As guests like Carrie and Jay Treadwell pulled up at F.I.G. on Friday, January 16, for the 5th Annual Sunny Place Shindig, they discovered a moat separating them from the sidewalk and valet parkers. Seems the City of Dallas team had decided to let the water out of the nearby hydrant in order to do repairs on the water main running under Ross.
Water main work on Ross Avenue
Not to worry. Valets and gallant gents like Jay helped the ladies hop over the flowing water, so their stilettos and boots wouldn’t suffer. It was well worth the leap of faith.
Annette Leslie, Gerald McDougall and Christina Waters
Inside Annette Leslie had put together a sold-out party for 400 with $100K already raised before the evening even started. With things like the venue and alcohol donated, she was well on her way to topping last year’s $150K benefiting The Carson Leslie Foundation, which provides funds for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer.
But before Professor D went on stage, guests were checking out the silent auction items like donations from professional athletes, art, fashions and jewelry.
Auction items
One of the super-duper items was a package including four tickets to the sold-out Taylor Swift show on October 17 at AT&T Stadium. Annette recalled how Taylor and her son Carson had been on The Today Show before he succumbed to cancer.
Still another was straight from George Strait. He, too, had met Carson and came through an autographed pair of Wrangler jeans plus a hat and the CD “The Cowboy Rides Away.”
But there was even more all through the floor. The sold-out Texas Tourney was getting underway. Kendra Scott’s Celeste Chumlea and Beth Huddleston were “manning” the jewelry box pull. Across the way a wine pull had the bottles in burlap sacks ready for picking. Food was everywhere.
Celeste Chumlea and Beth Huddleston
In town for the event were Jerry McDougall of PriceWaterhouse in Boston and Rare Sciences CEO/Founder/geneticist Christina Waters from San Diego. They are working with the Foundation to strategize its future direction. Jerry, who advises on healthcare issues, reported that incredible advances have been made in adult oncology. On the other hand, there’s a gap in children’s cancer. Both Jerry and Christina have been impressed with the foundation’s work with The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Despite the weekend’s beautiful weather, Jerry had to admit that he was eager to get back to Boston for the Patriots-Colts game.
Robert Grunnah, Susan Arledge, Irene and Alex Coe
Just as Susan Arledge, Robert Grunnah and Irene and Alex Coe arrived, the true guests of honor showed up — four chickens in their own carriers! These shady cacklers would decide the winners of the “chicken drop.” Even the mini-moat couldn’t keep the feathered ones from being part of the night’s partying.