foundation Communities, Girls on the Run, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, Heart House, Heart of a Warrior, Interfaith Housing Coalition, Jubilee Park, Junior Players, Project Transformation, Rainbow Days, Reader 2 Leaders, R.O.C.K., Voice of Hope, Wesley-Rankin Community Center, Wilkinson Center and YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas.

The Sandbox presented by Neiman Marcus

After playing basketball games, hula hooping, and bean bad tosses, guests could recharge with cuisine from the incomparable Chef Christopher Short of Kent Rathbun Catering, wowing the guests with an assortment of southern comfort foods such as fried chicken strips, Yukon potatoes, corn dogs, beef sliders and a macaroni and cheese station.

Aaron and Jennifer Tobin, Christina and Alan White and Kevin Cotten

Finally, RECESS! could not be complete without a field trip. A 7-day trip to Fiji's spectacular Turtle Island Resort was the featured item of the evening's silent auction. The evening raised a total of $225,000 to fund Dallas Afterschool's important mission and partners.

Christina Norris, Taya McDonald, Faye Briggs and Meredith Camp

Amy Turner and Nancy Gopez

Photo Credits: Kristina Bowman

 

Dallas Afterschool ensures that afterschool and summer is a time for safe, educationally enriching experiences for our community's disadvantaged youth. Dallas Afterschool provides staff training, coaching, student curriculum, field trips, teaching tools and other resources to 120 free or low-cost afterschool and summer programs. With students spending 80% of waking hours outside of the classroom, it's imperative that out-of-school time inspires students to learn, connects them to their community, and expands their horizons.

Report Cards in for RECESS! Sponsor Party

The Dallas Afterschool Sponsor Party on March 25th at the home of Amy Turner was a great success - the weather cooperated, the atmosphere was festive, and everyone is now ready for RECESS! - it was an A++ evening!

 

Amy Turner, Auction Chair opened her gorgeous home and Co-Chairs, Christina Norris and Meredith Camp greeted guests at the door. Sponsors arrived to sneak a peek of Park Place Dealership's newest Volvo, sample the fantastic food from Kent Rathbun, and savor wines and spirits from Moet Hennessy in anticipation of more in store in the Cafeteria and at the Monkey Bar on April 25th at our RECESS! Party at the home of Faye Briggs. To top off the perfect evening, guests were treated to a sweet surprise as they left the event - Gold Crown Valet made sure each guest had a beautiful box of Toasted Almond Sea Salt Chocolates from Dr. Sue's Chocolates waiting in their car.

RECESS Co-Chair Christina Norris, Auction Chair Amy Turner, Executive Director of Dallas Afterschool Tanya MacDonad, RECESS Co-Chair Meredith Camp

Co-chairs Christina Norris and Meredith Camp proudly announced that the upcoming fundraiser RECESS! is officially sold. "We couldn't be more excited for this fun event benefiting the wonderful work of Dallas Afterschool in only its second year is a sellout with a waiting list!" RECESS will be held at the home of Faye Briggs with Sarah Losinger serving as the honorary chair.

 

RECESS! will be filled with games and prizes, including this year's Sandbox sponsored by Neiman Marcus, which will include a $1,000 Neiman's gift card and beautiful David Yurman bracelet. Highlighting the event will be an action packed live Auction featuring a spectacular 7-day all expenses paid vacation to Fiji's spectacular Turtle Island Lodge.

Dallas Afterschool Board Chair, Terry Conner and Anne Conner

Also in the Live Auction is an Iron Chef Competition and Dinner for 12 guests provided by Kent Rathbun and Elite Appliance. The winner and 11 guests will have the opportunity to consult with two of Kent Rathbun's chefs and compete with each other in two teams of 6 by creating the first course for the evening. Kent will personally judge the competition and choose the winner. Following the competition, he and his chefs will create a memorable meal in the beautiful Viking test kitchen at Elite Appliance showroom located near the Galleria.