DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE FOUNDER’S LUNCHEON MARKS 20 YEARS HONORING FOUNDER AND SUCCESS OF THE DANCE COMPANY
Seated (l-r) Rev.Claude O. Maples, Mrs.Sandra Malone, luncheon co-chairs Mrs.Kellie Crewse and Mrs. Herdercine Nash, and Ms. Verna B. Mitchell. Standing (l-r) Mrs.Patricia B. Maples, Dr. Ellen S. Cooper-Edwards, Ms. Winnie Buford, Ms.Kimberly Runnels, Mrs. Hattie Marie Newhouse, Ms. Gloria Lockett, and Mrs. Deloris Washington.
Dallas, TX – The Dallas Black Dance Theatre will mark the 20th Annual Founder’s Luncheon honoring the founder Ann Williams and the success of the 39-year-old dance company. The luncheon will be held Friday, January 8, 2016 at noon in the Hilton Anatole Hotel, located at 2201 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75207.
The Founder’s luncheon is the major community fundraiser for DBDT. Event proceeds benefit DBDT’s community outreach and education programs in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, including dance classes, workshops, and lecture-demonstrations to over 20,000 students (grades K-12) from Dallas ISD and other metroplex private and home schools.
“The luncheon will also pay tribute to outstanding North Texans who have made a long-term commitment to DBDT’s arts and arts-education programming. The 2016 honorees are exceptional arts champions Don and Norma Stone and Mark Cooks,” said Ms. Williams, Founder and Artistic Advisor for Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
The Honorary Chairperson for the event is Dallas Independent School District Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa, Ed.D. The Founder’s Luncheon Co-Chairs are longtime committee members Herdercine Nash and Kellie L. Crewse. Clarice Tinsley, news anchor at KDFW FOX4 will be the Mistress of Ceremonies.
The 20th Annual Founder’s Luncheon is presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co. “JPMorgan Chase believes in the value of arts education in changing and propelling children’s lives,” said Michelle R. Thomas, Vice President of Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase & Co. “We are honored to partner with Dallas Black Dance Theatre to present the 20th Annual Founder’s Luncheon in order to ensure thousands of local children continue to have access to arts education and outreach.”
The luncheon is generously co-sponsored by Bank of Texas, Locke Lord LLP, Deloitte, Hilton Anatole, and Organo. Additional support is provided by Edward and Kalita Blessing, Jim and Joleen Chambers/Victory Search Group, Fossil Group, Don and Norma Stone, Texas Instruments, Texas Woman’s University, Integrated Leadership Concepts, Inc./Herb and Paulette Turner, Warrior Elements, and Wells Fargo.
A steering committee of 30 people is working to make the Founder’s Luncheon a success: Ms. Jeanette Allen, Ms. Susie Bell, Howard Brown, Pastor Richie Butler, Pastor Bryan Carter, Mrs. Stephanie Carter, Mrs. Joleen Chambers, Dr. Dralves Edwards, Dr. Ellen S. Cooper-Edwards, Mrs. Kellie Crewse, Mrs. Millie Ferguson, Mr. Gregory T. Davis, Mrs. Johnnie Gales, Ms. Cynthia R. Jackson, Mrs. Laura Jeffers Murray, Mrs. Harriet Jeffers, Ms. Kimberly Jones, Ms. Gloria Lockett, Mrs. Sandra Malone, Rev. Claude O. Maples, Mrs. Patricia B. Maples, Ms. Verna B. Mitchell, Ms. Heidi Murray, Mrs. Herdercine Nash, Mr. Joe Nash, Mrs. Hattie Marie Newhouse, Ms. Kimberly Runnels, Mrs. Audrey Thomas, Mrs. Deloris Washington, and Mrs. Paula Watkins.
For more information about purchasing tickets or a table at the Founder’s Luncheon, contact DBDT’s Development Office at 214-871-2376 or e-mail development@dbdt.com.
