Energized by the memory of those who have lost the fight to Alzheimer’s and others who are currently in the trenches against the deadly disease, AWARE Dallas‘ AWARE Affair has become a celebration of the progress in battling the disease. On Friday, April 4, the 2025 AWARE Affair returned to Gilley’s Dallas with a heck of a lot of whooping and debuted the addition of the “purple jacket” for women, thanks to stalwart David McDavid Jr., who lost his wife Kim McDavid to Alzheimer’s on March 7, 2024. Here’s a report from the field:
One thing that’s become a tradition at the annual AWARE Affair 2025: Boots, Buckles and Brain Health gala at Gilley’s is a surprise greeter at check-in, which brings smiles all around. Last year it was energetic dancing by the Richardson High School Desperados dance troupe as they were clapping hands, slapping knees, twirling and shouting woo-hoo! This year’s greeter was the social media celebrity horse Ranger, suitably outfitted in his cowboy hat and accompanied by his human friend, Michael Duncan, with the tagline “This Ain’t My First Rodeo” neon sign from Shag Carpet Props above them, as guests enjoyed snapping selfies.
Presented by Trailblazer Sponsor Anne Davidson with David McDavid Jr. as chair and Bo and Jeff Parker as honorary chairs, the gala brought together families and dear friends, care partners and many representatives from AWARE’s grant recipients, all in support of AWARE and its fight against Alzheimer’s disease, netting over $500,000!
Spotted in the crowd were Amy Terry Kriegel, an honorary chair emeritus; Sharon and Maurice Ballew, Karen and Mark Carney, Mari and Don Epperson, Diane and Daryl Johnston, Josey and Craig Kennington, Ann and Mike McKinley, Nancy Perot and Rod Jones, Carol Stabler, Sharon and Bob Walker, Garry Weber and Maura Young, Lacey Young and more.
Comerica Bank (Alice and Curt Farmer) sponsored the VIP reception upstairs in the Bonnie And Clyde Speakeasy. Downstairs, the silent auction drew crowds as they sipped on specialty cocktails Lavender Lemonade (in memory of Kim McDavid and her lemonade stand) and Maple Whiskey Smash, noshed on delicious appetizers, customized hats at the Fleastyle Original Hat Bar experience, shopped the Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott pop-up, collection, took a chance in the Whiskey and Bourbon Pull sponsored by Ben E. Keith, were treated to an over-the-top performance from the Lake Highlands Wildcat Wranglers, visited the boot shine station and played brain games, which rounded out the reception.
David welcomed the crowd saying he was humbled by everyone’s support and donations, saying that to date, AWARE has awarded nearly $15 million to worthy programs and research and encouraged everyone to join in the organization’s efforts to support programs, projects and research of nonprofit organizations that actively help individuals affected by Alzheimer’s in the Dallas and the greater North Texas area. He also thanked his late wife Kimmie’s friends, who he dubbed Kimmie’s Krewe, for their unwavering support as they joined the gala committee, helping to make the event a tremendous success.
A game of Hats and Buckles (otherwise known as Heads and Tails) got the excitement rolling. The winner received a prized collection of Hall Wines.
AWARE president Karen Koop said that she was delighted to welcome so many supporters celebrating 35 years of AWARE. She said that AWARE has received 25 applications for grants this year, which is the most ever received. All of the funds granted stay in North Texas.
She introduced Jolie Humphrey, who presented the Founders Spirit Award to Venise Stuart. Dr. Cindy Marshall presented the Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership Award to Karisti Julia. Both Venise and Karisti are former AWARE presidents and longtime board members, sponsors, underwriters and supporters.
Greg Osler, whose late wife Amy Osler is the namesake of the award named in her honor, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the audience and said he was honored to represent her. After the invocation, everyone enjoyed a splendid dinner of BBQ with all of the sides and dessert.
A spirited live auction included items such as tickets to an ACDC concert, unique trips, a marlin fishing excursion and designer jewelry. The Mission Moment began as David shared his and his family’s experience through his late wife Kimmie’s struggle with early onset Alzheimer’s, expressing gratitude for the many friends who supported them through that most challenging journey. Then began the first item: Kim’s Purple Coat of Hope, which is named in honor of Kimmie. The tradition of the purple coat began in 2018 and that first coat sold for $5,000. In subsequent years, many coats have been sold and tonight for the first time, a woman’s jacket was sold as David bought the first one for his daughter. A paddle raise sold many more and brought in substantial funds in support of AWARE.
The night was topped off as everyone stepped up to the dance floor, enjoyed line dancing lessons and danced the night away to classic country tunes performed by the Breckenridge Band.
Honorary chairs emeriti were Sally and Forrest Hoglund, Lee Roy and Biddie Jordan, Venise and Larry Stuart and Amy Terry Kriegel and Todd Terry, honoring their mother, Ellen Terry.
