AWARE Affair 2022 Soaring to New Heights Fighting Alzheimer’s Proved To Be Quite A Dynamic Affair In The Star Skyline Hangar At The Braniff Centre

It’s not every day that a gala takes place in an airplane hangar, and this bold move created quite a buzz amongst AWARE supporters and proved to be a very successful and dynamic affair. The Star Skyline Hangar at the Braniff Centre set quite the scene for the AWARE Affair 2022 Soaring to New Heights Fighting Alzheimer’s.
          

Chaired by Mari Epperson and Sharon Ballew, the evening began with a VIP reception in the upstairs lounge Star Skyline, as guests were greeted with a display of vintage Braniff flight attendant uniforms from the collection of Deborah Brown, who was also dressed in one of the fashionable uniforms by the renowned designer Emilio Pucci.
          

A spotlight shined on the exterior of the hangar’s very tall walls illuminating a welcome from sponsor Bentley Dallas as patrons glided by a purple Bentley at the entrance as a salute to purple as the internationally recognized color symbolizing Alzheimer’s.
          

Joining the crowd were Biddie and Lee Roy Jordan, Honorary Chairs and their family, Presenting Sponsor William C. Seanor, AWARE president Karisti Julia, Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership Award honoree Dr. Cindy Marshall and her husband, Duc Tran, Josey and Craig Kennington, emcee Scott Murray and his wife Carole, Greg Osler, and more.
          

The interior was a stirring sight, with walls completely enveloped in white satin draping and divided into two sections. One section at the entrance included the reception, silent auction, golf putting station manned by Janet and Jack Broyles, a cup of generosity opportunity featuring a special Ketel One Botanical cocktail, centered with a large circular bar wrapped in the Dallas skyline and the gala logo with a center column topped with huge dark purple hydrangeas, jewel-toned roses and a flourish of florals. The 360 Five Photo Booth was sponsored by The Rosewood Corporation and Charging Station sponsored by Karen and Mark Carney. The other side of the hangar was lit in soft white and purple tones and set for dinner and dancing, rimmed with banquette sofas, round and rectangle tables draped in an ombre of purple hues and topped with glorious purple and white floral displays throughout.  
          

Emcee Murray welcomed the crowd introducing Karisti as she said that AWARE had raised over $14 million in support of its fight against Alzheimer’s since being founded some 33 years ago and thanked the crowd for their support. Mari recognized the longtime dedication of honorary chairs emeriti Sally and Forrest Hoglund, Kim and David McDavid, Jr., Ellen Terry with her daughter, Amy Terry Kriegel and son, Todd Terry.  She also thanked Sheryl and Gary Wood for opening their beautiful home as hosts of the Patron Party and HALL Group and HALL Arts Hotel for hosting the Announcement Party last fall and sponsoring the wines at the Patron Party.
          

Sharon gave heartfelt thanks to very special ladies who gave hours of volunteer service to the gala, including Stacey Angel and Carol Stabler.   She also announced a grant in honor of the evening’s presenting sponsor, William C. Seanor, to a rousing round of applause.
          

William (Bill) took the stage and said how honored he was to be involved with and to be an advocate for AWARE in loving memory of a member of his family who suffered from the horrible disease of Alzheimer’s.
          

Jack Broyles, spoke with heartfelt friendship and respect as he thanked Lee Roy and Biddie Jordan, honorary chairs, for their continuing long standing involvement and commitment to AWARE.
          

After the invocation and a beautiful and moving rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, dinner was served followed by a video presentation of the Founder’s Spirit Award to Myrna D. Schlegel, who was in Washington D.C. with her husband, Bob, a former recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, for that awards event. With grateful thanks, the Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Cindy Marshall who was also given recognition for her longtime support of AWARE in its fight against Alzheimer’s.
          

A spirited live auction ensued featuring items such as a Dallas to Napa HALL Experience, a Monarch Chef Experience and Celebration for 10, a fabulous diamond bangle bracelet donated by Bachendorf’s, Lake Tahoe Private Condo, Bisbee’s Black & Blue fishing expedition and more.
          

Gala sponsors and underwriters include Decor: Sally and Forrest Hoglund. Iris sponsor HALL Arts Hotel. Valet: Bentley Dallas. Plum sponsors: Anonymous, Stacey J. and Charles A. Angel, Jr., Sharon and Maurice Ballew, Kay and Will Beecherl, Mari and Don Epperson, Jane and Mark Gibson, Caroline Wilson and Charles Koetting, Gail Plummer in memory of Bill Plummer, Venise and Lawrence D. Stuart, Jr., Penny Reid & Thomas Nolan and Angela Fontana & Andrew Szuwalski, Sharon & Bob Walker in memory of Everett Yoakum and the Schlegel Horizon Foundation. Entertainment: Concorde Companies. Signage: Jolie and Bart Humphrey in honor of Mari Epperson and Sharon Ballew. Photo Booth: The Rosewood Corporation. Charging Station: Karen and Mark Carney in memory of Del McCarthy. Favors: Carole Ann and Dick Brown. Grant Education Presentation: Acadia.                       

  This evening of delicious food, fun, laughter, camaraderie and raising funds in support of AWARE, was topped off with even more smiles as guests filled the dance floor dancing to the tunes of The Roof Raisers.
          

All funds raised stay in Dallas and are not sent out of state. The 2021-2022 Grant Recipients are: Baylor Scott & White Foundation, CASA DE VIDA, Center for Brain Health at UT Dallas, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, Dallas Museum of Art, For Love and Art, Jewish Family Service, Juliette Fowler Communities, Plano Symphony Orchestra, Stomping Ground Comedy, The Senior Source, Texas Winds Musical Outreach, The Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas Foundation for the Callier Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, Wilshire Baptist Church, and the Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund.
          

Media sponsors are Modern Luxury Dallas and Senior Resource Guide. The chairs also thanked Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations and Hamilton Sneed and his team with HAS Events.
          

AWARE Mission: AWARE is dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s disease by providing funding and support to programs, projects, and research provided by nonprofit organizations that actively help individuals affected by Alzheimer’s in Dallas and the greater North Texas area.
          

AWARE is a component fund of The Dallas Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) publicly supported charity. In partnership with the Foundation AWARE conducts an annual grant review process by which grant applicants are carefully and thoughtfully vetted to ensure that grant dollars are awarded to organizations that provide outstanding services to Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, and to those research institutions that are at the forefront of medical research in the treatment, prevention, and cure of Alzheimer’s disease.
          

Together with compassion and dedication we can make a difference. Membership is open to both men and women. Join AWARE now and join the fight.       www.AWAREDallas.org Instagram: @awaredallas. Facebook: @awaredallas

*Photos by Danny Campbell, Thomas J. Garza and Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio

(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent AWARE and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)