Junior League of Dallas (JLD) Centennial Milestones Luncheon Co-chairs Lydia Novakov and Isabell Novakov Higginbotham revealed that American media businesswoman, writer and TV personality Martha Stewart will be the featured speaker of the Centennial Milestones Luncheon set for April 21, 2022. In addition, the JLD will honor Mrs. Laura Bush with its Lifetime Achievement Award and Veletta Forsythe Lill with the 2022 Sustainer of the Year award during the luncheon. Sponsors of the 2022 Milestones Luncheon include: Kohl Foundation, presenting sponsor; Sewell Automotive Companies, speaker sponsor; and Origin Bank, VIP reception sponsor. 

Martha Stewart is the founder of the first multi-channel lifestyle company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, an entrepreneur, bestselling author of 99 to-date lifestyle books and Emmy award winning television show host. Reaching more than 100 million devoted fans on a monthly basis through her magazines, television shows, books and products for the home, sold at multiple retail and online outlets, Martha is the “go-to” source for the homemaker. She and her talented staff provide trusted, timely, and useful information on all aspects of everyday living: cooking, entertaining, gardening, home renovating, collecting, organizing, crafting, healthy living, holidays, weddings and pet care, both in print and social media.

Martha has been awarded numerous honors and distinctions from various industries including business, education, television, media, culinary arts, animal welfare and retail. She was included among the 100 most influential men and women of the year in the 2005 TIME magazine’s annual “TIME 100” list and was also named one of "America's 25 Most Influential People" by TIME magazine in 1996. Since founding her company, Martha has been named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women” by Fortune magazine five times, and she was included among the 100 Greatest Living Business Minds in the 2018 Forbes Magazine Centennial issue. In addition, Martha and the Martha Stewart television production team have earned 18 Daytime Emmy Awards for the Martha Stewart Living television show, which received a total of 60 Emmy nominations in ten seasons, and The Martha Stewart Show, which earned 20 Emmy nominations between 2005 – 2012. 

In 2007, Martha unveiled the new Martha Stewart Center for Living at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. The center is an outpatient facility for geriatric medicine, providing clinical care and education for patients, offering training for physicians and coordinating healthy-aging research and practices. She was inspired to create the center by her mother who remained active and engaged in life to the age of 93. In June 2019, Martha opened a second Martha Stewart Center for Living location at Mount Sinai-Union Square dedicated to her grandchildren.

“We are so excited to have Martha Stewart join us for this year’s Centennial Milestones Luncheon. She is a true trailblazer who proves time and again that commitment, dedication and hard work are keys to success, and she sets an example by giving her time and talents generously to numerous causes and nonprofit organizations,” said Isabell Novakov Higginbotham, 2022 Centennial Milestones Luncheon Co-chair.

In celebration of the Junior League of Dallas’ Centennial anniversary, the JLD will present Mrs. Laura Bush with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her excellence in voluntarism and community leadership. This distinguished award honors a Sustaining member who has been a catalyst for community change. Mrs. Bush was an Active member of the Junior League of Midland, Texas, for more than 15 years. She was a member of the board in 1983 and served as Recording Secretary of the Executive Board in 1984.  When Mrs. Bush moved to Dallas in 1989, she maintained her Sustainer status and supported the Junior League of Dallas.

While serving as the First Lady of Texas, and later as First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Bush highlighted groups who needed the help of volunteers across our state, and across our country. Mrs. Bush often gives credit to the Junior League for setting a fine example of how voluntarism and women’s leadership can solve the most complex and difficult issues, improving lives every day.

The 2022 Sustainer of the Year is Veletta Forsythe Lill, who credits the JLD for giving her leadership skills that have served her throughout her life – from nonprofit board service and budgets to the critical issues facing our city. She served as a volunteer and Project Chair for The Family Place, where she learned about the victims and dynamics of domestic violence, and the complexities of an organization that serves multi-layered needs. Ms. Lill also served on the Community Assistance Fund, which she says was “the equivalent of a lightning round on nonprofits, where she was amazed by the League’s ability to respond to needs in such a thoughtful and timely way.” 

