Cristo Rey Dallas’ Grow the Grove: The Cocktail Party co-chairs Nancy Cain Marcus and Nelda Cain Pickens were joined by nearly 70 sponsors and host committee members for a celebration held in their honor on Wednesday, November 14 at the home of Joyce and Larry Lacerte.

Attendees arrived and mingled as they enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Midway through the reception, Kelby Woodard, president of Cristo Rey Dallas, gathered the crowd for brief remarks.

Woodard thanked the generous hosts of the evening Joyce and Larry Lacerte, who also served as Grow the Grove underwriting co-chairs alongside Liza and Will Lee and Maryann and Frank Mihalopoulos.  He also recognized event co-chairs Nancy Cain Marcus and Nelda Cain Pickens, honorary chairs Patty and Mark Langdale, and presenting sponsor Tolleson Wealth Management for ensuring the event’s success.  And last, he recognized Mayor Mike Rawlings, who was honored at Grow the Grove on November 17 for his inspiration, dedication and diligent work for his signature campaign, Grow South, uniting the northern and southern sectors of our city. In closing, he shared some of the highlights of this year at Cristo Rey Dallas, including that 2019 will mark the first year that Cristo Rey Dallas will have a graduating class, with some students already receiving early acceptances by 4-year universities.

Following, Richard Joyner, president of Tolleson Wealth Management, took a few minutes to share why Tolleson is committed to Cristo Rey Dallas, specifically highlighting the college prep school’s Corporate Work Study Program, an innovative model of education that gives students a Catholic, college-preparatory education while earning work experience in a corporate setting.

Cristo Rey Dallas senior Ryan Olson then followed and shared what attending the school has meant to him and his fellow classmates.  In closing he added his gratitude to all who have made Cristo Rey Dallas possible to him and the 484 students who attend the school, including the many sponsors of Grow the Grove.

 The 2019 Grow the Grove: The Cocktail Party sponsors are: 

Presenting Sponsor - Tolleson Wealth Management

Fuel our Students ($20,000) - Anthony Family Foundation

Buy our Books ($10,000) - Joyce and Lawrence Lacerte; Sharon and Tom McNearney; Maryann and Fran Mihalopoulos; Nancy Perot and Rod Jones; Carolyn and Karl Rathjen; and Mary and Mike Terry

 Gap and a half ($4,800 +) - Ashford Hospitality Advisors; Lynn and Win Bell; Suzanne Arkoosh Caruso; Shelly and Tom Codd; Irma and Alfredo Duarte; Laura and Jim Einspanier; Maria Carmen and Raul Estrada; Frost Bank; Hall Group; Gray, Reed & McGraw; Beverly Goulet; Alex and Ford Halbardier; Jane and Edwin Jenevein; Cheryl and Richard Joyner; Cecilia and Kip Kernodle; Nancy Cain Marcus; Mary Blake and Chuck Meadows; Laura and Scott Moore; Vicki and David Moran; Anne and Scot O’Brien; Pam and Gary Patsley; Nelda Cain Pickens; Plains Capital Bank; and Pat and Pete Schenkel

Fill the Gap ($3,200+) - Nancy and Robert Dedman Foundation; Judy and John Dryden; Kara and Peter Gehan; Patty and Mark Langdale; Kathleen and Frank Lauinger; Jodi and Brian Neitzel; and Susan and Jon Piot

 Half the Gap ($1,600+)  - Walter Adams; Rosenblatt Family Fund of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation; Betty and Russell Bellamy; Inette and Joshua Brown; Catholic Diocese of Dallas; Sue and Lee Coleman; Lee Cullum; Dal-Tile; Denise and John Dunlap; Eiseman Jewels NorthPark Center; Karen and Steve Fox; Margie and Ray Francis; Sue and Jim Gragg; Greg Greene; Haynes & Boone; Irma and Christopher Henry; Kate and John Kunasek; Liza and Will Lee; Muffin and John Lemak; Rosemarie Marshall and Lee Wilkins; Vicki and Brian Miller; Reena and Jim Morris; Carol and Bruce Orr; Pam and Vin Perella; Katherine and Eric Reeves; School Sisters of Notre Dame; Joanna and David Shuart;  Joan and Tom Stevens; Maria and Bobby Stover; The Hoglund Foundation; The Horchow Family; The J.M. Haggar Jr. Family Foundation; Katie and Bill Weaver Charitable Trust; UT Southwestern; Allison and Jason Waldie; Susannah and Michael Wisenbaker; and Ana and Jim Yoder.

For more information about Cristo Rey Dallas visit cristoreydallas.org.