Anna Quindlen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, will speak in Fort Worth at a luncheon for Planned Parenthood.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Anna Quindlen will speak Friday at Planned Parenthood of North Texas’ Annual Luncheon, held this year at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel.

The third woman to write for The New York Times’ op-ed page, Quindlen wrote the award-winning column “Public and Private.” She also wrote for Newsweek magazine for 10 years and has authored fiction and non-fiction best-sellers. The married mother of three is a graduate of Barnard College where she chairs the board of trustees.

Co-chairing the Fort Worth luncheon are Marinda Allender and Kathy Spicer. Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of reproductive health services in the state of Texas, serving 84,000 patients last year.

Sponsorships are available, and those at the $2,500 level or higher will be invited to a cocktail reception Thursday. For more information, call 817-878-2650, extension 10154.

Bill Weir will speak at the 2012 Go Red For Women Luncheon in Fort Worth.

ABC news anchor Bill Weir will headline the annual Go Red For Women Luncheon (www.goredtarrant.org) Feb. 10 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Weir, who has anchored “Nightline,” the weekend edition of “Good Morning America” and “iCaught,” will speak at the fundraiser for the American Heart Association. A mimosa reception will begin the festivities at 10:30 a.m. while Estee Lauder will offer lipstick touch-up stations.

Serving as luncheon co-chairs are Laura Quenette McWhorter and Lynny Sankary.

Individual tickets cost $100, and prices for tables of 10 begin at $5,000. For additional information, contact Nicole Zimmerman at 817-698-5411.

Paul Salos will bring the music of Frank Sinatra to Grapevine.

Tickets are on sale now for “A Tribute to Love,” a fundraiser for the Summer Santa organization (www.summersanta.org).

The charity event is set for Feb. 12 at Palace Arts Center, Grapevine. A pre-concert reception is planned for 6 p.m., with entertainment scheduled at 7 p.m. Tickets, priced at $50 and $75 each, may be purchased at www.palace-theatre.com.

Paul Salos, a finalist on the TV show, “America’s Got Talent,” will perform a Frank Sinatra tribute concert. His singing style has entertained audiences from Paris to Las Vegas performing Sinatra’s signature vocal and musical numbers.

The event will include the reception catered by Cotton Patch Café, chocolates passed at intermission and roses for the ladies in attendance.

Proceeds will benefit Summer Santa, the largest children’s charity in northeast Tarrant County. Summer Santa provides area children with summer camp scholarships, back-to-school clothes, seasonal soccer activities and medical physicals. Since 1997, Summer Santa has aided more than 35,000 children.

Kristin and Victor Vandergriff will serve as honorary co-chairs of the 11th Annual “Thanks for the Memories” Dinner and Auction, set for April 26 at Ridglea Country Club.

The annual fundraiser for the North Central Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org/northcentraltexas) will boast the theme “Lights, Camera, Action!” This year’s presenting sponsor will be  Carolyn Holloway, in memory of her late husband E. Graham Holloway.

The Alzheimer’s Association - North Central Texas Chapter serves 40 counties in the north central region of Texas, with offices in Abilene, Fort Worth, Waco and Wichita Falls. The association offers support, information and services, including a free, 24-hour help line at 800-272-3900. 

Sponsorships for the April event are available by contacting Evey Hull, special events coordinator, at 817-336-4949 or evey.hull@alz.org.  

Scott Murray will emcee the 2012 Celebrity Chefs benefit.

Chefs specializing in everything from Italian to desserts, seafood to steaks will showcase their cuisine at the 6th Annual Celebrity Chefs event. The annual fundraiser is set for 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Southlake Hilton.

Besides sampling the chefs’ fare, party-goers will have the opportunity to participate in a live auction and raffle. Serving as emcee will be Scott Murray, Dallas-Fort Worth TV personality. Proceeds will benefit Mid-Cities Supporters of SafeHaven (http://www.mid-citiessos.org).

Tickets for the charity event cost $124 per person and may be purchased by contacting Janet Smith at janetmsmith@sbcglobal.net or call 817-788-9592.

Chefs and their participating restaurants will be Jaime Aguilar, Copeland’s of New Orleans; Hans Bergmann, Cacharel Restaurant; Jon Bonnell, Bonnell’s Restaurant; Otto Borsich, Central Market Southlake; Susan Clark, Sweet Memories Cakes and Catering; Ed Esquivel, The Wildwood Grille; Anthony Felli, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse; and Craig Ford, Timarron Country Club.

Also included will be Jason Harper, Trio Colleyville; Kyle Jones, Truluck’s Seafood Steak and Crab House; Brian Olenjack, Olenjack’s Grille; Donatella Trotti, Nonna Tata; Chris Wilson, Market Street; Mark Yamada, Trophy Club Country Club; and Charles Youts, The Classic Cafe.

Mid-Cities SOS, founded in 1985, creates awarenss of and supports programs for dealing with domestic violence.

