Forty years of Presentation Ball History.

For forty years, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball has stood as one of Texas’ most enduring and elegant traditions. In 2026, it did far more than honor history. It made it.

This year also marked 80 years of League leadership and 125 years of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Milestones like that do not happen by accident. They happen because many generations choose to protect and elevate something that matters. The evening honored that legacy while clearly signaling strength, momentum, and new dynamic energy.

Claire Catrino graciously  stepped into the role of League President during this anniversary season. She recognized Michelle Miller Burns, The Ross Perot President and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Roger Gault, Chair of the DSO Board of Governors, acknowledging the vital partnership between the League and the Orchestra.

Under the direction of Ball Co Chairs Maggie Kipp and Kristin Hallam, this ruby anniversary year delivered record underwriting dollars raised and a level of enthusiasm that could be felt the moment guests entered the room. Red was chosen intentionally for the 40th year. Bold. Confident. Celebratory.

Forty four debutantes were presented with honor, accompanied by their Honor Guard, continuing a tradition that remains one of the most meaningful in our city. And yet the evening did not feel nostalgic. It felt alive. The energy was over the top. The dance floor stayed full until well after midnight. This was not simply about looking back. It was about moving forward with clarity and conviction.

What made this year different was not just the numbers, though they were historic. It was the leadership. It was the alignment. It was the presence of some of the most influential families in Texas standing behind an institution that has shaped the cultural fabric of Dallas for more than a century.

The Presentation Ball has always represented grace and tradition. In 2026, it also represented discipline, strength, and momentum.

A ruby anniversary, yes. But more importantly, a record setting, future defining year.

Long time symphony supporters Fanchon and Howard Hallam were the Honorary Chairs. Howard has maintained  a distinguished and enduring relationship  with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) for nearly four decades, having served on the Board of Governors since 1987, including terms as President and later as Chairman of the Board from 1990-1995. Fanchon and Howard’s leadership gift was instrumental in establishing the Kim Noltemy Young Musicians Program, one of the programs that the Ball supports. The Hallams endowed the DSO Co-Concert Master Chair and is the named sponsor for Basically Beethoven Hallam Concerts.

Master of Ceremonies Stan Gardner formally introduced each of the debutantes, who performed the traditional Texas Dip bow—a full court bow, perfected under the guidance of Densil Adams and Mia Davis. Each debutante was accompanied by an Honor Guard escort, highlighting the deep-rooted traditions that make this event so special.

Steve Kemble along with Junior from Garden Gate and Tom Addis made the Meyerson a ruby-toned dream of palest pinks to deepest burgundies. Many longtime supporters said they had never seen the Meyerson looking more gorgeous. The pink and burgundy dance floor was put to great use late into the evening! 

Family legacies were woven throughout the 40^th celebration year. Claire Catrino, herself a 2011 debutante leading the League during this milestone year,  is the first past debutante to be President of the League. Through the years, Fanchon and Howard Hallam’s children and grandchildren have been Debutantes and Honor Guard. For this special evening, three Hallam Family Honor Guard participated: Hite Hallam, Hale Hallam and Benton Lynch. Debutante mom Lee Thompson was  presented in the second year of the Presentation Ball and husband David was her Honor Guard Escort. They watched as their second daughter Margaret made her debut and the Cox family also celebrated a second debutante daughter with Cate’s debut. The Stiles family saw the presentation of a third daughter Charlotte, a testament to the meaningful traditions that continue through generations.

Belinda and Lance Hancock experienced a full-circle moment watching their son, Mark, serve as an Honor Guard, 40 years after Lance served in the inaugural group of Honor Guards at the very first Presentation Ball. Co-Chair Kristin Hallam’s husband James, is a former Honor Guard, and they watched with pride as their twin sons carried the tradition forward as well.

Special recognition goes to Barbara and Don Averitt who have assisted the debutantes since the first ball and have been instrumental with helping to maintain continuity and tradition for the event. And to the Ball Committee Nancy Gopez, Sarah Mills, Annabel Toole, Stephanie Hunt, Mari Epperson, Christine Winn, Belinda Hancock, Nancy Labadie, Marena Gault, Sandy Ammons and Sharon Ballew.  And very special thanks go to the  supportive partners James Hallam, John Griffiths and Michael Catrino.  

Following the formal presentation, the Debutantes and Honor Guard assembled on stage for a final tribute to their Presentation Season. The debutantes then joined their fathers on the dance floor for the cherished Grand Waltz, a moment of elegance and sentiment. A formal seated dinner and dancing with music by the Jordan Kahn Orchestra concluded the unforgettable evening.

