fundraising auction news

The DIFFA/DALLAS COLLECTION 2007 event was entitled, “Upsidedown” which well describes the dramatic effect that HIV/AIDS has for those who find themselves with these life challenging illnesses. “Upsidedown” also became Dallas’ biggest fundraiser for DIFFA, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids on March 31st in the Trinity Ballroom at the Hilton Anatole. With several thousand of fashion and philanthropies elite in attendance, and all the glitz and glam of the New York runways and the production style of L.A., the evening was billed as an evening of fashion, art, entertainment and live and silent auctions of more than 100 wearable works of art. Since 1988 DIFFA/DALLAS has donated millions of dollars to local programs related to the direct care for those living with HIV/AIDS.

The evening started with a Champagne Preview, Opening of the Silent Auction and Introduction of the Style Council, Seated Dinner, then, it was on with the Live Auction conducted by returning Professional Auctioneer Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services and his first class team of Bid Spotters. The Live Auction featured custom designed denim jackets that included super packages ranging from exclusive trips, designer jewelry, to walk on movie parts in Los Angeles.

Highlights of this years live auction included a five night stay for eight at a private chalet in Vail and two VIP tickets to Dancing with Stars donated by David Nelson which brought in $22,000, a First Class trip for two to L.A. for walk on castings in the new film “Southern Baptist Sissies” starring Delta Burke and Leslie Jordon, which fetched $11,000, a two-week stay for four at a hillside condo in Mallorca, Spain that included a private Spanish wine dinner with airfare donated by Geoffrey Henning and JC Penney fetched $30,000 and a five night stay for two in a master suite at Maruba Resort in Belize which included the ultimate “Bling” package with the likes of Neiman Marcus, Jimmy Choo, Gucci and dinner packages brought in $15,000 and was purchased by popular Dallas Cowboy and United Way spokesman Roy Williams. All in all, the Live Auction brought in over $100,000 and they were still adding up the totals from sponsorships, ticket sales, the BMW 328i Coupe raffle and silent auction. 2007 was indeed another big year for DIFFA/DALLAS.

The Southfork Ranch made famous by J.R. Ewing and the television series “Dallas” took center stage as Texas’ social elite and Country Music’s most popular duo Brooks & Dunn converged on the ranch in Parker, Texas to raise around $3 million dollars for the American Cancer Society at the 33rd Annual Dallas Cattle Baron’s Ball.

The event entitled “Texas Road Trip-Highway to Hope” is a continuation of the original ball that took place in 1973 and has raised over $28 million which has been distributed to cancer research projects in Dallas County.

The evening kicked off on the Bank of America main stage with country music star Chris Cagle who performed a medley of his hits. Then it was time to get down to business as professional auctioneer Mike Jones decked out in an original Manuel returned for his 5th consecutive year to oversee and create the energy required to bring in the big bucks for the American Cancer Society’s single largest fund-raiser. With over 3000 people in attendance it is no small feat and Cattle Baron’s Chairmen Olivia Kearney and Jana Wood were excited to have Mike and the Mike Jones Auction Group team with over twenty professional bid spotters and assistants back again to handle the festivities.

The Cattle Baron’s Ball Live Auction is known for its excitement and extravagance, and the 2006 edition didn’t disappoint. The evening featured surprise guests throughout the night including Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst who joined Mike on stage and quickly got caught up in the bidding and purchased a Beretta 687 Royal Pigeon 12 gauge pistol grip shotgun and hunting trip to the WB Ranch for $16,000 followed by Texas candidate for Governor, Kinky Friedman who hammed it up displaying a pair of M.L. Leddy custom made boots which fetched a handsome $12,000. A Celebrity Chef Package for 12 people on Red Mountain in Aspen raised the roof at $75,000. The Rocky Mountain package featured the triumphant return to Cattle Baron’s of former Mansion on Turtle Creek Chef Dean Fearing who is Chef and Owner of the new Fearing’s Ritz-Carlton.

As always, Dallas’ fabulous Chef’s Richard Chamberlain, Kevin Garvin, David Holben, Kent Rathbun and Jim Severson donated their time and resources to the package that has raised over $2.5 million for the American Cancer Society. A Circus package for 800 children brought in $55,000,  Customized American Ironhorse “Texas Chopper” $33,500, Wimbledon Trip $32,500, Dallas Cowboys Package $21,000, Star for a day on the CBS hit television series CSI Miami, $30,000 and a trip to Nashville to attend the Country Music Awards and an exclusive red carpet fashion show featuring Manuel’s couture collection brought in $20,000.

The highlight of the Live Auction that created electricity throughout the crowd was a brand new 2007 Mercedes Benz S600V. This automobile which has just been launched with dealer allocations exhausted was donated by Park Place Motorcars, Ewing Autohaus and Mercedes-Benz USA and fetched a healthy $160,000. The Live Auction total was $781,000 a new Cattle Baron’s record and once again, Dallas raised the bar and soundly established itself as one of the country’s philanthropic icons. 

Following the Live Auction it was off to the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company of Texas main stage to hear Brooks & Dunn, the 2006 Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year and winners of the Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year, “Believe”. The CMA award winning song summed up the night.

The sprawling Travis Ranch in Forney, outside of Dallas, where former Texas Governor Bill Clements took time off to relax was the home of Saturday night's 32nd annual Cattle Baron's Ball. Over 3300 of Dallas' elite shelled out big money to attend the city's ultimate social event.

The 2005 Cattle Baron's weekend net for the American Cancer Society is comfortably over $2.8 million. The ball which has distributed over $25 million to cancer research projects in Dallas County was co-chaired by Amy Turner Carreker and Suzanne Droese. Even gala-shy Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban was there, paying $25,000 for a table.

The live auction was conducted by Mike Jones of the Mike Jones Auction Group who continues to be the "A Team" when it comes to bringing in the big bucks for America's premier social events.

Jones, who followed country music heart throb Jack Ingram had the crowd buzzing when he sold the Mercedes 2006 CLS 55 AMG for $93,500, a Sue Gragg necklace fetched $32,500, trip to Skibo Castle $21,000, two trips to Six Flags brought in $40,000, while a Chef's dinner prepared by Richard Chamberlain-Chamberlain's, Kevin Garvin-Neiman Marcus, David F. Holben-Del Frisco's, Kent Rathbun-Abacus/Jasper's and Jim Severson of Sevy's was swallowed up at $26,000.

PEBBLE BEACH PARTY A SUCCESS FOR ST. JUDE
October 20, 2004

The sixth annual Pebble Beach Party was held on October 30 at the home of Stan and Mary Clare Finney in the Volk Estates area of University Park. The party is in conjunction with a golf tournament held on Monday. The two events raised more than $400,000 for St. Jude.

The silent auction featured trips to Jackson Hole, WY, Beaver Creek, CO, a fantasy dinner for 10 and use of a suite for a Dallas Stars game. The night ended with a live auction, hosted by Auctioneer Mike Jones.

St. Jude is the largest childhood cancer research center in the United States in terms of the number of patients and those successfully treated. Located in Memphis, it is the first institution established for the sole purpose of conducting research into catastrophic childhood diseases, mainly cancer. Joe M. Haggar, of Dallas' Haggar apparel family, is a founding member of the St. Jude board of directors.

Alan and Kathy Stewart chaired the Pebble Beach Party. Honorary friends for the Pebble Beach Party and golf tournament were sports personalities Lee Trevino and his wife Claudia, Pat Summerall and his wife Cherie, Marilynn Smith, Mike Modano and Harrison and Allison Frazar.