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.

Tanya Brown, sister of the late Nicole Brown Simpson

Tanya Brown, youngest sister of the late Nicole Brown Simpson, will be the featured speaker at the annual Legacy of Women Awards Luncheon Oct. 14 at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel.

Tanya Brown and her family created The Nicole Brown Foundation in 1994 to educate communities on strategies to prevent domestic violence. Nicole Brown Simpson’s famous husband, O.J. Simpson was accuse of her murder in 1994 before being found not guilty in a controversial decision. Tanya Brown recently was the keynote speaker at The Sixth Annual Conference to Promote Mental Health and Prevent Mental Illness in Washington, D.C.

A frequent guest on national TV programs, Tanya Brown is completing her master’s degree in counseling at Argosy University.

The speaker will be just one of many highlights at the luncheon that honors outstanding community women in a variety of professions.

Winners and their categories are:

Arts–Arlington: Shirley Orr, Theatre Arlington;Fort Worth: Deborah Ferguson, NBC 5; and Northeast Tarrant County: Cheri Irwin, portrait artist

Business–Arlington: Connie Gauntt, Gene Allen’s Gift Stores; Fort Worth: Patricia Cole, Decker Jones; and Northeast Tarrant County: Roxann Taylor, Roxann Taylor and Associates Realtors.

Education–Arlington: Judy Leflore, University of Texas at Arlington; Fort Worth: Triesha Light;Northeast Tarrant County: Shae Stanfield-McGarrah, Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district.

Health and Human Services–Arlington: Jackie Finch, Cancer Research Foundation of North Texas; Fort Worth: Dr. Karen Albritton, Cook Children’s Medical Center; and Northeast Tarrant County: Jenny Ellis, Texas Health HEB Hospital.

Volunteerism–Arlington: Laura Distefano; Fort Worth: Martine Ginsberg and Ginny Richards, Gill Children’s Services; and Northeast Tarrant County: Karen Parsinen.

SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a nonprofit organization that exists to end family violence, operates two emergency shelters.  In 2010, SafeHaven sheltered more than 2,338 adult and child victims and provided non-residential services through our Resource Centers to more than 3,300 other clients.

For more information, visit  www.safehaventc.org or call 817-535-6462.

I don’t even need a luncheon to encourage me to wear red, but in case you do, I’ve got a suggestion.

American Heart Association’s annual Tarrant County Go Red for Women Luncheon has been set for Feb. 25th at the Omni Hotel Fort Worth. What to wear? Red, of course!

Co-chairs are Michelle Marlow and Sandra Tuomey. Save-the-date cards went out this week on beautiful sparkly white paper, accented in red and a little something extra. Attached to the back was a temporary heart tattoo with the suggestion to “wear it with pride.”

So my guess is that on Feb. 25th, we’ll have lots of lovely ladies sporting red frocks and a well-placed tattoo.

Want more info? Check out www.GoRedTarrant. org or call 817 698-5411.

Fifteen women who will be honored at SafeHaven’s 18^thLegacy of Women Awards luncheon, set for Oct. 29 at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. 

The women selected represent diverse aspects of the arts, business, education, health and human services, and volunteerism. This year’s format was changed to include an honoree in each category from three geographic areas: northeast Tarrant County, greater Fort Worth and greater Arlington. 

The 15 chosen will be recognized at the October luncheon where Darren McGrady, former chef to Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth will serve as keynote speaker. The event serves as a fundraiser for SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending family violence. SafeHaven of Tarrant County operates two emergency shelters that can accommodate 174 women and children in Tarrant County.

The 2010 honorees and their categories include:

Arts

Arlington: LeeAnn Chenoweth-Lawson, president, producer and violinist for Timeless concerts

Fort Worth: Rebecca Low, owner and sculptor at Rebecca Low Sculptural Metal Gallery and Studio.

Northeast Tarrant County:  DeeAnn Blair, executive producer at Artisan Center Theater.

 Business

Arlington: Taylor Gray, owner of The Shoppes at Brownstone Village.

Fort Worth: Shirlee Gandy, owner at RPM Commercial.

Northeast Tarrant County: Susan Clark, owner of Sweet Memories Cakes and Catering.

Education

Mansfield: Dee Lemser, retired teacher at Mansfield ISD.

Fort Worth: Mary Cinatl, director of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth

Northeast Tarrant County: Janice Kane, executive director of the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Education Foundation.

Health & Human Services

Arlington: Donna Bertram, vice president and chief nursing officer at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital.

Fort Worth: Susan Sward-Comunelli, president of the board and medical director of Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas.

Northeast Tarrant County: State Rep. Vicki Truitt, District 98.

Volunteerism

Arlington: Cristy Duke, volunteer for Junior League of Arlington, the Boys and Girls Club, The Oakridge School and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Fort Worth: Gail Landreth, volunteer for Historic Fort Worth, Inc., Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Jewel Charity and The Junior League of Fort Worth.