Valerie Holloway Skinner, vice president of The Graham and Carolyn Holloway Family Foundation, accepted the award at the 31st annual Philanthropy Day luncheon in Fort Worth.

The Graham and Carolyn Holloway Family Foundation was named the Outstanding Philanthropists at Fort Worth’s 31st Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, held this year at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel.

Accepting the award was Valerie Holloway Skinner, the foundation’s vice president and the daughter of the foundation’s founders.

Also honored were Cleve Lancaster of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas as the Outstanding Professional Fundraising Executive and Heather and Elliot Goldman of The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever as Oustanding Volunteer Fundraisers. Recognized as the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy was Will Lourcey of Friends Reaching Our Goals and as the Outstanding Philanthropic Organization was Speedway Children’s Charities.

Special recognition was given to Valleau Wilkie, who retired this year after 38 years as executive director of the Sid Richardson Foundation.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Fort Worth Metro Chapter (www.afpfortworth.com) hosts the annual luncheon. The chapter, established in 1980, is one of 227 chapters worldwide.

Parmesan Potato Gratin will be on the menu at the Nov. 29th dinner.

FORT WORTH _ Chef Lou Lambert will pair recipes from his new cookbook, Big Ranch, Big City, at a special dinner at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Lambert’s Steak, Seafood and Whiskey, 2731 White Settlement Road.

The hearty cowboy cuisine found in the new cookbook will be paired with Fort Worth’s Rahr Beers in this stop on the Texas Toast Culinary Tours. The evening also will feature the book’s co-author, June Naylor, and its photographer, Ralph Lauer. Fritz Rahr of Rahr & Sons Brewing Company will discuss the beer pairings.

After graduating from The Culinary Institute of America, Lambert polished his cooking techniques in New York City and San Francisco before opening his own restaurants in Austin and Fort Worth. Big Ranch, Big City, his first cookbook, spotlights 125 recipes that combines his west Texas heritage with his classical training.

Cost for the special dinner  is $95 per person and includes appetizers, four courses with beer pairings andan autographed copy of Big Ranch, Big City. For more information, visit www.texastoastculinarytour.com.

On the menu will be Parmesan Potato Gratin, and the recipe is below.

Parmesan Potato Gratin
makes 8 to 10 servings

2 T. unsalted butter
3 C. heavy cream
1 1/2 C. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. white pepper
2 t. coarsely chopped fresh thyme
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
3 lbs. russet 
potatoes, peeled
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish or a 3-quart Dutch oven with 1 tablespoon of butter.
In a large mixing bowl, combine cream, 3/4 cup of the Parmesan, the salt, white pepper, thyme and nutmeg. Evenly slice the potatoes 1/8-inch thick and place in bowl with the seasoned cream, stirring to coat the potatoes.
Arrange the potato slices in the casserole dish, overlapping them like shingles on a roof. Pour cream mixture remaining in the bowl evenly over the potatoes; the cream should come almost to the top layer of potatoes. Press down on the potatoes to evenly compact them into the cream.
Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan over the potatoes and then dot the top of cheese with small pieces of the remaining tablespoon butter. Bake the gratin, uncovered, in the middle of the oven until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let the gratin rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. To reheat, cover the gratin with foil and place in 275°F oven for at least 40 to 45 minutes.

Hal and Diane Brierley

DALLAS _ The Greater Dallas Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals, with presenting sponsor KERA, will honor seven recipients at the 26^h Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon Nov. 18 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas.

The awards luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will be emceed by long-time supporter Scott Murray in the hotel’s Landmark Ballroom.  Luncheon chair is Tanya Downing, and co-chair is Abi Erickson.

Award recipients are: 

