The Young Women’s Preparatory Network EmpowerHER Dinner

(Featured photo: Students from YWPN’s Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School with, from left: Dr. Carla Russo, Lynn McBee, Regina Bruce.)

The YWPN EmpowerHER Dinner Was Beautifully Choreographed, Exquisitely Fashionable and A Gourmand’s Delight
Empowered Women Empowering Young Girls Presented by
Westwood Wealth Management

Chairing, hosting, and creating a first-time gala fundraiser for a major nonprofit organization can be a daunting task and certainly one meant for true pros. The EmpowerHER Dinner presented by Westwood Wealth Management and benefiting the Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN) was a sold-out event co-chaired by two of Dallas’ notable community leaders, Regina Bruce and Dr. Carla Russo, founders of the nonprofit Lone Star Monarchs, which is also the dinner’s Visionary Sponsor, with honorary chairs, The Women of the Lacerte Family led by Joyce Lacerte, including Quincy Lacerte, Madison Lacerte, Monroe Lacerte, Megan Barrie-Schwarz and Harriet Lacerte and YWPN’s CEO, Lynn McBee.      

The EmpowerHER Dinner’s tagline says it all: Like a monarch transforming from a caterpillar to a butterfly – Empowering young girls to soar on their journey into adulthood.       

Beautifully choreographed, exquisitely fashionable and a gourmand’s delight, the gala featured five celebrity chefs, each creating her own signature dish on site for this very special occasion. Celebrity chefs were Janice Provost, Chef/Proprietor, Parigi; Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, Culinary Director and Co-Owner of Eledi; Dunia Terselich Borga, Executive Pastry Chef, Co-Founder of La Duni Latin Café and La Duni Baking Studio; Leigh Hutchinson, Chef/Owner of Via Triozzi; and Mollie Guerra, Chef Mollie G Custom Cuisine.      

Greeting guests as they entered were servers offering champagne, wines and hors d’oeuvres created by Chef Janice Provost, along with students from the YWPN welcoming everyone while Radu Jon, The Violin Guy provided entertainment.        

The event space presented a breathtaking scene of long formal banquet dining tables draped in Royal Blue satin, with dark fuchsia napkins.  They were topped with colorful flower arrangements sponsored by McShan Florist that ran the entire length of the tables, which were also topped with candelabras and tall tapers. Serving china chargers from La Croix thoughtfully echoed the event’s butterfly theme. This combination created a harmonious display that was both elegant and enchanting.
        

Susan Byrne, Founder, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., Presenting Sponsor, welcomed guests. Alison Matis, event coordinator, also welcomed all and gave a brief overview of this evening’s performances which featured ballerina Lydia Bachman, a 13-year-old ballet dancer recognized for her strong classical foundation and exceptional performance quality. She is a Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Finalist, Top 12 at YAGP Finals, and recipient of the YAGP Hope Award, as well as American Dance Competition’ Youth International Ballet Competition (ADC-IBC) where she won 1st prize in Classical Dance. She performed “Oblivion,” a contemporary solo, choreographed by Tamar Gabelev.
        

Heather Centrioni, spokesperson for the American Classical Ballet, introduced the troupe of dancers, which performed three different scenes. An interesting note was the troupe and featured ballerina, Lydia Bachman, wore clothing showcasing designs by this evening’s featured fashion designer, Anna Berman, founder of Annabelle Couture. She is a dedicated volunteer and talented team member of the Lone Star Monarchs. Her fashions have been featured in Vogue Ukraine, whose editor, Oleksandra Semenchenko, had traveled to the USA especially for this event.
          

As part of her original fashion designs debut this evening, Anna also created and designed the elegant couture gowns worn by Regina and Carla.                    

Carla’s was a Royal Blue brocade tuxedo dress tailored in a structured silhouette, featuring Italian leather accents and finished with sparkling rhinestone buttons. The rich metallic pattern and elongated lines create a powerful, regal presence.       