Ms. Lill believes her volunteer commitments in the League provided valuable education, preparing her to serve the city of Dallas and dozens of nonprofits over the years. She is best known for serving as a Dallas City Councilmember for eight years representing District 14. Her passion for history and the arts drove her to focus on these topics while working on the City Council. Ms. Lill’s passion for arts and preservation have allowed her to help shape the growth of the Dallas Arts District, including the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Klyde Warren Park, Nasher Sculpture Center, Moody Performances Hall, Crow Museum of Asian Art, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and many more.

“We are thrilled to be able to come together in person this year and know this will be a memorable Centennial event, as we celebrate all of our dynamic members, especially our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Mrs. Laura Bush, and Sustainer of the Year, Veletta Forsythe Lill,” said Lydia Novakov, 2022 Centennial Milestones Luncheon Co-chair. “Mrs. Bush and Ms. Lill used their volunteer and leadership training in the Junior League to advance numerous efforts in their communities and beyond. We are thrilled to be able to honor both of these ladies in this milestone year for the League.”

The Milestones Luncheon is an annual fundraiser benefiting the Junior League of Dallas Community Service Fund that serves as a platform to raise awareness for the programs and issues supported by the JLD, and to recognize the impact and achievements of its volunteers. Proceeds from The Milestones Luncheon allow the JLD to grant approximately $1 million annually to the Dallas community. 

The 2022 Centennial Milestones Luncheon will take place Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Luncheon tickets are $200 each and VIP tickets are $350 each. Centennial Celebration ticket packages will be offered this year and include tickets for the Milestones Luncheon and Centennial Gala, which will be held April 23, 2022. Regular Gala tickets are $500 each and VIP tickets are $700 each.  Sponsorships also are available for the Centennial Milestones Luncheon and Centennial Gala and start at $1,000. For more information, visit www.jld.net/milestones-luncheon.

Started in 2020, the Milestone Member Recognition Program allows guests the unique opportunity to recognize a Junior League of Dallas member who has been a “milestone” in their life or the Dallas community as a colleague, mentor or friend. To learn more, visit www.jld.net/milestone-member/. 

ABOUT JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS

The Junior League of Dallas cultivates leaders who collectively address the critical needs of the community. Founded in 1922, the JLD is one of the largest Junior Leagues in the world, as well as the largest and oldest training organization for women in Dallas. Active members range in age from 22 to 49 with approximately 85% percent of women employed outside of the home. The JLD provides leadership opportunities to nearly 5,000 women each year through more than 26,000 cumulative hours of experiential and formal training. Uniquely member-run, the JLD provides over 130,000 hours in volunteer service and approximately $1 million in funding to area nonprofits each year. For more information, please visit www.jld.net or Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Katherine Mason, founder and CEO of SculptHouse, was recently named a Lagree Fitness Master Trainer. Katherine is one of 25 individuals from around the world who were recently selected by Sebastien Lagree to participate in the Level 3 certification program at the Lagree Fitness headquarters in Los Angeles. Participants were all previously certified in Level 1 and 2, and as a Lagree Master Trainer, Katherine will now be able to certify individuals in Lagree Fitness. Katherine holds certifications in Atlanta and Dallas for individuals interested in becoming Lagree Fitness instructors or those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the method. She also teaches regularly in both the Dallas and Atlanta studios.

In the past, Lagree has held all certifications in California, or studios have had to hire a Master Trainer from California to come to their studio. Now, Master Trainers are located in select cities where local studios and instructors can attend these trainings or studios can hire Master Trainers regionally. Katherine is focused on Texas and the Southeast.

Katherine is excited to take on this new role as fitness is her passion, which has become a lifestyle. Becoming a Master Trainer is not something she randomly chose to be one day, but rather a goal she worked hard to achieve for eight years with her strong involvement, education, certifications, and teachings with Lagree Fitness. “I think you determine your own destiny through good decisions, hard work, and putting yourself in the right circumstances,” she said.

