CISDR Celebrates 30 Years of Serving Disadvantanged Students with CIS Soiree 2016

The Grand Hall at Texas Discovery Gardens served as a beautiful
backdrop for CIS Soiree 2016, the 30th Anniversary
Celebration of the work of CISDR.

The Community In Schools Dallas Region (CISDR) organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1985 to address the growing number of high school dropouts in Dallas and surrounding areas. Today CISDR operates in 70 schools in nine school districts in Dallas, Collin, and Ellis counties, with over 78% of those students living in poverty and deemed “at-risk” of future failure by the Texas Education Agency.

On Saturday, August 27th a room full of supporters and sponsors converged on the Rosine Smith Butterfly House and the lobby and Grand Hall at Texas Discovery Gardens to sip Garden Mules, bid at silent and live auctions, and enjoy a beautiful dinner with a program of entertainment and information and celebration. The CIS Soiree also served as a 30th Anniversary Celebration for the organization, the evening delivered on its promise to both entertain and fundraise. Dr. Judith Allen-Bazemore, President and CEO of CISDR welcomed guests with Blake D. Lewis III, Chairman of the Board, Soirée Chair Maggie Cooke Kipp, Honorary Chairs Katherine and Key Coker and CISDR Chief Philanthropy Officer, Lisa Loy Laughlin.

Projection services from Dallas Light and Sound convey
event branding at CIS Soiree 2016.

Of special interest in the fundraising part of the evening was a live auction that included items like a signed photo of Olympian gold medal winner Michael Phelps, a violin bass guitar signed by Sir Paul McCartney, and tickets to Hamilton in New York City.

The "Garden Mule" cocktails seemed to help with the merriment (and possibly the fundraising) and were a special creation for the evening. Dubbed the “Moscow Mule of Texas Discovery Gardens” the drinks were served in copper cups and featured a special herbed mixer recipe to compliment the garden setting.

Inspiring presentations were the focus of the program, and included a moving video featured CISDR students who shared their heartfelt personal stories of struggles in family and school. They also discussed achieving success influenced by support from CISDR - not only in education, but also with social and behavioral intervention services.

Dr. Allen-Bazemore reminded everyone that CISDR serves families free of charge. The average cost of serving one child is $500. He reminded the audience of patrons that supporting CISDR has a ripple effect throughout the community, delivering results with long term positive return on investment. Over the last 30 years, CISDR has touched the lives of nearly 250,000 students surrounding them with a community of support and empowering them to stay in school from kindergarten through graduation, and empowering them to achieve success in life. Among results this school year, 96% of students served by CISDR stayed in school and CISDR high school intervention resulted in a 95% graduation rate.

A unique horizontal sponsor reel recognized
sponsors at CIS Soiree 2016.

After the formal program concluded, the video screen rolled up to reveal a DJ who saw to it that the crowd continued their celebration.

Dallas Light and Sound provided audio for the evening in both the Grand Hall and in the Lobby, video projection for the Grand Hall big screen, uplighting in the Grand Hall and in the Lobby, and stage lighting for presenters. We also created a special horizontal sponsor reel for projection on the back wall of the Grand Hall. Thank you to the event organizers for choosing Dallas Light and Sound to provide production services for the event. For additional information about CISDR, visit the organization’s website at http://cisdallas.org/.


Dr. Judith Allen-Bazemore, President and CEO of CISDR welcomed guests at CIS Soiree 2016.