The 2014 Chick Lit Luncheon Author Is...

Community Partners of Dallas announced best-selling author Julia Reed as the featured author for the 2014 Chick Lit Luncheon.  The announcement was made at a cocktail reception hosted by the Kendra Scott boutique on Tuesday, November 19 from 6 until 8 p.m.

Luncheon co-chair Jennifer Evans Morris was joined by over fifty host committee members and sponsors at the West Village shop to enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and of course shopping, with twenty percent of the evening’s proceeds benefiting CPD.  

During the festivities, Paige McDaniel, President and CEO of Community Partners of Dallas, took a moment to welcome partygoers and thank them for their support of the eight annual luncheon presented by long-time sponsors Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel.   She then announced Jennifer Burr Altabef as the 2014 honorary chair and the recipient of the 2014 Partners for Children award - the Junior League of Dallas for their ongoing service and support of the agency.

It was then time for the “big reveal” with Ms. Morris announcing Julia Reed as the keynote speaker for the luncheon.  The New Orlean’s based author has written four best-selling novels, But Mama Always Put Vodka in Her Sangria!: Adventures in Eating, Drinking, and Making Merry, Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena; Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns and Other Southern Specialties: An Entertaining Life (with Recipes), and The House on First Street: My New Orleans Story.  In addition, she has been writing for Vogue since 1988, profiling various political figures from Al Gore to Condoleezza Rice. She also contributes regularly to the New York Times Book Review, New York Times, London’s The Spectator and Southern Accents.

Clues about the author were sent out in advance to the host committee to see who could guess the featured speaker.  All correct guesses were then included in a special drawing with host committee member Alyson Ray selected as the winner of a pair of fabulous Kendra Scott earrings!

Other guests in attendance included:  Jennifer Evans Morris, Chick Lit Luncheon chair; Paige McDaniel, President and CEO, Community Partners of Dallas; Francie Mancillas; Katie Robbins; Elizabeth Dacus; Alyson Brown; Jennifer Tobin; Monica Austin; Joanna Clarke, Vice President Development, Community Partners of Dallas; Laura Johnson; Lisa Singleton; Amanda Reynolds; Caytie Langford; Rachel Ratcliff; Jennifer Wegman; Amy Schisler; and Stephanie Hardeman.

The 2014 Chick Lit luncheon presented by Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel will be held on April 4, 2014, 11:30 a.m. at Brook Hollow Golf Club.  Benefiting Community Partners of Dallas, the eighth annual event includes seated luncheon, remarks by Ms. Reed and the presentation of the Partners for Children Award.  Tables begin at $1250; for more information, visit www.communitypartnersdallas.org