New Friends New Life (NFNL) is proud to announce that acclaimed actress, producer, and founder/CEO Tracee Ellis Ross will headline the 2026 Stand for Her Luncheon on Thursday, September 24 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Ross is a leader whose cultural fluency and skilled storytelling allow her to forge meaningful connections with audiences and customers alike.
"We are honored to welcome Tracee Ellis Ross to Dallas to headline our Stand for Her Luncheon," said Bianca Davis, CEO of New Friends New Life. "Tracee's journey reflects the power of resilience, self-discovery, and living authentically. Through her work as an actress and entrepreneur, she has encouraged countless women to embrace their worth and pursue lives filled with purpose and possibility."
Two inspiring mother-daughter teams will co-chair the 2026 Stand for Her Luncheon: Beth Thoele and Brooke Russo, and Kathy Helm and Marci Kramer. Honorary chairs are Lottye and Bobby Lyle.
For eight seasons, Tracee Ellis Ross starred in ABC’s critically acclaimed comedy series BLACK-ISH, earning a Golden Globe Award, six NAACP Image Awards, and nominations for Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics Choice Awards for her portrayal of Dr. Rainbow Johnson.
Ross also starred in the Emmy and GLAAD Award-nominated series GIRLFRIENDS for eight seasons. She recently made her highly anticipated Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated play EVERY BRILLIANT THING. Ross is also seen in Season 2 of the Roku original series SOLO TRAVELING WITH TRACEE ELLIS ROSS. The first season set a record as Roku’s most-watched unscripted original series.
Ross is the owner, founder, and co-CEO of PATTERN Beauty, the global multimillion-dollar hair & body care brand she created for the curly, coily & tight-textured community and everyBODY. With PATTERN, Ross is changing the paradigm of how the textured hair community is marketed to and supported.
Ross is a powerful voice for joy, self-acceptance, inclusivity, and equity. She has spoken at numerous prestigious venues including the TED Conference, where she made history as the first Black woman to open the event. Through her speaking engagements, Ross continues to inspire conversations about identity, belonging, and the expansiveness of joy.
Underwriting sponsorship opportunities begin at $3,000. A limited number of individual tickets will be released in August and will begin at $300. To reserve sponsorships or seats, visit
www.newfriendsnewlife.org/luncheon, email events@newfriendsnewlife.org, or contact Chief Development Officer Priya Murphy at 214-217-8652.
