by Lance | Jun 12, 2023 | Parties, Blog, San Antonio
Texas Biomedical Forum Celebrates With Gala
By Sallie Lewis Photography by Katie Clementson of Billo Smith Photography
THE SETTING: Recently, The Argyle was in full bloom for the 52nd annual Texas Biomedical Forum Gala. Every year, this event is one of the most anticipated soirees of the spring season–and this year was no exception. Gala Co-Chairs Triana Grossman and Gloria Dilley presented this year’s theme, Birds of a Feather Flock Together, in honor of the covey of women who’ve helped the Forum fly to new heights since its founding in 1970. And are the women of the past, present, and future who’ve made a lasting impact on our community.
On a balmy Saturday evening, hundreds of people descended on The Argyle’s front lawn, where live finches greeted guests from inside a beautiful antique birdcage. Cocktails were served beneath a soaring sail tent that was fashioned with a Greek key trim, draped twinkle lights, and fresh flowers in every imaginable shade of pink. The gala’s custom crest, with its floral and avian motifs, was painted onto the event’s large circular bar and dance floor, while DJ RomiQ and the Dallas String Quartet (DSQ) played onstage amidst a meadow of flowering cherry blossom trees. Elsewhere in the tent, chic lounge areas in shades of ivory and celadon flanked tall folding screens wrapped in Gucci’s Green Heron wallpaper. Linda West, the Dallas-based fortune teller and cheeky “Lipsologist,” also brought her lip-print reading prowess to the celebration this year.
Texas Biomedical Forum Gala Committee 2023
Miguel and Gloria Dilley & Triana and Brandon Grossman
Amelita Mauze, Avril Byrne, Lauren Biegler, Allegra Hawkins, Adrianna Grossman, Christina Ketabchi, Megan Steves, Bonnie Muecke, Amy Berg and Elaine Vornsand
Tracee Feik, Jessica Berg, Heather deRojas, Nancy Finney, Ashley Campbell, Angel Myers, Amy Garcia and Rita Feik
THE STYLE: The 2023 Ribbon Pull was another highlight of the event–and one that helped bolster the fundraising goals. Four glimmering life-size trees draped with red ribbons and acrylic birds revealed a medley of prizes, from gift cards to Kelly Wade Jewelers to local fitness, beauty, and photography packages. Later, guests were treated to a magical, candlelit dinner inside the club. Fresh garlands woven with lush green vines, hot pink peonies, fragrant roses, and cherry blossoms graced every room and table in what was surely one of the most glamorous nights at The Argyle on record. The three-course menu thoughtfully paid homage to the night’s avian theme, from the club’s favorite chicken fried quail to a decadent chocolate Faberge egg presented in a phyllo nest for dessert.
Clark Mandigo lll, Camille Mandigo, Clark Mandigo ll, Kay Mandigo, Keri and John Moses & Molly Mandigo
Christopher and Adrianna Grossman, Heather Russo, Cece Griffin, Lee Lee, Emilie and Christopher Petty & Amelita and David Mauze
JB and Corinna Richter & Jordana and Benjie Matthews
As the night progressed, Forum members and guests alike bid on silent auction items that ranged from fine jewelry by David Webb and Fannie Thomas, to premium Formula 1 tickets, mink shawls by Mackenzie Brittingham, and trips to Tuscany and Laguna Beach. Dallas-based jeweler Joe Pacetti donated jewelry to the auction as well. Undoubtedly, the night’s most precious prizes came from the five-month-old French Bulldog and three-month-old Goldendoodle puppy, both of whom made the rounds all evening with fresh floral collars.
Emilie Petty, Gloria Dilley, Claire Cavender, Triana Grossman and Bonnie Muecke
Ann Cross, Kristan Northington, Alice Welder and Margye Northington
After the party, guests returned to the whimsical tent for an after party featuring live music and late-night bites. Before flying the nest, guests left with a parting gift courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue, who generously donated their popular Nest candles to all in attendance. It was an evening to remember–and one for the record books.
The scene at the Texas Biomed 2023 gala
Table setting at the Texas Biomed 2023 gala
THE PURPOSE: This year’s event grossed over $1 million, which will help spearhead and support the groundbreaking research at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. A special thanks goes to Batchelor Cadillac and Cavender Cadillac for their sponsorships which make such a difference.
by societytexas | Aug 31, 2022 | R.S.V.P. SAN ANTONIO, 2022 September October, Parties
The Texas Biomedical Forum Celebrates With Annual Gala
By Jake Gaines Photography by Katie Clementson of Billo Smith Photography
THE SCENE: Nearly 500 guests attended The Texas Biomedical Forum’s 51st annual gala, The Enchantment of Spring, at The Argyle. A harpist played to welcome guests into the party as hors d’oeuvres and chilled towels were passed on silver trays to offset the heat, as guests made their way to the nearest bars for refreshments.
