Dallas Women’s Foundation Brings Artist and Activist Candy Chang to Keynote its 31st Annual Luncheon
Joyce Goss and Selywn Rayzor serving as event co-chairs with Kaleta Doolin as honorary chair
DALLAS, June 9, 2016 – Artist and Activist Candy Chang, who provokes visions on how to connect, reflect and nurture the health of communities through activating public spaces around the world , will be the keynote speaker at Dallas Women’s Foundation’s 31st Annual Luncheon, presented by U.S. Trust, on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 at the Hilton Anatole. Noted arts and women’s issues supporters Joyce Goss and Selwyn Rayzor are serving as luncheon co-chairs; and artist, philanthropist and writer Kaleta Doolin will serve as honorary chair.
The luncheon is the Foundation’s principal fundraiser to enable its work of advancing women’s economic security and leadership in North Texas, driving positive social and economic change for women and girls through research, advocacy and grantmaking. Dallas Women’s Foundation, founded in 1985, is the largest regional women’s fund in the world and has granted $32 million dollars since its inception.
“The interweaving of art and community building, and the unique role of women in building community, will be celebrated at our 31st Annual Luncheon, which features internationally recognized artist and activist Candy Chang, along with exceptional women leaders and philanthropists in the arts serving as our chairs and honorary chair,” said Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Foundation president & CEO. “As we work to ensure the strength and unity of our community, we know that can only be present when women and girls are economically secure and valued as leaders. We look forward to exploring with Candy Chang the transformative power of art and inclusion to strengthen women and girls, and our community overall.”
Chang is best known for the Before I Die project, which began when she stenciled the words “Before I die I want to ___________” on a chalkboard wall on an abandoned house in New Orleans after losing someone she loved post-Katrina. From that first wall in 2011, over 1,000 Before I Die walls have been created in over 35 languages and over 70 countries, including Kazakhstan, Iraq, Haiti, China, Ukraine, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Argentina, and South Africa. Chang’s captivating and intimate talk aims to demystify the creative process, inspire personal reflection, and provoke new ideas for community and wellbeing.
“When we look across North Texas it is evident that its greatest problems – poverty, access to healthcare, affordable housing and childcare – disproportionately affect women and their children,” said luncheon co-chair Selwyn Rayzor. “Dallas Women’s Foundation has been researching, advocating and responding to the needs of women and girls for over 30 years.”
“It is our goal to once again sell out this luncheon and inspire our community to come together to catalyze even greater change for women and girls in North Texas and beyond,” added co-chair Joyce Goss.
The annual luncheon will be held on Friday, Oct. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole, Chantilly Ballroom, located at 2201 Stemmons Freeway in Dallas. Luncheon sponsorships are available, ranging from $3,500 to $25,000; individual tickets are available at $500 to $1,000.
Current sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor, U.S. Trust; Speaker Sponsor Suzanne Ahn, M.D. Speaker Endowment Fund at Dallas Women’s Foundation; Crystal Sponsor ($25,000) Texas Instruments; Diamond Sponsor ($15,000) Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Emerald Sponsors ($10,000) FedEx Office, Haynes and Boone, LLP, Ashlee and Chris Kleinert; Sapphire Sponsor ($7,500) Patricia W. Fagadau; Gold Sponsors ($5,000) Bank of Texas, Nancy Carlson, Serena Connelly, Hart Group, Inc.; and Media Sponsor D CEO Magazine.
Sponsorships are available at www.DallasWomensFdn.org/luncheon or by calling (214) 525-5311.