Young Friends of Wilkinson Center Holiday Party and Toy Drive

Young Friends of Wilkinson Center announce this year’s Holiday Cocktail Party + Toy Drive event will be held on Friday, November 17th at Candleroom in Dallas, from 9:00pm-2:00am.

Admission to the event is $30 plus the donation of an unwrapped toy. Gender-neutral gifts are highly appreciated as they will allow the Wilkinson Center to accommodate more children this year.

The toys will be distributed in December to families in need currently enrolled in Wilkinson Center programs.  Young Friends of Wilkinson Center are a group of dynamic young professionals committed to empowering those in need to become self-sufficient and improve their lives.

Save the Date: Chi Omega Christmas Market 2017

www.chiomegaxmas.org

The Young Friends of the Wilkinson Center hosted its fifth annual White Party Benefit

The Young Friends of the Wilkinson Center hosted its fifth annual White Party Benefit at Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar on Saturday, June 10^th. 

Josh Prunty, Jordan Heetland, Adam Lee, Jason Bunch, Eric Mazariegos, Corey Williams

This is the biggest fundraiser for the Young Friends of Wilkinson Center and it netted $104,590 and there were 1000 people in attendance.

Jenn Dolim, Baylea Wood

Guests were able to purchase tickets for $100 each and tables and sponsorships were also available.  This event sold out of tables a week in advance!

Erin Cover, Paul Newlands, Ashley Holland

 Park Place Dealerships was the presenting sponsor for the event and featured several white versions of their cars throughout the venue such as the new Maserati SUV, Jaguar F Pace, Mercedes C-class, Volvo SUV and Maclaren.

Bobby Jones, Jennifer Kesterson, Aissa Foyt

Gro Designs and Code Blue Sound & Entertainment transformed the venue making guests feel like had been transported to a chic party in Miami or St. Tropez.

Caroline Harrison, Vodi Cook

DJ Souljah provided a range of beats throughout the evening keeping guest entertained along with cryo machines and confetti cannons that went off throughout the night. 

Samba Dancers

Guests also danced alongside the samba dancers and drummers that danced throughout the party.

Stefani Watters, Jason Ross, Nann Gfund

When patrons needed to take a break from all the excitement they could check out the 29 exciting silent auction items which included packages like:

·         Weekend use of a Volvo from Park Place with tickets to AT&T Performing Art Center and a one night stay at the Omni Hotel

·         Custom Knot Standard Suit

·         Happy Hour for 20 at AC Hotel Dallas Downtown

·         Private event at Candleroom 

Laura Reeder, Emma Boulle, Maddie Reingold, Kristina Tsavoussis, Beatrice Kalish, Anne Reeder



 Other sponsors included Paradigm Gym, Title Boxing, Door Homes, AMLI Design District, Never Too Hungover, Yoozy, Direct Healthcare, IV Bars, Hot Buns, Fuja Marketing, Herbalife Nutrition, New Amsterdam Vodka, Glaciers, Harwood International and Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar.

Khristi Sherrod, Brach Schwegman

 Complimentary taco stations were provided by Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar

Kevan Chughtai, Malcolm Gage, Kennedy Gibson (Park Place Dealerships)

 Presenting Sponsor: Park Place Dealerships- Park Place has donated $10,000 this year as presenting sponsor! They featured several sleek models at the event. Park Place Dealerships will also donate $50 to Wilkinson Center for anyone that purchases or leases a car from one of their dealerships between the months of June 2017- September 2017. 

 

Event Photographer: Lisa Means

Wilkinson Center Young Friend White Party Kick-Off event {with Society Pics}

On May 4th, The Young Friends of the Wilkinson Center hosted the kick-off event for their upcoming White Party.  About 700 people came out to Happiest Hour to show their support and celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

 

Guests were able to purchase Young Friend memberships, White Party tickets, White Party Sponsorships and tables,  and take part in a raffle to win a VIP table at the White Party.  In addition, guests that purchased any of these items received free margaritas and tacos during the happy hour.  DJ Souljah provided a range of beats throughout the evening keeping guest entertained.

 

Entertainment was provided by DJ Souljah.  Happiest Hour graciously donated tacos and margaritas.  Event photographer was Lisa Means.

