It was a chatty, optimistic crowd that gathered Thursday, April 14, at the offices of Thompson and Knight for the Pot of Gold Patron Reception. And, why not: ticket sales for the 19th Annual Pot of Gold Luncheon scheduled for the next day were at 630, and counting. The luncheon, which benefits the Rainbow Days nonprofit, had a new venue, the Omni Dallas Hotel, after being at the Hilton Anatole for 18 years. Bids for the luncheon auction items were being taken online for the first time, and already more than $19K worth had rolled in.
Catherine Rowsey, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Nicole Williams and Jon Langbert*
Perhaps best of all, the luncheon’s special guest speaker, Leigh Anne Tuohy, had shown up for the Thompson and Knight do—much to the delight of the 75 guests. Tuohy, the inspirational matriarch for the book and movie about her family titled “The Blind Side,” posed cheerfully in one corner for photos, even though her life was in overdrive (it seems her daughter Collins Tuohy, who was here in January for Soup’s On, was getting married the following weekend).
Cathey Brown*
After Rainbow Days founder and CEO Cathey Brown welcomed patron reception guests like Lynn McBee , Juliette Coulter, Chris Kay, Don Krasen, Auction Co-Chair Jon Langbert, Rainbow Days Board President Greg Pascuzzi and Fred Rowsey —Cathy called the gathering “the party before the party”—Luncheon Chair Catherine Rowsey and Auction Co-chair Nicole Williams took over and thanked the event sponsors, including Jim McDonald from top sponsor Pacific Union Financial.
Greg Pascuzzi*
When the short program was over some of the guests returned to their sipping and chatting, while others made a beeline for the back room, where several of the auction items were on display. The auction, sponsored by Thompson and Knight, would feature items worth more than $70,000, including a golf trip to Pebble Beach, a stay and dinner at the Rosewood Crescent, tickets to the Mesquite Rodeo, and a custom dinner and wine for four at Sevy’s Grill.
* Photo credit: Rob Wythe/Gittings