From Staff Reports
The Dallas Bears held their annual Anniversary Dinner and Awards event Saturday, June 22, at Dallas Eagle, where they handed out a grand total of $78,754 to six different community organizations, and recognized Dallas Bear members for their contributions to the organization and the community.
The donations came from money raised during Texas Bear Round-Up 24: Best Little Bear House in Texas and the corresponding Hard Candy Bear Dance held in March. Members of Dallas Bears and the organizers of Bear Dance were celebrating 10 years of partnership this year, as the Dallas Bears host the largest bear run in the nation along with the best bear dance held the same weekend by the BearDance organization. In the spirit of that partnership,
BearDance President Dr. Mark Trimble and Dallas Bears President Wayne Davis presented checks to recipients together. Recipients were Dallas Hope Charities ($877 raised by Mr. TBRU boy Kage at his event); Resource Center’s Nutrition Programs ($877 raised by Mr. TBRU boy Kage at his event); AIDS Services of Dallas ($5,000 raised at the Spanke Studer Memorial Teddy Bear Auction); the Sharon St. Cyr Fund ($18,000); Resource Center’s Youth First program ($18,000); and the Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund ($36,000).
Those recognized with awards during the anniversary celebration were:
• James Davenport: Bear of the Year.
• Members of the United Court of the Lone Star Empire: The John “Spanke” Studer Memorial Award for Community Service.
• Mike Henry, Chris Franke and Bob Hollenbeck: the President’s Award for Dedication and Service.
• Penny Cilyn, a.k.a Gary Allinger: Special Service and Friendship Award.
• Dallas Bears President Wayne Davis: Special Service Award for 18 Years of Leadership and Service.
Partnership awards went to BearDance, Brian Ruby with Hyatt Regency Dallas, host hotel for TBRU, and Brenda Sayegh with Connections Housing.
Receiving Lone Star Award for Tenured Leadership and Service were Rob Meade for more than 15 years of service and Nino Ciraulo for more than 10 years of service. Both men are retiring from active service.
Dallas Bears board of directors for the 2019/2020 Bear Year were also installed at the event. They are Wayne Davis, president; Mike Henry, vice president; Kevin Steele, secretary; Patrick Sweeney, treasurer; Randy Flores, charitable events; James Davenport, social events, and McKenzie Moraven, membership events.
Dallas Bears and BearDance are also already gearing up for March 2020, when Dallas Bears will host the TBRU Silver Jubilee. The TBRU 25 theme is “A Roman Holiday,” and BearDance will hold its annual event again during TBRU weekend.