 

The Young Friends of the Wilkinson Center will host its fifth annual White Party Benefit at 6500 Cedar Springs on Saturday, June 4^th.  This is the biggest fundraiser for the Young Friends of Wilkinson Center and it brought in over $100,000 last year with more than 1000 people in attendance.

 

Presenting sponsor is Park Place Dealerships.  They featured a Porsche 911 at the kick-off party and gave away goodie bags from its trunk to the first 25 guests!

Timothy Doty, Suraj Jagannathan, Timothy Goodwin

Kara Flores, Alex Amsden

Brittani Carter-Durant, Jesse Bermensolo-Cutler

Caitlin Riston, Lauren Champlin, Rachel Mentesana

Young Friend Committee

Back: Alex Flores, OJ DeSouza, Brandon Nugent, Kristen Johnson, Laura Reeder, Hunter Heres, Kay Weir, Barton Duffy,  Megan Blessing, Meredith Diers

Front: Brittani Carter Durant, Laura Ailshire, Vodi Cook, Baylea Wood, Ariba Kamal, Chrystie Trimmell, Krystal Houle

Crystal Reed, Eva Sherenian, Krystal Houle

Jesse Bermnesolo-Cutler, OJ DeSouza, Brandon Nugent

 

Baylea Wood, Laura Ailshire

Dan Wassem, Carly Shanklin, Kevan Chughtai

Wilkinson Center Can Do Luncheon Sponsor Party {Society Pics}

The Can Do Luncheon Sponsor Party was held this week at the home of Rich and Tucker Enthoven.

Anne Conner, Nancy Bierman, Laura Ailshire, Maria Powers
Event Photographer: Lisa Means

Can Do Luncheon Chair Sara Albert welcomed luncheon sponsors and guests to celebrate their philanthropy and the CAN DO Spirit!

Kay Weir, Chela Moros, Nicole Flores, Bobby White

The Corey Paul Band provided live entertainment, and food was donated by Café Madrid.

Chela Moros, Laura Ailshire, Baylea Wood

The fourth annual luncheon will take place at Dallas Country Club on Tuesday, May 10th.

 

The 2016 recipients of the Can Do! Awards will be: North Texas Food Bank and Chair of the Mayor's Task Force on Poverty, Regina Montoya, as well as two Wilkinson Center clients, Marilu Rodriguez and Christina Parks.

Corey Paul Band

 

Young Friends Silent Disco Rocks Candleroom {Society Pics}

Young Friends of Wilkinson Center recently hosted their second annual Silent Disco event at Candleroom.

Grafton Ifill III, Amber James





Ali Derakhshan, Curtis Jones, Tyler Leung, Penny Shumway

6 different DJ’s played in two sets of three.  Three DJ's kicked off the event -- Bryan Turner, Eric Bodiwala and Shawn Prestridge.  Later in the night Luis Sanchez, DJ Feezy and Brady Urrunaga spun tunes for the crowd.

Jenn Dolim, OJ DeSouza, Baylea Wood

 Each patron was given a set of headphones with three different frequencies and depending what frequency you picked the headphones would light up different colors. Each color corresponded to a DJ that was djing at that particular time.  

Lauren Mason, Kristen Johnson, Michael Graska

The reason it is called a Silent Disco is because there is no music playing in the background when you take your headphones off. 

Silent Disco Event at Candleroom

Eduardo Marquez, Andrea Wullschleger

Attendees could purchase “Neon Gift bags” for $10 which included two pairs of light up glow glasses, 2 glow necklaces, 2 glow bracelets and 1 glow cup to follow our theme “Neon Silent Disco.”

Ryan Hoopes, Vodi Cook

Sponsors included Yoozy, Dallas Executive Club, The Ailshire Family, Signature Baking Company, OJ DeSouza, Roberto Quiroz Mata, Candleroom and Full Spectrum Diagnostics.

Young Friends of the Wilkinson Center to Kick Off Silent Disco Fundraiser this week

The Young Friends of the Wilkinson Center will host its second annual Silent Disco Benefit at Candleroom. The event will benefit The Wilkinson Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect. Tickets for Young Friends Members are $35 and $45 for non-members. Each ticket includes two complimentary tickets- one for a complimentary drink and one to be used towards the raffle. Sponsorship and involvement opportunities are available by emailing Vodi Cook at vodi_cook@wilkinsoncenter.org.