Sponsors included Mary and Tim Rooney, Bolo; Lee Roy and Biddie Jordan and Venise and Larry Stuart, Buckle; Jolie and Bart Humphrey for the Patron Party, Barb and Mike Tonti for Valet, Stacey Jones Angel for Entertainment, Gail Plummer and John Cattaneo for Signage and also hosts for the Announcement Party; Boot Sponsors Stephanie and Bennie Bray, Becky and Marshall Mills, Annie and Blair Oden; Karen and Mark Carney, Boot Shine and Patron Party hosts; The Weitzman Group for the Brain Games, The University of Texas at Dallas School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences for the Grant Education Presentation; Shackelford, McKinley And Norton for the Paddle Raise and Amásé Stays for the Photo Experience. Media sponsor was Modern Luxury Media.
AWARE is dedicated to empowering North Texans to rise above the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, together. AWARE provides funding and support to programs, projects, and research by nonprofit organizations that actively support individuals affected by Alzheimer’s. Since AWARE’s founding in 1989, they have donated nearly $15 million dollars.
AWARE is a component fund of The Dallas Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) publicly supported charity. AWARE conducts an annual grant review process by which applicants are carefully and thoughtfully vetted, ensuring 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.
AWARE also invites North Texans to join Friends of AWARE—a community of individuals, caregivers and professionals with a vested interest in supporting the best care in our region today and hope for a cure tomorrow. Individuals navigating the challenges of these diseases—including patients, caregivers and professionals—connect, learn and advocate for solutions in North Texas.
Together with compassion and dedication we can make a difference. If you are interested in becoming a friend of AWARE or would like more information or support please email info@awaredallas.org
Following the jump for the 2024-2025 programs that AWARE Dallas has benefited.
* Graphic provided by AWARE Affair ** Photo credit: Thomas Garza *** Photo credit: Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio
AWARE Dallas 2024-2025 Grant Recipients
- Baylor Scott And White Dallas Foundation: Support toward the salary of a Care and Support Specialist at the Baylor Scott and White Memory Center. The Specialist guides patients and families with education, training, support groups, elder law, financial planning, and a 24/7 helpline.
- Bishop Arts Theater Center: Support for the continuation and expansion of the Creative Aging Program. The program incorporates stories, music, visual arts, and dance to improve the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias living in predominantly low-income memory care facilities.
- Center for Brain Health: (The University of Texas at Dallas) Support for printing and distributing 1,000 copies of the “Guide to Proactive Steps (GPS),” a resource book for people affected by Alzheimer’s, and for developing and launching GPS seminars and one-on-one consultations.
- Dallas Symphony Association: Support for DSO Cares, a series of free, one-hour concerts presented within senior living facilities and hospitals in the greater Dallas community. The program features chamber music performances by select DSO musicians who perform in duets, trios, or quartets for audiences.
- For Love and Art: Support for the continuation of the Celebrating the Art Experience, an hour-long therapeutic visual arts engagement program that is presented by volunteer “Art Angel” docents in memory care facilities throughout the greater North Texas area. Docents showcase art images from partner museums around the world and stimulate conversations with program participants.
- Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas: Support for the Older Adults Program to expand in-home mental health counseling, care management, and daily living support to older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, allowing them to remain living in their own home.
- Juliette Fowler Communities: Support for Fowler’s campus-wide dementia care initiatives which include the Continuation of Cognitive Health, I’m Still Here®, Dementia Friendly Dallas, music therapy, and caregiver support.
- NorthPark Presbyterian Church: Support for Casa de Vida, a program at the church designed to give respite relief to caregivers by providing trained one-on-one care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias.
- Plano Symphony Orchestra: Support for Healing Notes, a program designed to provide free music-therapy concerts by professional musicians to residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementias who live in predominately low-income memory care centers.
- The Senior Source: Support for Senior Companions, a program that matches compassionate and trained older adult volunteers with home-bound older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias to provide respite to family caregivers and help with meals, errands, and light housekeeping.
- Stomping Ground Comedy Center: Support for Improv for Caregivers, a fun and interactive program that uses improvisational comedy techniques to teach effective communication skills that are specific to the needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
- Texas Winds Musical Outreach: Support for the Concerts for Seniors program, which provides interactive concerts in nursing homes and adult day care facilities bringing joy, relief from isolation, and peace to individuals affected by memory loss.
- The University of Texas at Dallas (Lab of Dr. Chandramallika Basak): Support for the purchase of a portable Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) system that will include physiological measures, allowing for neural and physiological data collection from various locations in the brain, add convenience to patients, and allow the expansion of the study of brain aging beyond the laboratory.
- The University of Texas at Dallas (Lab of Dr. Kristen Kennedy): Support to add measures of newly discovered blood-based markers of neural and glial structural health to the University’s NIH funded longitudinal study. If these new cellular markers that are readily available from a simple blood draw can be closely linked with how well brain cells are aging or degrading, then powerful, noninvasive biomarkers can be found for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Wilshire Baptist Church: Support for Friday Friends, a program addressing the need to provide respite to those who care for a dementia relative at home, and who have little or no assistance for relieving them of the constant care and supervision of their loved one, while providing a stimulating day of art, music and games for the individual with Alzheimer’s.
- Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund: Support for nursing students at Baylor University, Texas Women’s University and Texas Christian University toward their studies in gerontology, especially in the field of dementia.
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