• Diane and Hal Brierley, Outstanding Philanthropists.  The couple has focused on the arts (AT&T Performing Arts Center, Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet School, The Dallas Opera, Dallas Symphony Association, Dallas Theater Center, Shakespeare Dallas TACA), animals (the Dallas Zoo and the SPCA), healthcare (American Cancer Society, Baylor Medical Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center), education (Harvard, Regis College, the University of Maryland), as well as promoting North Texas (Super Bowl XLV).  The Brierleys donated $8 million for the construction of the AT&T Performing Arts Center.  Their recent gift to the Dallas Zoological Society of $1.5 million is the largest single gift the couple has given to any charitable organization outside of the performing arts.  Named in their honor are the Resident Acting Company at the Dallas Theater Center; the Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Research at UT Southwestern; and the Principal Trumpet Chair at Dallas Symphony.
•  The Rees-Jones Foundation, Outstanding Foundation. Founded in 2006 by Trevor Rees-Jones and his wife Jan, the foundation focuses on projects affecting community development, youth, education, human services, and medical and mental health.  In its first years of operation, The Rees-Jones Foundation averaged $35 million in annual giving.  Its largest gifts to date, each in the aggregate amount of $25 million have been for construction of the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the construction of a new Parkland Hospital, and the support of Circle Ten Boy Scouts and its Scout Reach program. It has also been a major contributor to the SPCA of Texas and Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, among many others. 
• ExxonMobil, Outstanding Corporation. The petroleum and petrochemical company supplies energy needed around the world. In 2010, Exxon Mobil Corporation, together with its employees and retirees, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $237 million in contributions worldwide.  In 2010 in North Texas alone, more than $6 million and 21,000 employee volunteer hours were donated to local nonprofits and area universities.
• Fredye Factor, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser. Factor has organized volunteers for more than 20 years, planning and supervising more than 25 fundraising events.  She has been involved with numerous civic groups including  the Crystal Charity Ball, the Texas Medical Association Foundation, Ronald McDonald House,  the Alzheimer’s Association, The Science Place and St. Phillip’s School and Community Center.  She is past president of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League and is currently co-chairing the Baylor Foundation’s “Celebrating Women” Luncheon.  Factor was
• Deborah Montonen, Outstanding Fundraising Executive. She has spent the last 30 years in the philanthropic world both funding and fundraising, with a primary focus in social service and health care organizations, including six years at KERA.  She presently serves as chief development officer for LaunchAbility, formerly Special Care and Career Services.  She has been active with the Junior League of Dallas and London, the Ballet Folklorico Board of Directors and the YMCA Urban Services Board of Management.
•  Nicholas Cobb, Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy. Cobb, 15 and a sophomore at Allen High School, started a nonprofit called Comfort and Joy when he was 12 to help the homeless.  His passion to help began at age four when he saw homeless people living under a bridge.  Through the years he has participated in numerous projects,  and for his Eagle Scout project in 2009, he set a goal to provide new winter coats for Samaritan Inn residents, raising $3,400 and buying 129 coats.  Comfort and Joy was named one of 13 recipients of USA Weekend Magazine’s Make a Difference Day, and Cobb was awarded a $10,000 prize in Washington, D.C. in 2011, funded by the Paul Newman Foundation.   
• Becky Sykes, Special Recognition Award. Sykes is only the third person to receive this award in the 26-year history of the National Philanthropy Day Luncheon in Dallas.  Sykes, the founder and immediate past president and CEO of the Dallas Women’s Foundation – now the second largest women’s fund of the 170 funds in the world – will be honored for her leadership in philanthropy and the impact she has had on philanthropy and the nonprofit sector in our community.  Dallas Women’s Foundation is a public foundation that strengthens the community by increasing the investment in women and girls and empowering women’s philanthropy.  Throughout her career, Sykes has been active in public policy, nonprofit management,strategic planning and fundraising.   

 The Greater Dallas Chapter of AFP was among the first to begin celebrating National Philanthropy Day in 1981, and this year the luncheon is expected to draw  more than700.   National Philanthropy Day celebrates the great contributions philanthropy, and those who work in the philanthropic process, make to our community.   

Luncheon tickets cost $85 each, $850 for a table of 10, or $1,250 for a premium table of 10.   For further information on tickets and sponsorships, visit afpdallas.org or contact Madeleine Crouch at 972-233-9107, ext. 204, afpchapteroffice@afpdallas.org.

Suzie Humphreys

Humorist Suzie Humphreys, best known for her years as an on-air personality with KVIL Radio, headlined the 2011 Shining Stars Awards Luncheon recently at the Hurst Conference Center.

The annual event, sponsored by The Arts League, benefits the Arts Council Northeast. Each year local organizations honor outstanding members as their “shining stars.”

Those recognized this year were:

• Linda Pavona, Altrusa International Inc. of DFW
• Margie Poole, American Association of University Women–Northeast Tarrant County Branch
•  Rebecca Barksdale, Arts Council Northeast
• Wanda Thompson, Battered Women’s Foundation
• Sue Parent, Christmas is for Children
• Debbie Snyder, Circle of Friends
• Lynn Stillman, Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Jean Neisius, Colleyville Public Library Foundation
• Paula McCollough, Colleyville Woman’s Club
• Donna Wilbanks, Community Enrichment Center
• Olivia Pace, Community Storehouse
• Kim Harrison, Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation
• Linda Pekowski, GRACE
• Patty Recca, Greater Keller Women’s Club
• Gretchen Carter, Greater Southlake Women’s Society
• Linda Huggins, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce
• Pam Conley, HEBISD Education Foundation
• Dottie Nicholson, I Can Still Shine
• Diana Behrens, Metroport Meals on Wheels
• Cindy Flint, Mid Cities Fine Artists
• Patty Shaw, Mid-Cities Supporters of SafeHaven of Tarrant County
• Marlene Turner, North Texas SNAP
• Diane Johnson, Rocky Top Therapy Center
• Monica Mainard, Southlake Women’s Club
• Diana Panther, Summer Santa
• Sharon Mayes, The Arts League
• Nancy Doyle, Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce
• Barbara Hentzen, Trinity Arts Guild