Folds of Honor Gala Honors Veterans, Raises Over $3 Million
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Thomas Garza, Lisa Means and Rob Wythe
THE SETTING: Veteran’s Day at AT&T Stadium in Dallas was the setting for an epic and emotional night of fundraising that those fortunate enough to be a part of will not soon forget. Over 1,700 North Texas community, social, and philanthropic leaders turned out for the annual Folds of Honor Gala. Presented by Ryan, a tax services company, the night included touching tributes and moving performances in honor of those who have sacrificed for our country.
THE STYLE: The black tie crowd kicked off the evening with a VIP reception in the Dallas Cowboys locker room, where, upon arrival, guests posed for photos with various Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders to commemorate the evening. The field was transformed into a space of patriotic elegance with tables draped in red, white, and blue. As guests dined on their multicourse meals, Emcee and NBC 5 Anchor Meredith Land kept the evening moving at a brisk pace while also allowing patrons the space to acknowledge emotional moments such as the empty POW/MIA table in honor of the fallen service members. Next came words from the organization’s leaders and military family members who have benefited from Folds of Honor scholarships. Guests were also treated to the emotional story of Folds of Honor Founder Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney about what inspired him to start the organization. The program concluded with a Give from the Heart appeal, which raised an inspiring $1.2 million. The fun then continued with an after party where revelers danced the night away to the tunes of Party Machine.
THE PURPOSE: The event, where Holly and Jim Trester served as honorary chairs, raised nearly $3.2 million for Folds of Honor. Proceeds from the evening will go toward scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen and disabled military members. Since its founding in 2007, the organization has awarded over 51,000 scholarships totaling over $240 million. In 2023, Folds of Honor provided 1,131 scholarships totaling over $5.1 million to Texas residents. The 2024 Folds of Honor will be on November 9, 2024. For more information, visit FoldsOfHonor.org.
