27th Annual Runway Report for KidneyTexas

 

27th Annual Runway Report

"Handbags & Heels"

September 22, 2026

Ritz-Carlton Dallas

President - Fran Wittenberg

Event Chairs -Therese Rourk & Courtney Rourk

Honorary Chair - Susan Geyer

Honorary Special - Friend Jan Strimple

Presenting Sponsors - Natalie and David Taylor and Cindy Feld and Nikki Ramji

Purchase tickets here!

Farrah Fawcett Foundation Presents Tex-Mex Fiesta!

 

This Tex-Mex fundraising event is a fun night under the stars with A-list talent, auction items and more. Guests will also enjoy a delicious Tex-Mex dinner with Margaritas and Mariachis.

Most importantly, the night allows us to remember Farrah, continue her mission of fundraising for HPV cancer research, and recognize all those who have helped us do so.

 

Farrah asked in her cancer documentary: “Why isn’t there more research on certain types of cancer?” 

Tickets here: Tex-Mex Fiesta! – The Farrah Fawcett Foundation

Brushes and Bites Art Auction - Scottish Rite, Frisco

 

September 17, 2026

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center

5700 Dallas Parkway

Frisco, TX, 75034

Scottish Rite invites you to 2026 Brushes & Bites, an artsy evening among friends benefiting the young patients of the Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center. A cool and casual celebration of local culture, artistry and style, the event will feature the original creations of up-and-coming and established artists and culinarians from around the community. Enjoy a night of fine art, cool beats and tasty eats in the atrium at their Frisco campus.

Brushes & Bites - Pediatric Orthopedic Specialists | Scottish Rite for Children

Dirk Nowitzki Foundation 8th Annual Tennis Classic

The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic is an annual event as well as the Foundation's largest fundraising effort. The exhibition style match brings together athletes and celebrities to showcase their tennis skills (and witty commentary) for a worthy cause. 

All proceeds go directly back into the North Texas community through funding projects and awarding annual grants to non-profit organizations that align with the overall mission of the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation.

Saturday, Sep 19, 2026

Doors Open 11:30 AM

Banner House at T Bar M

6060 Dilbeck Ln, Dallas, TX 75240

Purchase tickets here!

TICKET DETAILS

What You Get: 

* Reserved seat to the exciting indoor Tennis Classic featuring Dirk Nowitzki and other celebrity players

* Limited edition 2026 DNF Tennis Classic merchandise

* Access to unique activations and exclusive experiences

* Complimentary light bites provided by Banner House at T Bar M

* Access to cash bar 

* 100% of proceeds go to the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation

The Ten Best Dressed Luncheon

Neiman Marcus and The Crystal Charity Ball will celebrate The Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas on Thursday, September 17, 2026.  

In honor of the top donors for the Fashion Show, the Platinum Dinner will be held in early September. The Patron Cocktail Party will be held on September 16th.

Top Row: Erin Mathews, Felicia Powell, Katherine Wyker, Shelby Goff, Haley Anderson, Julie Bagley, Shannon Graham, Jacquelin Sewell Atkinson; Bottom Row: Tracy Lange, Kim Quinn, Tavia Hunt, Jennifer Dix, Nancy Nasher, Tracey Kozmetsky

2026 Honorary Chair - Nancy Nasher

2026 Hall of Fame Honoree - Tavia Hunt

2026 Fashion Show Chairman - Kim Quinn

State Fair Saddle Up!

 

September 10

The Rustic – Dallas

6:00 P.M.

Saddle Up is a bold night of Texas hospitality where leaders, donors, and champions of the State Fair of Texas come together to BACK THE BRAND and move the mission forward.

Guests enjoy an evening of celebration featuring live and silent auctions, midway-style games, special activations, and plenty of Texas hospitality, all surrounded by a community that believes in the future of the Fair and the students it supports.

Every bid and every table help fuel the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Programs, which has awarded more than $21.4 million in college scholarships to over 3,850 students across Texas.

Click here to learn more about Saddle Up sponsorship and ticket opportunities. 

Oak Cliff Cultural Center's Cliff Crawl

Cliff Crawl

Friday, October 9, 2026

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Oak Cliff Cultural Center

223 West Jefferson Boulevard

Dallas, TX, 75208

Get ready to explore, sip, and support the arts! 

The Friends of the Oak Cliff Cultural Center (FOC3) invite you to The 2nd Annual Cliff Crawl, a high-energy event that blends the excitement of a scavenger hunt with the social fun of a neighborhood crawl through the heart of Oak Cliff — all in support of the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

- A fast-paced scavenger hunt through local businesses and cultural stops

- Exclusive drink specials and bites

- Prizes for top teams and best team spirit

- An evening of fun, friends, and fundraising!

Cliff Crawl is more than just a Scavenger Hunt and Neighborhood Crawl Adventure —it’s a fundraiser to support the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, a space dedicated to nurturing the arts in Dallas. Your presence (and donations) help fund exhibitions, workshops, youth programs, and community events that celebrate Oak Cliff’s rich cultural heritage.