THE STYLE: A shining star of the evening was the Ribbon Pull, an interactive and fundraising concept that was conceptualized by the gala team. Guests purchased the chance to pull a satin ribbon hanging from a beautiful tree to reveal a prize. The grand prize of the Ribbon Pull was a pair of diamond earrings donated by Kelly Wade Jewelers. Guests also perused and purchased tickets for the raffle packages.
Guests then enjoyed a seated dinner that featured a decadent menu prepared by The Argyle, celebrating the abundance and gifts of springtime. Dinner began with a spring pea soup with cranberry coulis, followed by a salad duo of quinoa and chickpeas and a cucumber wrap bouquet. Next was the entrée consisting of a Pepper Bomb New York Strip with Béarnaise sauce, pesto potatoes, green bean and carrot vegetable bundle, and tomato provençal. The dessert of a lemon blueberry mascarpone dome with gold leaf capped off the delicious meal. Then, the Drywater Band entertained guests at the after party in the gorgeously appointed tent while Maverick Bourbon whiskey poured tastings at a table on the lawn. Additionally, three artists from Vogue Vignette of Austin were on-site sketching portraits of couples. Barbara Shorts, Verve Event Planning’s founding president, helped coordinate the gala’s festivities.
THE PURPOSE: Rebecca Nathan was this year’s gala chair, with Audra Kerr serving as co-chair and Amelita Mauzé as this year’s Forum’s president. The purpose of the Texas Biomedical Forum is to support the Texas Biomedical Research Institute through community relations, volunteer services, and fundraising. This funding has allowed researchers to apply for additional grant monies in excess of $75 million in subsequent awards for large-scale research projects, which equates to approximately twenty-three dollars in return for every dollar of Forum grants. The gala team is incredibly grateful to Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry for kindly donating all the crystal party favors that were hand-delivered by the gala team to every attendee in the days leading up to the event.
by societytexas | Nov 1, 2020 | 2020 November December, Parties, San Antonio
The Texas Biomedical Forum Celebrates Fifty Years Of Triumphs
By Jake Gaines Photography by Super Q Photography
THE SETTING: Over 50 years ago, Dottie Block, Tena Gorman, and Ruth Eileen Sullivan had the vision and creativity to launch Southwest Research Forum, today known as the Texas Biomedical Forum. The Forum extended their thanks to President & CEO of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Larry Schlesinger, M.D., its scientists, along with the past presidents, all who have paved the way for making the world a better place, one research project at a time. This year’s Forum President was Amy Swaney.
THE STYLE: The Forum’s activities actually began last November, when the Fall Lecture Luncheon, one of their educational outreaches to the community, took place. Then, the Past President’s Luncheon was held, and the 3rd annual Cheers for CHAIRity event followed in late February. At the beginning of March, pre-COVID-19, the Spring Lecture Luncheon hosted three panelists. Suzanne Dabbous, M.D. (Radiologist and Past Forum President), Jean Patterson, Ph.D. (Professor) and Angelica M. Olmo-Fontanez, M.S. (Graduate Student/Biomedical Researcher) who discussed the Routes of Success: From Early to Established Careers Women Discuss Pathways in STEM. To top off the year, the Charles Butt Foundation presented a check for $50,000 designated to the Forum’s K-12 grant program and generously agreed to do so for three consecutive years. The 50th Anniversary 2020 Forum Gala, chaired by Whitney Schones and Karen Bryant, with The Starry Night as its theme, was regrettably cancelled due to the virus. Table sponsors were asked to consider allowing the organization to donate their sponsorship dollars intended for the 2020 gala directly to COVID-19 research. Through their generosity, Texas Biomed received close to $325,000 for this urgently needed critical research. Cynthia Kirby will serve as the 2020-2021 Forum President.
