7th Annual Race for the Kids Gala

Friday, April 24, 2009
Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie

DALLAS CHALLENGE CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENT

The 2009 Race for the Kids Gala went off without a hitch Friday, April 24, in the Champions Ballroom of Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. VIP patrons and sponsors enjoyed a cocktail reception prior to the 6:35 post time of the evening's frist race and the arrival of the remainder of the guest list.

Sponsored in part by Ben E. Keith, QuikTrip, CBS Radio, Heritage Auction Galleries and CBS 11/TXA 21, the Race for the Kids Gala featured a decadent dinner and dessert buffet, live and silent auctions full of items donated by local and national businesses and corporations, and the action-packed horse races of Lone Star Park.

Emcee Gina Miller of CBS 11/TXA 21 welcomed the estimated 140 guests to the 7th annual event while special guest Drew Waters entertained the crowd during the live auctions. Drew, a locally-based actor/international model, can be seen on NBC's critically-acclaimed Friday Night Lights as Coach Wade Aikman opposite series star Kyle Chandler's Coach Taylor. Waters also recently guest-starred on AMC's Breaking Bad and appeared in two films featured in the AFI Film Festival, "The Other Side of Paradise" and "The 2 Bobs".

Also in attendance was Cuban American artist Rolando Diaz, who created a one-of-a-kind peice of artwork live at the event (view photos here) that was later auctioned off during the live auction. Diaz has worked out of his Dallas studio since 1992 and has exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. His painting emphasize line and color, inspired by trips to Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Africa and his native Cuba. Diaz feels strongly about giving back to the community, donating paintings and profits from the sale of various works to nonprofits benefiting areas around the world.

Highlights of the evening included Race 2, the "BDO Seidman Dash;" Race 3, "Ben E. Keith's Race for Responsibility;" Race 4, the "CBS Radio Run;" Race 5, the "Dallas Challenge Race for the Kids;" Race 6, the "Dallas Challenge Board of Directors Stakes;" and Race 8, the "QuikTrip Derby."

Photography services were generously donated by Marty Perlman Photography. View photos from the event here!

THANK YOU!

For more information about upcoming fundraising events and how you can help, please visit our Events page or contact Sara Price at 972.566.4680 or sprice@dallaschallenge.org.