TICKETS AVAILABLE
Individuals - $50
Couples - $85
Teams of Four - $160
(Must be 21+ to participate)

https://www.oc3friends.org/events/cliff-crawl

New Friends New Life (NFNL) announces the recipients of its 2026 ProtectHER Awards

New Friends New Life (NFNL) announces the recipients of its 2026 ProtectHER Awards: Baker Botts and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, and Janet Jensen. 

The awards, sponsored by Thomson Reuters, will be presented at the annual NFNL Stand for Her Luncheon, on September 24 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. 

The luncheon will feature actress, producer, and founder/CEO Tracee Ellis Ross in a conversation moderated by NBC 5 anchor Laura Harris.

Community leaders Lottye and Bobby Lyle will serve as honorary luncheon chairs, joining mother-daughter co-chair teams Beth Thoele and Brooke Russo and Kathy Helm and Marci Kramer in leading the event, which supports NFNL’s mission to restore and empower survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

For the past two years, the Baker Botts/Toyota Pro Bono Legal Clinic has played a critical role in supporting members of NFNL’s Women’s Program by providing free legal services that remove barriers to stability and independence. From addressing family law matters to resolving issues that impact employment, housing, and financial security, the clinic has helped survivors move forward with confidence and hope.

Through her tireless advocacy for Trey’s Law, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips has become a powerful voice for survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking. This landmark legislation prohibits the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence survivors of sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Inspired by the tragic loss of her brother, Trey Carlock, who experienced childhood sexual abuse at a summer camp and died by suicide in 2019 at the age of 28, Phillips courageously shared his story with lawmakers to help ensure survivors would never again be silenced. Today, Trey's Law is helping hold perpetrators accountable in Texas and serving as a model for similar legislation across the country.

As founder of The Jensen Project, Janet Jensen has transformed the way organizations serving women and girls affected by gender-based violence build capacity and strengthen their impact. Through strategic funding, leadership development, collaboration, and technical support, The Jensen Project has equipped agencies across the country with the resources needed to expand services, improve outcomes, and better serve survivors.

Underwriting sponsorship opportunities begin at $3,000. A limited number of individual tickets are available at $300. To reserve sponsorships or seats, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org/luncheon, email events@newfriendsnewlife.org

A Writer’s Garden Celebrates 20th Anniversary at November 10th Symposium and Luncheon

 

One of the most anticipated events of the fall is A Writer’s Garden Literary Symposium and Luncheon, this year celebrating its 20th anniversary and benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and the development and maintenance of A Woman’s Garden, the centerpiece garden of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.        

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Underwriting, tickets and sponsorships are available now! Click here for tickets, here for sponsorships, or visit the website at www.wcdabg.org

     

The Announcement Party was hosted by Suzanne Caruso and chaired by Renee Farren. They were joined by Women's Council president Rose Gault and A Writer's Garden chair, Dorothea Meltzer, a past Founder's Award recipient and the force behind securing some of the major speakers over the past many years.

        

Dorothea revealed the poster announcing the theme Garden Bliss Magical Abundance, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of A Writer’s Garden. She recognized Nancy Bierman, founder of A Writer’s Garden and Renee for chairing the first Writer’s Garden, as well as former Writer’s Garden chairs who are serving as the Host Committee. 

In attendance were former chairs Sandy Ammons, Sharon Ballew, Nikki Beneke, Christy Doramus, Mari Epperson, Bettina Hennessy, Joni Krieg, Michelle Mew, Dyann Skelton and Kay Weeks.

Former A Writer’s Garden chairs gathered together at the 2026 Announcement Party at Suzanne Caruso’s
Front Row: Michelle Mew, Nancy Bierman, Bettina Hennesy, Kay Weeks
Back Row: Sandy Ammons, Renee Querbes Farren, Nikki Beneke, Dorothea Meltzer (2026 Chair), Dyann Skelton, Mari Epperson, Christy Doramus

Featured speakers are the team of Edmund Hollander and Melissa Reavis, partners of Hollander Design, Landscape Architects, New York, NY and Chicago, IL. Hollander Design Landscape Architects creates finely crafted landscapes at every scale, from the Hamptons to Hong Kong. Each project responds to the natural, architectural, and human ecologies that make a place distinct. 

        

Also speaking will be Ngoc Minh Ngo, New York, NY. Ngoc Minh Ngo is an author, photographer, and speaker widely regarded as one of the world’s most poetic landscape and botanical photographers. Her recent distinctions include serving as the 2025 national speaker for the Garden Conservancy and authoring seven books, including Roses in the Garden.          

Books by both authors were on display and will be signed by the authors and sold at the November 10th event.

Patron tickets are $500 per person and include the Symposium and Luncheon. Sponsor tickets start at $1,000 per person and include the “Meet the Authors” Reception and Sponsor Party, Symposium and Luncheon. 

Visit the website for more information: https://www.wcdabg.org/a-writers-garden.html