ABOUT SCULPTHOUSE

SculptHouse is where fitness meets fashion. With brick-and-mortar workout studios and activewear boutiques in Atlanta and Dallas, as well as SculptHouse.com: an established e-commerce platform that reaches a global audience. SculptHouse stands out among its competitors by being the world’s first to combine the Megaformer – a full-body strength and conditioning machine – and treadmill, offering a cutting-edge human-powered workout. Each studio stands alongside a retail boutique with more than 75 athleisure and lifestyle brands from around the world. These machines are ideal for athletes recovering from injuries, as they embody a low-impact and high-intensity approach. Or for anyone seeking the perfect blend of toning and cardio combined. This self-propelled treadmill has also been proven to burn 30 percent more energy during a workout than a traditional treadmill, highlighting both its safety and efficiency. The boutique component of the brand was inspired by founder Katherine Mason’s modeling background, where she worked with major fitness magazines and up-and-coming fitness fashion brands, exposing her to the emerging Athleisure industry. As a life-long athlete with an innate interest in fashion, it didn’t take her long to fall in love with this new segment of the industry. She quickly became the person back home that people would come to for advice on the newest lines and ways to elevate their activewear wardrobe, which sparked the second part of the idea for SculptHouse: an Athleisure boutique. SculptHouse’s mission is to help its clients lead healthier, happier and more confident lives through fitness and fashion.

Float Balloon Bar will partner with Clayton Dabney for Kids with Cancer and Community Partners of Dallas by donating 10% of proceeds for each Christmas Cheer Balloon purchased this year. The classic Elf Balloons have a number of different customizations available, and each balloon comes with the option of a 36-inch red, green or clear confetti balloon. Tassel options are red and green, red and white, or green and white, with personalization of either ’Surprise I’m Back!’ or 'Guess Who’s Back, ME!’ included.

Solid Classic Elf Balloons and Christmas Cheer Balloons are $60; Clear Elf Balloons (with customer provided elf inside the balloon) are $70; Custom tassels or balloon colors are an additional $5, and custom personalization is an additional $10.

Also available are Elf Balloon Kits, which are perfect for families outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth area that want their elf to arrive in style. Both Christmas Cheer Balloons and Classic Elf Balloons are available to be shipped in kits. Helium is not included. For more information on the balloons or to place an order, visit http://www.floatballoonbar.com/elfbig.html.

The last day to submit an order is one week prior to requested delivery date. The delivery dates are as follows:

·       Friday, November 26: Fort Worth, Arlington, Southlake, Flower Mound, Coppell, and Mid Cities

·       Saturday, November 27: Park Cities, Dallas, and Plano

·       Sunday, November 28: Park Cities, Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Lewisville  

Clayton Dabney for Kids with Cancer provides needy families, with children in the last stages of terminal cancer, assistance in creating everlasting memories by providing last wishes, gifts, special events, family travel, and financial assistance with household bills. Clayton Dabney’s assistance is provided through the parents and is anonymous to the child. Medicine of the Heart, its primary outreach program, has helped 5,000 families and raised more than $4 million to terminally ill children and their needy families across the United States. As a non-profit, charitable organization, they depend solely on the community for funding. For additional information, visit www.claytondabney.org.

CC Young, a premier, non-profit senior living community near White Rock Lake, will celebrate its Centennial in 2022. This special anniversary will celebrate CC Young’s legacy and achievement since receiving its charter as a home for the elderly in 1922. Since then, CC Young’s mission continues to be the same…serving others and fostering premier environments where every life at every age is valued and enriched.

Throughout its rich history, CC Young’s campus and programs have had a tremendous impact on individuals, families, partner organizations and the local community. CC Young is asking the public to help by sharing historical photos, articles, memories and connections. Whether you had a family member who lived at CC Young, a friend you visited on campus, or a special memory of the campus during your time in Dallas, we want to hear from you!  CC Young will showcase its incredible history throughout the Centennial, and we invite our friends, family and community to help us celebrate this milestone!

