North Texas Giving Day Breaks Record, Raising $39 Million in 18 Hours

Some fretted that the outpouring of aid for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma might sap funds from this year's North Texas Giving Day. They were wrong.Last week's 18-hour online fundraiser organized by Communities Foundation of North Texas broke its sixth national record, racking up $39.4 million for local charities in 18 hours. It easily topped last year's $37.3 million in donations. This year's total includes $1.126 million in bonus funds that were doled out as prizes and a 2.88 percent match of every gift."We were just blown away by how generous everybody was," said Giving Day chief Susan Swan Smith. "I'm sure North Texans have given a lot for hurricane relief, so we were delighted that so many people stepped up again."The total included $370,000 for hurricane recovery.By the numbers, 76,000 donors gave 137,638 gifts of $1 to $100,000 to 2,743 nonprofits.Cistercian Preparatory School scored the most dollars for the third consecutive year -- $672,681 -- and North Texas Food Bank recorded the most donations with 2,509.This was the first year that people could register donations early, and $6 million had accrued before the 6 a.m. start on Sept. 14, Smith said.Learn more at northtexasgivingday.org.Silver SupperThe 25th annual Silver Supper on Friday at the Dallas Museum of Art will honor the 75th anniversary of the Hoblitzelle Foundation, which is also the event's presenting sponsor.The foundation's 1987 gift of Esther and Karl Hoblitzelle's English and Irish serving ware is the basis of the museum's esteemed silver collection, a piece of which will be featured on each dinner table.Rusty Duvall and Peggy Sewell co-chair the swank night at the museum.Donors include:$25,000: Gene and Jerry Jones.$20,000-$24,999: Rusty and Bill Duvall, Eugene McDermott Foundation, PlainsCapital Bank, Peggy and Carl Sewell, and Gayle and Paul Stoffel.$10,000-$19,999: Melissa and Trevor Fetter, Jerry Fronterhouse and Annette Simmons, Mary and Bo Howard, J. F. Maddox Foundation and W. W. Lynch Foundation, Vicki and Brian Miller, Lesa and John Oudt, Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. and Vaughn O. Vennerberg II.$5,000-$9,999: Kathy and Gene Bishop, Melanie and Tim Byrne, CES-Holdings, Louise and Guy Griffeth, Jere W. Thompson Jr. and Elizabeth and Carl Webb.Rebecca Enloe Fletcher will chair the 2018 Art Ball on April 21.Get $1,000 Silver Supper seats by calling 214-922-1800 or e-mailing SilverSupper@dma.org.Trigger's ToysA far-flung cadre of top bartenders will meet Sept. 30 to shake and stir internationally-themed libations at Klyde Warren Park for the benefit of Trigger's Toys.The Ultimate Cocktail Experience will feature Iain Griffiths from Dandelyan in London, Ash Hauserman of Blacktail in New York, Ezra Star of Drink in Boston and several others to raise funds for chronically ill children and their families.Admission costs $65 in advance at prekindle.com/event/81626-ultimate-cocktail-experience-dallas or $80 at the door.Follow our coverage of the Dallas area's philanthropic community.  Continue reading...