Northeast Tarrant County: Shirley Schollmeyer, volunteer for the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, The City of Colleyville, Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Colleyville Women’s Club and  the Colleyville Garden Club.

For more information, visit the website at www.safehaventc.org or call 817 535-6462.

Dr. Manucher Nazarian

At the 2010 Tarrant County Heart Ball, Dr. Manucher Nazarian will be recognized as the “Leader of Heart” for his contributions to the community.

He will be honored at the annual black-tie event (www.americanheart.org/tarrantcountytxheartball), scheduled for May 15 at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. Heart Ball Chairmen Lou and Nick Martin have chosen a  ”Rat Pack”‘ theme for the evening, which will feature dinner, silent and live auctions and entertainment by Trey and the Tritones. 

Live auction items will include an 18-person luxury suite for a Dallas Cowboys  regular season home game, a package for the Breeder’s Cup at Churchill Downs in Kentucky and an F-35 experience at Lockheed

For further information, contact MaryJane Stephenson on 817-698-5432 or email maryjane.stephenson@heartball.org.

Chairwoman Sheila Jayne Reynolds

Tarrant County’s annual Go Red For Women event, sponsored by the American Heart Association, is set for Feb. 16 at The Omni Fort Worth Hotel.

The fundraiser will begin with a mimosa reception at 10:30 a.m., which will include a silent auction. Also featured will be Estee Lauder lipstick stations where women can find the perfect shade of red.

With Sheila Jane Reynolds serving as luncheon chairwoman and Joyce Pate Capper taking the honorary chairwoman post, the luncheon and program are scheduled for noon. The event, taking place during National Heart Month, emphasizes heart health for women will be themed “Faces of Heart.”

Reynolds, who lost her mother to heart disease, said  ‘My mother really wanted to live a long and healthy life but didn’t have the chance.  This is why I ‘Go Red’ this February with the American Heart Association in Tarrant County. Together, we can all make a difference and save a life right here in our community.’

For more information or to purchase a ticket, call 817-698-5411.

Barclay Berdan

More than 500 guests were entertained by the Emerald City Band at Tarrant County’s annual Heart Ball, an event which raised more than $845,000 earlier this month at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. 

The proceeds will fund the American Heart Association’s research for childhood heart defects, heart disease and stroke in Tarrant County. 

Also at the recent gala, a special award was presented to Barclay Berdan, senior executive vice president of system alignment and performance for Texas Health Resources. Berdan was named the first-ever recipient of the Leader with Heart Award for his advocacy on behalf of the American Heart Association. 

In addition to dancing, the black-tie event featured dinner, a silent auction and a live auction. Acting as honorary chairs were Kay and Ben Fortson, while Lisa and Ben J. Fortson III served as dinner chairs.

 Plans are underway for the 2010 gala. For more information, contact Mary Jane Stephenson at maryjane.stephenson@heart.org.

Bonjour, mes amis.

I’m just in a French mood after attending this year Fly Ball, the annual black-tie gala for the Texas Ballet Theater. Mais oui, we were all seeing visions of croissants and the Eiffel Tower since this year’s party was entitled “La Vie en Rose.”

And oh-la-la it was a lovely party. A mime greeted the 300-plus party guests as they arrived at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. A casino, a buffet of hors d’oeuvres and drinks awaited them at the end of the hotel’s escalator.  Music at every turn…yes, there was even an accordion player on stage at one point in the evening, enhancing the French mood of the soiree.

Tables in the ballroom got the French bistro treatment–checkered table linens and candles. The room was bathed in a soft pink glow–co-chairs Laila Minder Gleason and Renee L. Walsh had arranged, after all, for an evening “en rose.”

Dinner would have had Julia Childs, the French Chef, herself saying “bon appetit.” From the first course of baby field green with charred asparagus to the entree of steak au poivre on to the dessert of chache-coeur with wild berries, it was all tres bien. But the most impressive part of the dinner was the excellent service the wait staff delivered, a rare find these days.

Texas Ballet Theater has experienced financial struggles that almost became its Waterloo. So a successful fundraiser was crucial this year. But it seemed the dancers were pleased with the results.After the all-business auction, it was time to dance. Joining the party-goers on the dance floor were exuberant members of the ballet company. After a year of economic woes, it was time to celebrate, and for the talented dancers to say “merci beaucoup” for another year.

Kay and Ben Fortson

With the theme “The Heart of Compassion is Passion,” is set for 6:30 p.m. May 9 at the downtown hotel. Serving as honorary chairpersons will be Kay and Ben Fortson, with Lisa and Ben J. Fortson III serving as dinner chairpersons. 

The evening will include dinner, silent auction, live auction and music by The Emerald City Band. Funds raised through the charity ball will be used in Tarrant County.

Tickets for the Tarrant County Heart Ball are available for $1,000 per person. Contact www.heart.org/tarrantheartball for reservations.