Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2008 > December > 08 > Entry
Dancing with the Stars-Austin swings to the top
Austin hosts some 120 galas a year. That’s one every third day.
Some, like the Ballet Austin Fete, have earned a reputation for enduring glamor. Others, such as the Nobelity Project benefit, attracted unprecedented numbers of celebrities earlier this year. The Long Center opening weekend staged unmatched grandeur in 2008, partly because of pent-up expectations for the new performing arts center.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, philanthropist and planner Bobbi Topfer, and former Mayor Roy Butler
Add a newcomer to the gala big leagues. In only its second year, Dancing with the Stars-Austin not only grossed well over $400,000 — results and net are still being tallied — to benefit the Center for Child Protection, it attracted an unusual mix of socialites and the rarely social. Among the attending politicians who are not seen out that often — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul.
Texas A&M System Board of Regents Chairman Bill Jones and his wife Johnita
Law enforcement and education were well represented. Chairman of the UT System Board of Regents and banker James Huffines, with his wife Patty, one of last year’s contestants, sat at our table. Chairman of the A&M System Board Bill Jones and his wife Johnita sat nearby (Chairman Jones, also partner with the law firm of Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P., competed last year and joked his way through judging this time). Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo not only performed the cha cha briskly with a professional dancer, he won second place in the audience vote (the judges agreed to give all 11 competitors perfect 10s).
UT System Board of Regents Chairman James Huffines and his wife Patty
More to come in Part 2.
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By Steve
December 8, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
We had a BLAST! Amy did a fabulous job and I think the voters were intimidated by the law enforcement presence (Just kidding Art)GREAT JOB to all that put this event on. I posted some of our photos on Facebook. Thanks Michael for coming out. The Center for Child Protection is worthy!