In a grand symphony of legacy, elegance, and generosity, the 2026 DSOL Presentation Ball was a true celebration of the Dallas community’s enduring commitment to music, tradition, and the future.

The 2026 Debutantes: Claire Francis Andrews, Madeline Grace Behrens, Claire Louise Bradshaw, Ryan Ella Marie Brown, Eleanor Baxter Browne, Meredith Lilly Burkhart, Jaya Fields Cagle, Catherine Sophia Cox, Larkin McKay Devening, Marbella Mora Duarte, Sophie Elizabeth Dybala, Kathryne Grace Eastin, Gisele Mary Rose Enrico, Ashley Shannon Goldman, Stella Jane Grabham, MaKenna Loy Harvey, Elizabeth Ann Hautt, Jane Penny Hochman, Madeleine Christine Jenkins, Livia Grace Lange, Charlotte Bryant Lauten, Madeline Mae Mayer, Sue Sealy McGowin, Attales Grace Meyer, Elizabeth Catherine Nance, Madelyn Leigh Neuhoff, Carly Nicole Polka, Chloe Olivia Polka, Rachel Camille Rader, Sofia Marie Reyes, Marlo Elizabeth Rivas, Campbell Ann Schultz, Kathleen Brooks Searcy, Lindy Kate Smith, Sienna Alexis Stagen, Tessa Elizabeth Stephenson, Charlotte Spencer Stiles, Harper Catherine Tagg, Margaret Lee Thompson, Corinne Elizabeth Tinker, Georgia Bedell Williamson, Virginia Anne Wilson, Olivia Constance Zambrano, and Elena Catherine Zeballos.

The 2026 Honor Guard: Patrick Burke Arthur, Robert Scott Behrens, Carl Martin Blumenschein, Cadet Dale Thomas Bailey Booth, Michael Louis Boren, Thomas George Boren, Alexander Douglas Boyd, Matthew Douglas Bracken, Evan Clarence Brown, John  Charles Bullard, Stephen Key Coker, Jr., William Kearns Collet, Joseph Robert Copeland, Carter Lewis Cox, Cade Randolph  Devening, Michael McKane Groover, Matthew Hale Hallam, James Hite Hallam, Mark Russell Hancock, Mark Stuart Hardaway, Jr., Henry Wilfredo Hernandez, Alan James Hunt, George Harris  Jones, Luke Benjamin Lange, James Hunter Lee, John Thomas Liptack, Benton Ross Lynch, Ryan  Nicholas McCord, Midshipman First Class Hayden Cade McCullough, Stanley Warner McGowin, Jr., Matthew James Melcher, Vance Calvin Miller III, Vaughn Sebastian Miller, Jr., Edward Blake Miller, James Bosler Miltenberger, Robert Steele Peacock, Garrett Frost Sampson, Jack Taylor Schlafer, Scott Peterson Sealy III, William Conner Searcy, Maximiliano James Siguenza, Calder Crook Sinak, Joseph Miles Smith, Calum Fitzgerald Taylor, Landon Dean Tinker, Georgios Angelo Touris, Daniel Stephens Waggoner, Knox Allen Wagoner, Harrison Miles Ward, Carter Harrison Weigand, Heinrich Molsen Wicklund, and Steven Robert Williamson, Jr.

About the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League is the largest of its kind in the nation. It is an organization of volunteers who support the Dallas Symphony Association through service, education and fundraising activities.

Since 1946, the DSO League has embraced the mission to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education and fundraising efforts. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League has contributed more than $25 million in support of the Dallas Symphony Association’s Community Outreach and Education programs, which help bring the wonder of music to thousands of youths and adults in the Dallas area.

 

Photos by Gittings Portraiture and Danny Campbell

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/13jogrx5gjhexybmvvh1e/AOBp0DpkQI9zWukhYrNu60c?rlkey=d511ggab8gksn14gx1omxyrxr&st=yn5r0l27&dl=0

Photos by Gittings Portraiture
Groups, Co-Chairs and Guests

1 ©GittingsFGR_3144- Group w chairs: Maggie Kipp, Claire Catrino, Kristin Hallam

 

2 ©Gittings FGR_3153e– Debs and HG

 

3 ©Gittings FGR_3180– Committee and Chairs

Front row: Nancy Gopez, Claire  Catrino, Sarah Mills. Second row: Annabel Toole, Maggie Kipp, Kristin Hallam, Stephanie Hunt. Back Row: Mari Epperson, Christine Winn, Belinda Hancock, Nancy Labadie, Marena Gault, Sharon Ballew.

