7^th Annual Gone To Texas Gala

Benefited Dallas Heritage Village Education Programs

More than 300 enjoyed annual event which helps keep Dallas and

 North Texas history alive for Metroplex school children

Dallas, TX – April 12, 2011 – More than 300 guests enjoyed the 7^th Annual Gone to Texas at Dallas Heritage Village on Saturday, March 26, at Eddie Deen’s Ranch in Dallas.  The annual event is the largest fundraiser for Dallas Heritage Village, providing funds for engaging, hands-on history programs for area school children and tourists that visit this unique living museum.  More than 25,000 school children participate in education programs at Dallas Heritage Village each year. 

“It was a great evening of Texas fun for a wonderful cause,”
said Don Baynham, event chair and chairman-elect of the board at Dallas Heritage Village.  “From the Texas-style feast to music by the Breckenridge Band and the ever popular line dancing, to the most successful silent auction on record with 50 items featured,
it was a fun and memorable night for all.” 

Nip and Tuck, the famous Dallas Heritage Village donkeys, benefited from the evening as well with a number of bales of hay sold to celebrate their 15^th birthdays.  Those who bought five bales of hay were invited to select a small plush Nip or Tuck to take home.

“We are so grateful to Don for chairing our event and all of our donors and sponsors,” added Gary Smith, President and Executive Director, Dallas Heritage Village.  “Special thanks to our trustee Sarah Sammis who won the evening’s Cash Cow (drawing to win all the money in a plastic jar filled with cash) and donated back to Dallas Heritage Village.”

“Gone To Texas” is named in honor of the 19th century Southerners who decided to pick up and move to a land of better opportunity.  Upon departure, they marked their front doors with "GTT" to announce they had gone to Texas.

Major donors included: $7,500 - Barbara and Stan Allred; $5,000 - Al G. Hill, Jr.; Baylor Health Care System; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas; CIGNA; Angela Fontana and Andy Szuwalski; The Hirsch Family Foundation; Lockton Dunning Benefits; Jolene and Mark Masur; Erle Nye; Bruce and Sarah Sammis; The Seay Foundation; Thompson and Knight Foundation; $3,500 –Brierley and Partners; Comerica Bank; Commerce Steel; Jane Dudgeon and Ann Phy; Paul and Kelly Dybala; Graue Family Foundation; Sally and Forrest Hoglund; Charles and Regina Pistor; Gail and Bill Plummer/Altair Global Relocation. Auction donors include American Airlines, Bachendorf’s, Orient Express Hotels, Rosewood Properties, and Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Dallas Heritage Village depicts life in Dallas from 1840 to 1910. It has 38 historic structures, including a log cabin, a Victorian Main Street and an 1861 farmstead. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.  For more information about the museum, go to www.dallasheritagevillage.org  or call 214-421-5141.

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