Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus 2015 Spring Luncheon Recently Held at Belo Mansion {Society Pics}

Luncheon chair Liz Pasquinelli, with honorary chair Diane Sealy, welcomed attendees to the Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus 2015 Spring Luncheon benefiting Nexus Recovery Center on April 23rd at the Belo Mansion.

Jason Gillette, Lauren Gillette, Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus president



The luncheon began with a VIP reception and meet-and-greet with featured speaker and New York Times best selling author Koren Zailckas. As guests then entered the ballroom for lunch, mistress of ceremonies and Fox4-TV’s weekend anchor, Jenny Anchondo, welcomed patrons before introducing Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus president Lauren Gillette.  Ms. Gillette extended her gratitude to everyone for their support of the luncheon before sharing the role of the Women’s Auxiliary in raising funds, awareness and volunteer support for the important programs for women provided by Nexus Recovery Center.

Liz Pasquinelli, luncheon chair, author Koren Zailckas, Diane Sealy, honorary chair

 Attendees enjoyed a seated lunch of chicken breast with Herbs de Provence over field greens with artichoke, orange, shaved fennel and goat cheese with lemon-herb vinaigrette.  As dessert of parfaits was served, former Nexus client, Katie, moved the audience with her own personal story of recovery at Nexus Recovery Center, her life now that she has been sober for five years, as well as her plans for her bright future with her daughter.

Joanna Iliff, Ashley Reid

Koren Zailckas, candidly shared her experiences as written in her highly regarded book, Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood, a riveting account of her personal story of alcohol abuse as a teenager and college student. As the luncheon came to a close, chair Liz Pasquinelli was joined on stage by Ms. Gillette as they announced Lindsay Billingsley as the lucky winner of diamond and amethyst flower earrings donated by Robin Bagwell.

 

Proceeds from the luncheon will support Nexus Recovery Center’s programs and ongoing mission to serve as a link to sobriety, independence, and dignity for low-income women and their families affected by addiction.

Nexus Recovery Center - Women's Auxiliary Spring Luncheon

Nexus Recovery Center announced Koren Zailckas, New York Times best selling author of Smashed:  Story of a Drunken Girlhood and Mother, Mother, as the featured speaker for the Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus Spring Luncheon on Thursday, April 23, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Belo Mansion located at 2101 Ross Avenue in Dallas. 

 

The luncheon benefiting Nexus Recovery Center will be chaired by Liz Pasquinelli with honorary chairperson Diane Sealy, who is long-standing Nexus supporter and past president of the Nexus Women’s Auxiliary.  Luncheon highlights include a VIP reception and seated lunch followed by remarks from Ms. Zailckas as she shares her personal experiences as written in her book with an emphasis on youth and addiction. 

 

“We are so honored to have Koren Zailckas as our guest speaker for the Nexus Women’s Auxiliary luncheon.  I had the pleasure of hearing Koren speak five or six years ago at a parent event at my children’s school.  As a mother of three teenage daughters her story certainly resonates with me and I know that all in attendance will benefit from hearing her experiences as a young woman battling alcoholism,” remarked Liz Pasquinelli, luncheon chair.  “My hope for this year’s luncheon is that we continue the dialogue about addiction and alcoholism and its prevalence in our society.”

 

Koren Zailckas is the author of the New York Times Bestseller Smashed:  Story of a Drunken Girlhood, a riveting account of her experiences with alcohol abuse as a teenager and college student, at its follow-up, Fury.  Barnes and Noble selected Smashed for its 2005 Discover Great New Writers program and Entertainment Weekly named it “one of the best accounts of addiction, let alone the college experience, or even what it means to be an average teenage girl in America.”  Zailckas’ latest book, Mother, Mother:  A Novel is her debut work of fiction about a family torn apart by a deeply flawed mother.

 

Individual seats for the luncheon are $150 each and can be purchased at www.nexusrecovery.org or contact Abi Erickson at aerickson@nexusrecovery.org