 

4 ©Gittings FGR_3205 Assembly and Honor Guard

First Row: Margaret Bracken, Ryan McCord, Matthew Melcher, Emily Young, Annabeth Winn, Key Coker, Jr. Second row: Knox Wagoner, Paige Williams, Katie Kottwitz, Alli McWhorter, Elizabeth Hunt, Isabel Knight, Harison Ward. Back row: Kennedy Downing, Danielle Ward, Daniel Waggoner, Emily Hea. Back Row: Robert Peacock, John Bullard, Alan Hunt, Burke Arthur, Jack Schlafer.

Photos by Danny Campbell
Co-Chairs, Groups, and Guests

DJC-1 John Griffiths, Maggie Kipp, Claire and Michael Catrino
DJC-7 Michael and Claire Catrino

DJC-8 Kristin and James Hallam, John Griffiths, Maggie Kipp

DJC-30 Maggie Kipp, Claire Catrino, Kristin Hallam

DJC-53 Michelle Miller Burns and Claire Catrino

DJC-54 Michelle Miller Burns and Gary Burns

DJC-61 Lance Hancock, John Griffiths, Maggie Kipp

DJC-76 Charlotte Stiles

DJC-84 James and Kristin Hallam, Michael and Claire Catrino, John Griffiths, Maggie Kipp

DJC-92 Ryan Brown,  Harper Tagg

DJC-107 Lee and David Thompson

DJC-146 scene

DJC-164 Scene

DJC-205 Mitchell Ward, Maurice West

DJC-224 Meredith Grabham

DJC-234 scene

DJC-238 Erin Nealy and John Cox

DJC-245 Dan and Audrey Tinker

DJC-255 David Browne, Shonn and Ryan Brown, Jason Bradshaw, Keith Behrens

DJC-276 Ashley Goldman, Marlo Rivas

DJC-281 Chloe, Randall and Carly Polka

DJC-310 Margaret and David Thompson, Harper and Paul Tagg

DJC-312 John and Tessa Stephenson

DJC-335 Georgia Williamson, Corinne Tinker, Margaret Thompson, Harper Tagg, Charlotte Stiles 

DJC-345 scene

DJC-348 scene

DJC-350 scene

DJC-362 Fanchon and Howard Hallam
DJC-363 Lyndal and Richard Greth

DJC-367 Scene

 

Photos by Danny Campbell

STAGE

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DJC-18 Assembly

DJC-28 Honor Guard

DJC-33 Claire and Jerry Andrews

DJC-50 Madeline Behrens, Robert Behrens

DJC-56 Claire Bradshaw

DJC-59 Claire Bradshaw, Key Coker, Jr.

DJC-61 Ryan Brown

DJC-73 Ryan Brown, Joseph Copeland

DJC-90 Lilly and John Burkhart

DJC-108 Jaya Cagle, Ryan McCord

DJC-165 Gisele and Aaron Enrico

DJC-208 McKenna and John Harvey

DJC-232 Elizabeth Hautt and Daniel Waggoner

DJC-258 Livia and Ben Lange

DJC-266 Livia Lange wearing Michael Faircloth’s final deb gown before retiring

DJC-632 Grand Tableau

DJC-634 Grand Tableau

DJC-636 Grand Tableau

DJC-637 Grand Tableau

DJC-641 Grand Tableau

 

 

 

Tickets for the Junior Symphony Ball (JSB) Steering Committee sold out in record time this year. 1,130 tickets were quickly snapped up—leaving hundreds of eager students and parents disappointed and waiting for their next chance when general admission tickets go on sale in early January. This year’s release included more tickets than last year, yet they sold out within the month. 

The 68th Annual JSB will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Gilley’s Dallas, which will be transformed into an electrifying hub of music, dancing, and celebration. More than 2,800 sophomores, juniors, and seniors from over 25 area schools are expected to attend. Returning this year is Detroit native Brandon Williams, the high-energy DJ known professionally as 13LACKBEARD. As the official DJ of the Dallas Cowboys, he’s a master of creating an unbeatable atmosphere—bringing that same stadium-level excitement to JSB.

