Vogel Alcove’s 28th Annual Arts Performance Event Rocked the House with the Stars of Nashville
Allen Nye and Matt Henry, Co-Chairs, Oncor
Karen Hughes, President and CEO, Vogel Alcove
Featured photo: Matt Henry, SVP, General Counsel and Secretary – Oncor, Event Co-Chair; Karen Hughes, President & CEO, Vogel Alcove; Allen Nye, Chief Executive Officer – Oncor, Event Co-Chair.*
The 28th Annual Arts Performance Event An Evening in Music City with Stars of Nashville benefiting Vogel Alcove rocked the house with stars from the hit television show Nashville, Charles Esten and Jonathan Jackson, who brought surprise guest performer, Clare Bowen.
The evening began with a cocktail reception where guests mingled and enjoyed a special art exhibit curated especially for this event by local artists who created exhibits directly connected to Vogel Alcove and its mission to help young children overcome the lasting and traumatic effects of homelessness.
Artwork by Megan Smith 
Artwork by Randy Jacobs
John Wander, Chairman of the Board of Directors, welcomed guests and received a lively round of applause as members of the board stood to be recognized. He thanked chairs Allen Nye, Chief Executive Officer at Oncor and Matt Henry, Senior Vice-President, General Counsel, and Secretary at Oncor, and co-chairs Mary Lee and Michael Broder, Kerri and Rick Lacher and others.
Vogel Alcove.
Matt spoke about how he and Allen have a commitment to being out and about in the community and in touch with the needs and responsibilities of everyone on a grass roots level, giving special thanks to Vogel Alcove.
Karen Hughes, President and CEO, said that overall, given this small window of opportunity that Vogel Alcove has to surround the lives of children and their parents to repair their hearts so they can be successful and create stable lives, all of this could not be possible without the support of sponsors and donors.
She spoke with stirring conviction about working with the entire family unit in Vogel Alcove’s new strategic initiative, the Two Generation approach, to break the cycle of poverty for homeless children and their parents. These new services are offered through the Parent Opportunity Center and include one-on-one counseling from a team of clinical social workers, as well as Job Ready, Career Ready, and Support System programming in the Parent Opportunity Center lab. These onsite facilities are currently in operation and working with families, helping them on their journey from homelessness to happiness.
Rick Lacher, Kerri Lacher 
Lisa Segert, Bob Segert
As testimonials, a film featured interviews of a couple of families, of which two were in the audience. Garlanne and Jessica, Vogel Alcove parents, stood to an enthusiastic and heartfelt round of applause.
After a game of Heads or Tails where the winner received a Trip to Nashville and a spirited live auction where a guitar signed by the Zac Brown band was sold once, was then donated back and sold once more, the surprise Nashville TV series guest star, Clare Bowen, took the stage with her husband, Brandon Robert Young, performing original tunes.
Mark Deuber, Cary Deuber 
Clinton Hines, Candice Hines
As the crowd gathered on the dance floor, Jonathan brought emotions to goosebumps when he performed his interpretation of the Righteous Brothers’ ”Unchained Melody.” Joined by Charles, another special moment was their performance of the Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me.” Clare joined them on stage for a song from the Nashville TV Series, “A Life That’s Good.” The audience was absolutely entranced and in-the-moment, stepping up front, taking selfies with these wonderful stars.
Lori Moreno, John Moreno 
Jason Bietendorf, Whitney Bietendorf
Up came the lights on the DJ stand and the beats began with the fabulous DJ Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys rocking the crowd with their favorite tunes until the house shut down.
Michael Jones, Hannah Haarala 
Donna Arp Weitzman, Herb Weitzman
Over the last 27 years, Vogel Alcove’s Annual Arts Performance Event has become a can’t-miss occasion in the community, and the lineup of world-class, live entertainment has been a hallmark of the event. Past notable performers have included The Pointer Sisters, Idina Menzel, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Loggins and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Sponsors and underwriters included $50,000 Premier Sponsor: McKool Smith.
$25,000 Presenting Sponsors: Debra and E. Leon Carter, Eagle Materials, Inc., Susan and Laurence Hirsch/The Hirsch Family Foundation, Kainos Capital LP, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Stacey and Don Kivowitz, Amy and Mark Kovac, Kerri & Rick Lacher/Houlihan Lokey, Oliver Wyman/Partners & Employees, Omni Dallas Hotel, Oncor, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Winston & Strawn LLP.
$15,000 Advocate Sponsors: Jim Chadwick/Holland & Knight LLP, Foley Gardere, Rita Sue and Alan Gold, MoneyGram International, Perkins Coie LLP, Jackie and Travis Pittman, Ricki and Andy Rabin, Lisa and Bob Segert and SRP Medical.
Proceeds from this event benefit Vogel Alcove, an early childhood education and Parent Opportunity Center that is working to Break the Cycle of Poverty for homeless children and their families in Dallas. Vogel Alcove provides educational, developmental and therapeutic services to children and families affected by homelessness.
Using its Two-Generational approach to solving homelessness, services are provided to client families through the early childhood education program and Parent Opportunity Department. All of these services are provided for free, in a safe and nurturing school environment, in which the families can learn and grow together.
For more information about Vogel Alcove and how you can support, please visit https://vogelalcove.org For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sharon Russell at srussell@vogelalcove.org
About Vogel Alcove:
Vogel Alcove is a 501c3 nonprofit agency which provides therapeutic early childhood services, school-age programs and family support services for homeless children ages six weeks to 12 years old, and their families.
Fueled by extensive research from the Casey Foundation, Vogel Alcove features “two-generation” approach to support homeless children and their parents. Through this strategic initiative, Vogel Alcove has committed to ensuring that our work truly helps homeless families break the cycle of poverty. These services are offered through the Parent Opportunity Department and include one-on-one counseling from a team of licensed clinical social workers, as well as Job Ready, Career Ready, and Support System programming in the Parent Opportunity Center lab.
Since 1987, the agency has served more than
16,000 Dallas-area homeless children. We’re on a mission to help young
children, and their families, overcome the lasting and traumatic effects of
homelessness. It is our vision that every child in our community has a home, a
self-sufficient family and a foundation for success in school and life.
*Photos by Dana Driensky and Rob Wythe/Gittings
Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent Vogel Alcove’s special events.