 

The Silent Disco features great cocktails, music, fun and friends at one of the hottest night spots in Dallas. What is a Silent Disco? Each guest receives headphones with three different frequencies; depending on the frequency the guest chooses, the headphones light up in the color that corresponds to a DJ spinning at that moment.  It is called a silent disco because there is no music playing in the background when people take off their headphones. There will be 6 different DJ’s playing.

 

The kickoff party is this Thursday, August 13th from 6:00-10:00 pm at DEC on Dragon.

Young Friends of the Wilkson Center Throw Fabulous White Party {with society pics}

The Young Friends of the Wilkinson Center hosted its fourth annual White Party Benefit at Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar.

Chela Moros, Kristen Johnson

The event benefited Wilkinson Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect.

DF Stefani Burns



Hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar were served throughout the evening, as well as late night food stations. The entrance featured a step-and-repeat for guest photos.

The scene at White Party

Illumination Fireworks provided confetti cannons, cryo machines and fireworks throughout the event and Eclipse Entertainment provided feathered samba dancers and bongo drum players.

Jack Stone, Anna Sophia Van Sweden

There were 32 amazing silent auction items which alone raised more than $8,000.

OJ DeSouza, Blake Willbrand, Jaclyn Garret, Nile Nussbaumer, Caroline Harrison, Natalie Bond, Lindsay Farrell

The Young Friends of The Wilkinson Center are a group of dynamic young millennials who are creating pathways out of poverty for the working poor in Dallas. These young professionals offer hope and inspiration. They are committed to building sustainable resources which empower Wilkinson Center clients to become self-sufficient and improve their lives.  

Dallas Executive Club

Feathered samba dancer at White Party

On the {Charity} Scene: Young Friends of Wilkinson Center White Party Kickoff Event at Hotel Zaza

Young Friends of Wilkinson Center held their big White Party Kickoff event at Hotel Zaza, where patrons could buy White Party tickets and Young Friend memberships for a discounted rate and learn more about the Young Friends of Wilkinson Center.

Lauren Klein, Holly Colvin, Rachel Kent

This was their first event of the year to announce the White Party fundraiser that will take place on June 13^th at Saint Ann from 9pm-2am.

 

In addition, they raffled off a VIP White Party table and sold sponsorships for the White Party. 

Leila Myers, Micah Baker, Kira Valentino, Tiffany Fascher

Andrea Wullschleger, Cole Egger

Guests enjoyed complimentary strolling bites, such as Chicken Tomatillo Quesadillas, Chinese 5 Spice Crispy Calamari with Thai Chile Sauce and French Macaroons.

 

Event Photographer was Lisa Means.

Todd Smith, Anna Bertolino, Andy Chang

Alexandra Sardarian, Christie Allardyce, Kaitlan Moczulski, Kiley Candelari, Olivia Lowery, Mackenzie Brittingham, Laramy Elick



The group raised over $20K the night of the event and Hotel Zaza donated 10% of all alcohol sales.

 

For more information about the upcoming White Party fundraiser please visit www.whiteparty.info.

Spirit of Taos Kick Off Event at Melissa Benge Collection {Society Pics}

Friends of Wilkinson Center gathered on Tuesday, October 7th at Melissa Benge Collection to kick off their upcoming "Spirit of Taos" event.

Photo Credit: Payne Wingate



Anne Conner, Joyce Shoop, Anne Reeder, Di Johnston, Ann Dyer

Honorary Chairs Ann & Bob Dyer were among the Southwestern-Chic dressed guests. Socialites snacked on chicken and beef taquitos, queso, guacamole, and other small bites that fit the theme.

Laura Reeder, Horacio Moros, Chela Moros

 Event chairs Missy Huber and Cathy Brittingham Saxon welcomed guests, and their excitement for this upcoming inaugural event was contagious.

Cathy Brittingham Saxon, Miss Huber (Spirit of Taos Event Chairs)

Each attendee received a gift bag filled with La Casita salsa and a Melissa Benge Collection gift card.