 The Steering Committee members gathered at the Meyerson Symphony Center to pick up their t-shirts and pose for a Leadership photo. They also took the opportunity to bring goody bags for student performers in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Young Musicians Program, a thoughtful gesture that extends JSB’s impact beyond the dance floor. Donations of school supplies and personal care items were collected and will be distributed to Young Musicians students throughout the year. The Kim Noltemy Young Musicians Program is a year-round, tuition-free music education initiative of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, serving students in grades 1–8 across southern Dallas. The program provides free instruments and instruction, helping children build both musical and life skills through the power of performance. 

The lineup of the 2026 Co-Chairs represents schools across Dallas: Clara Erwin (Highland Park High School), Lucy Galbraith (Ursuline Academy), Meghan Jackson (Parish Episcopal School), Teige Mitchell (Jesuit College Preparatory of Dallas), Peter Rubi (St. Mark’s  School of Texas), Brooks Strey (Bishop Lynch High School), Jack Sumner (Highland Park High School), Mary Bradley Sutherland (The Hockaday School), Michael Woram (Jesuit College Preparatory of Dallas), and Stella Wynne (The Episcopal School of Dallas).

 Their supportive and proud moms are: Dansby Erwin, Lauren Sutherland, Michelene Galbraith, Alyson Jackson, Kristin Mitchell, Tiffany Rubi, Courtenay Strey, Kelsie Sumner, Dana Woram, and Tia Wynne.

 Now in its 68th year, the Junior Symphony Ball remains the longest-running fundraiser of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League (DSOL). It continues to support vital youth programs including Young Strings and Young Musicians. True to its founding vision of “student-led, parent-guided” leadership, JSB has grown from a small gathering of local schools into one of Dallas’s most anticipated youth events—while staying true to its core mission of advancing music education and community engagement.

 Junior Symphony Ball

Junior Symphony Ball was formed to introduce Dallas area students to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, a cultural gem to our city, and in turn, teach them about giving back to the community by hosting the student-led fundraiser.

 Participation on a JSB committee teaches high school teens valuable leadership, organizational, and team-work skills while raising significant dollars for a worthy cause. JSB creates a unique opportunity for students from a multitude of backgrounds to work together for a common goal and a positive contribution to their greater community. Both private and public schools from all across the Metroplex organize, participate, fundraise and attend the JSB.

JSB is a time honored tradition and a great first foray into giving back to the community and supporting music education on a larger scale. Proceeds benefit Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s  community  outreach  and education programs,  including  Young Strings  and Young Musicians that will benefit over 14,000 students, making a positive impact for under- served youth in Dallas and throughout North Texas.

 Follow JSB on Social Media

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/JSBdallas/ Instagram @jsbdallas

 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League is an organization of volunteers who support the Dallas Symphony Association through service, education and fundraising activities.

 Since 1946, the DSO League has worked to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education and fundraising efforts. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League has contributed more than $25 million in support of the Dallas Symphony Association’s Community Outreach and Education programs, which help bring the wonder of music to thousands of youths and adults in the Dallas area. 

Beneficiaries 

Funds raised by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League support transformative DSO programs, including: 

• The Cecil and Ida Green Youth Concert Series, which introduces Dallas youth to the inspiring world of classical music through accessible concerts at the Meyerson. Each year, more than 10,000 children participate in these experiences.
• DSO Cares, which brings the wellness benefits of music to seniors in living facilities, hospitals, community centers and more. Each performance showcases a chamber ensemble of DSO musicians that is free for attendees and community partners.
• The Kim Noltemy Young Musicians and Young Strings programs, which annually provide free instruments and instruction to 400 children primarily from Southern and East Dallas. Collectively, these programs have served more than 6,800 students and outpace similar youth programs with highly intensive training and a 100% high school graduation and college acceptance rate.
• Bach’s Lunch, an ongoing adult education series of free, informal talks designed to connect music lovers through a shared passion for classical music.

 

 

For further information: www.dallassymphonyleague/com.

 

Follow DSOL on Social Media

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/DSOLvolunteers Instagram @dsoleague

 

 

 

For so many years, Dallas Symphony Orchestra League has been such a cherished part of the social community. Written coverage and published photos through the years have documented and brought to life the many events, capturing the joy, elegance, and spirit that make the League so special.

Led by President Claire Catrino (who is a past Debutante), the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League is commemorating its 80th anniversary, along with the 40th Presentation Ball—a beloved Dallas tradition that has brought families and generations together in support of music and education. In addition, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

These anniversaries represent not just milestones in years, but also in impact — countless lives touched by music, opportunity, and community. Since its founding, the DSO League has raised more than $25 million to benefit the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s education and community engagement programs. These efforts have helped make music accessible to thousands across North Texas.