THE PURPOSE: The purpose of the Texas Biomedical Forum is to support the Texas Biomedical Research Institute through community relations, volunteer services, and fundraising. Over the years, the Forum’s fundraising efforts have raised approximately $3.2 million to be used in pilot studies. These grants are sometimes known as “seed grants” because they are relatively small, but the ideas they power can grow to become immensely impactful. This funding has allowed researchers to apply for additional grant monies in excess of $75 million in subsequent awards for large-scale research projects, which equates to approximately twenty-three dollars in return for every dollar of Forum grants. In commemoration of their 50th year, the Forum is grateful to have received three $100,000 grant matches from the Gorman Family Foundation, the Mays Foundation, and the Sullivan Family Foundation. The generosity of these three donor matches has allowed the Forum to give a little over $400,000 to the scientists’ pilot studies this year, making a total of $800,000 in contributions to Texas Biomed in 2020.
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by societytexas | May 30, 2020 | Summer 2020, Parties, San Antonio
Texas Biomedical Forum Hosts Chair-ity Event
By Jake Gaines Photography by Super Q
THE SETTING: Recently, the Texas Biomedical Forum held a unique fundraising event at the home of Gloria and Miguel Dilley. Usually, the black-tie gala celebrating the organization is one of the most important social events in the city. This smaller event, which began in 2017, occurred when The Argyle board decided to donate its chairs to the Forum, giving donors a chance to have a piece of the club’s history. The club was originally founded in 1854 and its incarnation as a private club began in 1955.
THE STYLE: The Argyle contacted the gala’s president at the time, Courtney Percy, who created the idea of getting local interior decorators to put their creative spin on the chairs. The Argyle contacted the Forum’s president at the time, Courtney Percy, who created the idea of getting local interior decorators to put their creative spin on the chairs. Adrianne Frost and Mal Moorman, the 2017 special event chairs, took Percy’s idea and ran with it.
The organization is grateful to The Argyle for donating the chairs to the Forum. With Courtney Percy’s vision, the special events chair leaders’ achievements each year, and with the designers who have donated their time and talents, it has proved to be a perfect combination, thus ensuring its success at every event. The recent event was celebrated by so many well-dressed supporters who love the organization’s goals.
THE PURPOSE: With this one-of-a-kind fundraiser, this year was the final event chaired by Gloria Dilley and Triana Grossman. The event has successfully raised over $50,000 in its three years. The Texas Biomedical Research Institute is pioneering and sharing scientific breakthroughs that protect you, your families, and our global community from the threat of infectious diseases.
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by societytexas | Aug 31, 2019 | 2019 September October, Parties, San Antonio
Texas Biomedical Forum Gala Spring Gala Celebrates Belle Epoque
By Jake Gaines Photography by Greg Harrison and Super Q Photography
THE SETTING: On a beautiful evening recently, The Argyle set the scene for the Texas Biomedical Forum gala, themed The Night They Invented Champagne, that celebrated all things Belle Epoque Paris. Guests were greeted at the entry with a Nebuchadnezzar large format bottle of Perrier Jouët champagne. It was curated by The Argyle’s own Clay Wheeler and was served from a specially built pouring apparatus into classic vintage coupe champagne glasses. Passing by the antique Rolls Royce, guests shopped the many French-styled carts filled with silent auction items.
The pastoral lawn of The Argyle was plush with green topiaries, hanging baskets and red geraniums, setting the scene for a Parisian walk in the park, where guests delighted in cocktails and beautiful appetizers including escargot vol-au-vant, caviar, strawberries and brie, and mousse pâté on toast points. Guests’ then continued to feast on Executive Chef Jesse Villanueva’s French-inspired menu.
THE STYLE: After dinner, Doc Watkins and his orchestra, generously sponsored by Donna and Ted Welsh, livened up the crowd out onto the dance floor, where feather fans, boas and hand-rolled cigars appeared. Couples danced into the evening and even had the opportunity to have their portraits painted by Franco-Modini Ruiz. Patrons were re-fueled by Chef Jesse’s scrumptious Croque Monsieur and Pomme Frites while imbibing more bubbles.
THE PURPOSE: The event was chaired by Whitney Solcher Miller and co-chaired by Cynthia Kerby, with the design expertise of their gala assistant, Whitney Schones. Baubles were generously provided by Lee Michael’s Fine Jewelry, with the help of Jessica Berg and Heather de Rojas, who served as the favor co-chairs. Tables were sold out thanks to Audra Kerr, the event’s table sales chair, and numerous grants were received outside of the gala thanks to Corinna Richter, the gala grants chair. Emily Jones was the silent auction chair, along with Emilie Petty as her co-chair. Amy Swaney and Kim Johnson served as underwriting co-chairs, while Haley Conger led as the after party co-chair with Kristin Tips, who was also public relations chair. The organization was founded in 1970 by a group of inspiring and hardworking women with the same goal to support the life-changing and life-saving work being done at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute through community awareness and fundraising.
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