DINNER OF THE PORCH DURING A TRUE DALLAS DELUGE, COMPLETE WITH THUNDER BOLTS

Sunday I flew to Dallas to do an evening event in the magnificent home of Trea Yip to benefit the Women’s Media Center. It was an exciting group of women of means…activists, advocates, writers, all interesting and interested. My friend and fella Christian feminist, Helen LaKelly helped pulled the group together along with co-hosts Trea and Lauren. Helen, who is a true visionary, has created a movement called Women Moving Millions composed of growing numbers of women who have contributed $1 million or more to Women’s Foundations and other women’s organizations around the country. As I wrote in a recent blog, the organization has raised upwards of $180 million dollars this far! Hilton Als came from New York with me. He is writing a profile on me for the New Yorker and we have become friends.

With the co-hosts, Trea Yip and Lauren Embrey

With Helen LaKelly Hunt

Chester Olds, me and on the right is Steven Bennett. Some would say he’s my right hand. I say he’s my left thigh...ie; he’s in charge of my life)

Women with Big Boi’s foundation

Me with Hilton Als who is writing a New Yorker profile on me

The next night, Richard and I went to dinner in New York with Harvey Keitel and his wife Daphna. Daphna is a film writer, producer and actor and has been a long time friend of Richard’s. My dear friend, Eve Ensler joined us as did Daphna’s parents. Tonight we’re going with Harvey and Daphna to see “Precious” and I am so looking forward to that.

Here are some of the clocks in the auction on October 7 at IKEA to benefit G-CAPP

With my mentor Dr. Michael Carrera

Last night there was a gathering at the Harvard Club to celebrate and honor the 25th anniversary of the Children’s Aid Society Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention program created and run by Dr Michael Carrera. It is one of the (if not THE) most successful programs which has been replicated all around the country. It wraps itself around the young people in the program for seven years–from when they enter middle school until they graduate high school, instilling in them the knowledge that they have a future that includes a job, health care, a savings account, college. They learn that they have value, potential, skills. Several of the alum spoke movingly about how the program made a difference in their lives. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Dr Carrera has been toiling in this youth development vinyard for 50 years!!! And I was proud to be there to help him celebrate. Some of the things I have heard him say that influenced the work we do in Georgia: “Young people may not remember what you do but they will never forget how you made them feel” and “These children aren’t at risk, they are at promise.” He speaks of what we do as “above the waist work” and says “it’s less about what goes on between their legs and more about what goes on between their ears.” I know from my 16 years with GCAPP how true this is.

After the event, I had dinner at Orso’s with New Yorker writer Hilton Als, he is doing a profile of me for the magazine and we are becoming friends. It was fun being with him back at Orso’s where I went almost every night after my Broadway show. I missed seeing Jeff Daniels (he’s still in “God of Carnage” and we were too early) who was also a regular there as was Geoffrey Rush. Wow! Writing this is making me miss the camaraderie and fulfillment of being on Broadway and I wish I was back in a play.

I am about to catch a flight to Dallas where I’m doing a fundraiser for The Women’s Media Center. Hilton’s coming with me. My dear friend, Helen LaKelly Hunt, has helped assure this will be an extremely successful event. She is also the driving force behind an effort called Women Moving Millions, motivating women donors of means to give $1 million or more to the many Womens Funds and foundations around the country. Since the initiative began 2 years ago they have raised $180 million all of which goes to benefit women and girls.

See you next time.