If you would like more information about the events associated with these anniversary celebrations, please reach out to Deborah Nigel Brown at deborah@nigelbrown.com or 214-649-1773

Family Feature Story-The Narayan Family

By Sarah Mitchell

 

In the vibrant heart of the Park Cities, Amee and Sanjay Narayan have carved out a life that weaves together family, fulfilling careers and a zest for community. Their journey to Dallas is a tale of serendipitous connections and a shared vision for a home that hums with possibility.

Amee’s roots lie in New Jersey, where she grew up before chasing her dreams at Boston University and later Fordham Law School in the electric pulse of New York City. There, she sharpened her skills as a corporate attorney, navigating the high-stakes world of legal deals. Sanjay’s path began in Plano, Texas, where his family moved when he was three. A graduate of Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, he dove into securities litigation at Jones Day in New York. Their paths converged in 2011, sparked by a mutual colleague’s introduction, setting the stage for a partnership that would lead them to Dallas.

“Sanjay sold me on Dallas, and I wanted a neighborhood with community,” Amee says with a spark in her eye. “The Park Cities delivered—great schools, lively dining spots, and a genuine sense of connection where kids play and bike to class.” After a brief chapter in Uptown, they planted roots in the Park Cities in February 2020, enchanted by its blend of urban flair and neighborly warmth.

Amee now shines as a partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth, guiding real

estate and private equity firms through the art of fund formation. Sanjay, meanwhile, continued in private practice, and is now a senior legal advisor at a real estate technology firm, tackling everything from data

privacy, employment matters, to contract negotiations with a cool-headed precision. Their careers pulse with energy, yet they make room for the rhythms of family life.

At home, they’re raising two spirited children: a five-year-old daughter, stepping into kindergarten at Hyer Elementary after Pre-K, and a three- year-old son, soon to start Pre-K at Hyer. Both cut their teeth at Alcuin’s Montessori, a nod to the couple’s commitment to fostering curious minds.

Travel fuels their sense of adventure. Recent jaunts with their kids have leaned toward the magic of Disney, skiing in New Mexico, the sun-soaked shores of Mexico, and Switzerland.  But their wanderlust runs deeper. Before parenthood, they danced through Greece on their honeymoon,

to Italy, and across the country. “Travel is an important part of our lives. There are so many amazing places and people in the US and abroad that we want to show our kids. And it helps open the world to our family,” Sanjay says, his voice warm with memories of the couple’s own study-abroad days in London’s eclectic streets.

In their Park Cities kitchen, Amee and Sanjay trade culinary riffs, blending their heritage into every dish. Amee, a lifelong cook, crafts Indian cuisine with flair, though she tips her hat to her own mom’s and mother-in-law’s unmatched skill. Sanjay’s signature pasta is a crowd-pleaser, and together they whip up a mix of cuisines, the aroma of spices filling their home with warmth. Sanjay’s passions extend beyond the kitchen. Playing basketball has always been a passion, and he still carves time for the Mavericks and Cowboys, and hits the golf course for a dose of green when he can.

A self-described “news and political junkie,” he’s also deeply engaged in public life, serving on the Texas Radiation Advisory Board, appointed by Governor Abbott, and the board of Color Us United, advocating for merit-based practices in hiring and education. Locally, he’s lent his voice to the City of University Park’s legislative and leadership committees, finding purpose in shaping our community.

For Amee and Sanjay, the Park Cities is more than a backdrop— it’s a lively canvas where their kids chase adventures on sidewalks, neighbors swap stories, and their careers move with purpose. “We’re excited to raise our children in such a wonderful community” Amee says with a smile. “It’s where we’re writing our story.”

 

 

By Sarah Mitchell

When Emily first got the call from her company in Raleigh, NC, offering her a position in Dallas, she had no idea just how much her life was about to change. “They asked if I wanted to move, and 19 days later, I was in Dallas,” she said. That was back in 2012, and what started as a quick decision has led to a full life in the Park Cities.

Emily is originally from North Carolina and attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh. She had never been to Dallas and only knew one friend that she’d grown up with in North Carolina that now lived in Dallas – whom she quickly called. “She and her husband offered me their spare bedroom until I found a place to live, becoming the first of many families in the Park Cities that folded me into their lives and their community. From making their backhouses available to me to including me in Holidays, this has been the most generous and kind neighborhood, especially when I first moved here with no family,” Emily shared.

