From Staff Reports
Allie Beth and Pierce Allman were honored with the 2018 Flora Award for their years of service to the Dallas Community on Oct. 25, the jade anniversary of this prestigious Dallas occasion. The Allmans join the circle of Flora honorees including Peggy and Carl Sewell, Senator Kay Baily Hutchison, Dee and Charles Wyly, Lady Bird Johnson, Laura and President George Bush, Gloria Vanderbilt and Margaret and Trammell Crow. This year’s host committee consisted of honorary chairs and 2017 honorees, Bettye Slaven, Janet Smith and Marilyn Waisanen, 2018 co-chairs Laura Chancellor Black and Kelly Cantu Dees and an extensive list of generous committee members including Former First Lady Laura Bush.
With the $130,000 raised from this year’s Flora Award Gala, Texas Discovery Gardens has raised more than $3 million in the event’s 35-year history. TDG Executive Director, Dick Davis shared, “Every dollar raised by our Flora Gala is critical. Essential unrestricted funding, that is the life-blood of all nonprofits; it can be applied where needed most. For us, the $130,000 raised in 2018 is a huge success, making it possible for Texas Discovery Gardens to help thousands of urban children and adults to discover and learn to sustain the natural world.”
Texas Discovery Gardens’ Grand Hall accommodated 190 guests, sporting designs inspired by monarch butterflies. The elegant tablescapes were graced with terrariums accented with live monarchs which were set free following the gala. Over 50 of the well-dressed attendees were part of the Allie-Beth Allman & Associates work family showing their support of the Allman family as well as for TDGs’ mission to sustain the natural world.
The Steve Bayless Orchestra and Sugar City Catering ensured a sophisticated ambiance while Dick Davis, Chairman of the TDG Board of Directors, Michael Bosco, David Dees and Flora co-chairs, Laura Chancellor Black and Kelly Cantu Dees addressed the crowd and presented the deBoulle designed Flora Award. Once presented, Pierce and Allie-Beth shared stories with the shining crowd, of adoration for each other’s service, the environment and for TDG’s efforts to further the natural landscape. As an example of this effort, the future ‘Conservation Canyon’ project could be the first within Fair Park to convert aging infrastructure, an asphalt road, into green space — Blackland Prarie.
Since its inception in 1982, The Flora Award has been presented in support of Texas Discovery Gardens, a 501(c)(3) in Fair Park. The honor serves to recognize outstanding citizens who have demonstrated a commitment to community service, natural resource education, protection of the environment and quality of life. Past honorees who were present for the 2018 affair include Barbara Hunt Crow, Bettye Slaven, Janet Smith and Marilyn Waisanen. Donations can still be made in Allie Beth and Pierce Allman’s honor at TexasDiscoveryGardens.org/flora. For information, call Angela Shank at 214-428-7476, ext. 230 or [email protected]
