More than 500 circus chic revelers attended the 2013 Ronald McDonald House of Dallas Young Friends spring party on March 22 at the Dallas Museum of Art, but this was not your typical circus. Co-chairs Claire Liedtke and Allie Stensrud planned quite the evening of fun at this year’s circus-themed “Beneath the Big Top” event. With the stunning visual drama of red and white striped circus décor and the theatrical allure of the three-ring circus, the Dale Chihuly glass wall served as the perfect backdrop.
Silent auction co-chairs Meghan Looney and Medley Crank had plenty for people to bid on including trips to Aspen, Napa, lake houses and locally to Hotel ZaZa and The Ritz-Carlton Dallas. Sports fans placed high bids on an all-inclusive suite for four to a Mavericks game and four front-row seats in the Commissioners Box at a Texas Rangers game. Additional items included a multi-colored mink jacket, a couture necklace from Proenza Schouler, and amazing one-of-a-kind home items from William-Christopher Design, Jan Showers, Charles Howard, John Robshaw and more.
Young Friends noshed on mini State Fair corn dogs, crab cakes, sliders, a french fry bar, mini caesar salads, and a long candy bar full of sweets for dessert.
DJ Lucy Wrubel spun rockin' tunes beneath the Chihuly glass, while dancers did the "Wobble," teaching their friends how to bust a move on the dance floor.
Liedtke said, “The Young Friends party is a great time to celebrate with friends, while raising much needed funds for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas to serve families. Allie and I are honored to do our part.”
Spotted at the party in addition to co-chairs Claire Liedtke and Allie Stensrud were Leigh and Russ Johnson, Abby Peck, Ashley Hightower, Anne Stroube, James Carroll, Ward Eastman, Jenny Masten, Page Stafford, Krystal Schlegel, Carl Sewell III, Merrick Egan, Meghan Looney, Medley Crank, and Paige Chenault.
A special thanks to this year’s sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor is Jackson Durham Events.
Diamond Sponsors are Gatsby Event Branding, The Little Bean, PaperCity Magazine, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater North Texas and Sewell Automotive Companies.
Platinum Sponsors are Anonymous, Benchmark Bank and Benchmark Title, Freeman Auto Group, WSC Oil & Gas Corporation, Alicia and Chris Winn and Western Extrusions Corp.
Gold Sponsors are Gil and Tricia Besing, DFW Paving, LLC, Elizabeth Toon Charities, Marion and Cadell S. Liedtke Family Charitable Foundation, Spring Creek Barbeque, Stonelake Capital Partners, LLC and Uber.
For those interested in learning about or joining the Young Friends group, visit here or contact Carrie Arnot of the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, at 214-631-7354 or carnot@rmhdallas.org.