After the move, she continued in Software Sales and worked for Securus Technologies, selling software into prison systems and later shifted to Property Management Software when she joined AppFolio. While her family remained in North Carolina, she found community in Dallas. A couple of years ago, she met her now-husband Preston, a commercial lender at Texas Security Bank. Preston’s own story had taken him from Southern Louisiana to Texas after Hurricane Katrina. His family relocated to Celina Salina, where he finished high school before attending the University of North Texas. He loves to play golf and spends most of his time supporting the Touchdown Club of Dallas. 

Together, Emily and Preston are raising two young kids – their 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son. Emily’s journey into motherhood started before she met Preston. As a single woman, she felt called to become a foster parent and had the privilege of parenting two newborn baby girls, and when Emily and Preston met, she had a 6-month-old baby in her home. Emily adopted her daughter while they were dating, and they quickly got married and Preston adopted her too!

Earlier this year, Emily decided to take a step back from corporate life and stay home with the kids. In 2024, she launched Etiquette by Emily, a business focused on teaching manners, kindness, and etiquette to children in the Park Cities. “My mom was a schoolteacher, and I’ve always had a heart for kids, education, and social politeness,” she said. “Preston and I always wanted to own a business, and this business has been such an obvious fit and blessing to our entire family.”

Emily purchased the curriculum from Amy Ranier in Mountainbrook, Alabama, who developed the etiquette program over 28 years of teaching in her community. Now, she teaches kids how to introduce themselves, table manners, how to interact respectfully with adults, classmates, and teachers, and how to be helpful at home, and several other social topics. She’s also been invited to speak to parenting groups at several local churches. 

The Smith’s children attend the Ashford RISE School of Dallas, a place that’s played a significant role in their family’s story. “The brilliant therapists and administration at The Rise School have taught us so much about social, emotional, and cognitive development and given us all the tools we need to support the education of both of our children that come from different backgrounds,” Emily explained. “They are both thriving and we feel empowered in our abilities in these early formative years because of the tools that their school has made available to us.”

Preston supports the school in his own unique way through his membership in The Touchdown Club of Dallas. This organization is composed of men that fundraise a significant amount of funds each year to support The Ashford Rise School of Dallas.  They host events around Dallas in the Fall and Spring, inviting everyone to attend and learn about the amazing things that The Rise School through a group called the Touchdown Club, a men’s fundraising organization that supports RISE. “It’s like a fraternity,” Emily said. “They only let in 18 new members each year, and last year, Preston’s group raised over $2 million. It’s amazing how quickly and effectively they fundraise.”

The family recently took a trip to Kanakuk’s Family Kamp in Branson, Missouri, where Preston checked off a bucket list dream by golfing at Payne’s Valley Golf Course. They also caught a performance of David at The Sights and Sounds Theater, which Emily described as “an absolutely incredible performance that made the Bible come alive in new ways.” Trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to see Emily’s parents are also a regular part of their lives, and they look forward to spending the holidays on the East Coast. When they aren’t on their beloved flight from Love Field to Raleigh, they will splurge, like they did in 2023 on a special trip to Paris. “Preston could’ve stayed in the Louvre all day,” Emily said. “He loves history, and the museums were definitely a highlight – aside from the food, of course!” Their next stop? New York City, where they plan to visit Ellis Island and the 9/11 Memorial.

Outside of her etiquette business and parenting, Emily continues to dedicate time to the foster care community. “I volunteer with some post-adoption advocates and speak on panels through Watermark Church,” she said. “Before I became a foster parent myself, I was a CASA volunteer. It’s something I really care about.” We always want to have an open home that welcomes not only foster children, but our friends, neighbors, and family. Our dinner table fills up every Monday night with friends that we share dinner with week after week, and that is definitely a habit of our household that we want to continue for decades to come!  

When they’re home, the family enjoys simple pleasures around town—weekly visits to the Saint Michael’s farmers market, coffee runs to LDU, Germany Park regulars, and dinner at their favorite restaurant, Bobbies Airway Grill. “In addition to The Touchdown Club of Dallas, we also love supporting the UP Library, One Hundred Shares, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League,” Emily added. “It’s just a special community to be part of.”  

From a spare bedroom in Highland Park to a growing family and a business of her own, Emily’s life in the Park Cities has been filled with growth and purpose. “This neighborhood welcomed me when it was just me,” she said. “And now, it’s home for not just me, but my whole family.”