Regina’s was a Royal Blue brocade bolero paired with a dress crafted from fluid liquid satin, fully lined in mulberry silk. The combination of textures—ornate brocade and luminous satin—creates a refined, graceful look with beautiful movement.
        

Welcoming everyone, Regina also thanked tonight’s host Christy Thompson for opening up her exquisite University Park home and encouraged guests to take their seats. Carla invited the all-female team of chefs to be recognized as they each made brief statements, saying what an exciting time it was to join together and participate in the EmpowerHER Dinner in support of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network and its mission to support single-gender, college-preparatory, public education in Texas and beyond, giving young women the academic and leadership skills to achieve success in college and in life.    

As classical pianist Natalja Sawal began performing, guests were served the first course created by Chef Mollie Guerra.  A heartfelt delightful musical performance from the award-winning choir members from Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School was followed by a rousing round of applause.
        

While guests enjoyed the second course created by Chef Leigh Hutchinson, Carla introduced the honorary chairs and thanked sponsors. Regina introduced Auction Chairs Kunthear Mam-Douglas and Rosangela Zurawel and thanked co-chair Cathy Amos, who was out of town. They also announced the silent auction was open and was going to stay open via the online link for a few more days, so bid now and often!  

Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman created and served the third course while Lynn McBee thanked the chairs and everyone for their generous support. She said, “What moves me most about the dinner is the generosity and belief in our students. When our community comes together like this, it shows every girl in our network that she has champions standing beside her. We are so grateful for everyone who helps open doors to opportunity and supports their journey to college and beyond.”
        

Lynn welcomed Brian Casey, CEO of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. and President of Westwood Wealth Management, Presenting Sponsor, who said that Westwood is so proud to see the progress made in the last 20 years at YWPN and that it’s a testament to founders, Sally and the late Lee Posey, to see their vision meet purpose. Suzy Conley from Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., said that the families that they serve are proud to support YWPN and that the greatest power that people have is to live lives with purpose.       

Emma Chalott Barron, Alumna, YWPN, shared her story with a sincere brief history saying she was the first in her family ever to graduate high school and attend college and beyond that, receive a law degree, as well. She said education is so important, that when a child receives an education, so does her family and the entire community benefits.     

Executive Pastry Chef Dunia Terselich Borga created and served the dessert course while everyone was invited to also enjoy very special treats, after-dinner specialty cocktails graciously donated by Jeanne Lewis, along with gourmet cookies and chocolate truffles. Regina and Carla closed by thanking the outstanding culinary chefs, entertainment, sponsors and spouses, John Pickett and Joe Russo and everyone for their support of this fabulous EmpowerHER Dinner and the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, wishing everyone a joyous and happy holiday season.      

Sponsors also included Inspiration Sponsor, Sixth Street; Empowerment Sponsors CAPTRUST, Joyce and Larry Lacerte / ExponentHR,  Nachawati Law Group, andTexas Woman’s University, Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership; Chefs Announcement Party Sponsor, Regina Bruce and John Pickett; Cocktail Party Sponsor, Jeanne Lewis; Couture Fashion Sponsor, Annabelle Couture; Airline Sponsor, Delta/Wheels Up; Floral Sponsor, McShan Florist; Graphic Arts Sponsor, Kristi Eakin Design; Printing Sponsor, The UPS Store on Lemmon Avenue; Website/Logo Design Sponsor, Black New Media; Wine/Champagne Sponsor, A&B Food, Wine and Spirits; Valet Sponsor, Schorr Law Firm PC; and Media Sponsors, PaperCity and People Newspapers.

Visit the website for more information: www.youngwomensprep.org/empowerher-dinner/ 

About Young Women’s Preparatory Network:
Our mission is to support single-gender, college-preparatory, public education in Texas and beyond, giving young women the academic and leadership skills to achieve success in college and in life. https://youngwomensprep.org/

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

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

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