Submissions are welcome through email or snail mail, and we request submissions by Wednesday, December 15, 2021. You may reach us by email at ccy100@ccyoung.org, or if you prefer to mail memorabilia, please send to: CC Young Centennial, 4847 W Lawther Dr. #100, Dallas, Texas 75214. Please be sure to include personal information (name, phone number and email) so we may reach you with any questions or for additional detail. Please contact us at ccy100@ccyoung.org with any questions.

Many of Dallas’ most influential business and civic leaders recently gathered to support Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep’s inaugural fall fundraiser, Grove to Grove. Last month, Honorary Event Chairs Carolyn and Jere Thompson, Co-Chairs Karen and Mark Carney and additional host committee members attended a private reception at the home of event Co-Chairs Patty and Mark Langdale where school leaders and students shared insights on the positive influence Cristo Rey Dallas is having on its surrounding community of Pleasant Grove and the immeasurable impact the event will have on its students’ future.

Grove to Grove will take place Friday, September 23, 2016 at 3015 Trinity Groves and committee hosts, including Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, J.C. Penney CEO Marvin Ellison, incoming Crystal Charity Ball Chair Pam Perella and community volunteer Beth Thoele, have volunteered their time and talent leading up to the highly anticipated event. Funds raised throughout the evening, which will feature live entertainment, a seated dinner and silent auction, will directly benefit the students of Cristo Rey Dallas and provide the financing necessary for the enhancement of on-campus facilities.

“Cristo Rey Dallas is continuously striving to bridge the gap between north and south Dallas — between education and opportunity — and we are so grateful to all of the host committee members who have gathered here tonight and who so strongly believe in the work we’re doing,” said Cristo Rey Dallas President Kelby Woodard. “Grove to Grove is about fostering a relationship between our school community, the Pleasant Grove community, and members of the Dallas business community. But most importantly, the event will further Cristo Rey Dallas’ mission to enable our students to become men and women of purpose and service.”

In addition to Woodard, attendees heard from Cristo Rey Dallas Board Chairman Richard Joyner, Grove to Grove Co-Chairs Karen Carney and Patty Langdale and Cristo Rey Dallas students Lauren and Viviana, who thanked committee members for supporting a school that is helping them pursue their dreams. The high school freshmen also spoke about their experience at CBRE and Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins, Crouch & Ungerman through the school’s innovative Corporate Work Study Program. The model allows students to gain firsthand work experience at some of the country’s largest and most respected corporations. Through the program, partners like AT&T, Ernst & Young, Hunt Oil Group and KPMG cover 60 percent of students’ tuition costs and provide them with entry-level positions that teach participants invaluable skills and prepare them for a lifetime of leadership.

“It’s our hope that Grove to Grove will serve as a connecting point between our students and individuals in the Dallas business community who would like to be a part of the incredible work happening through this program,” said Cristo Rey Dallas Corporate Work Study Director Gunnar Rawlings. “We see remarkable transformations take place daily in the lives of students who participate in our Corporate Work Study Program. They are excited to learn. They are eager to better themselves. They are passionate about making a difference in their communities and using what they learn in the office and in the classroom to help others. Through Grove to Grove, Cristo Rey Dallas will be able to continue empowering these students to have a tremendous positive impact, not only on our city but on the world.”

For Grove to Grove sponsorship opportunities or additional information, please email Lisa Brunts at lbrunts@cristoreydallas.org or visit cristoreydallas.org.

About Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep

Located in Pleasant Grove, Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep provides economically disadvantaged students of all faiths with a Catholic college preparatory education enabling them to become men and women of purpose and service. Through a rigorous curriculum, integrated with a hands-on professional work experience, students graduate ready to succeed in college and in life. Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep is endorsed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND). To learn more about Cristo Rey Dallas, visit cristoreydallas.org. 

About The Cristo Rey Network

The Cristo Rey Network is comprised of 30 high schools that provide a quality, Catholic, college preparatory education to urban young students who live in communities with limited educational options. Its mission is to transform urban America one student at a time. The schools utilize an innovative Corporate Work Study Program to help make private education affordable to student who might not otherwise have access to a quality education. To learn more about The Cristo Rey Network, visit cristoreynetwork.org. To learn more about Cristo Rey Dallas, visit cristoreydallas.org.