Gala, awards ceremony to celebrate ‘Hope Unbridled’

By Sharon Adams

Equest proudly announces Calvert Collins-Bratton and Melissa Oates as co-chairs, with Kristy and Patrick Sands as honorary chairs, of its 43rd annual Blue Ribbon Gala: “Hope Unbridled,” on Saturday, April 27 at the Hilton Anatole Dallas. 

“We are delighted to announce Calvert and Melissa as co-chairs and Kristy and Patrick as honorary chairs of the 2024 Blue Ribbon Gala,” said Lisa Loy Laughlin, Equest interim CEO. “We are also honored to recognize Carolyn Anderson and Pamela Dealey Petty with our annual awards. These ladies have given their unwavering support to Equest.”

Collins-Bratton and Oates both bring their enthusiasm for helping the community and professional expertise to their role as co-chairs of the Blue Ribbon Gala.

Collins-Bratton is a seventh generation Texan, proud Dallas native, civic and park advocate, wife and girl mom. She is the chief relationship officer for Communities Foundation of Texas, and previously spent eight years at Methodist Health System Foundation. 

Oates is a Dallas native with real estate in her blood. She is a top producer at Allie Beth Allman and Associates in Dallas and has spent most of her life in and around the home-building industry. She also grew up riding horses, beginning at age five when she got her first pony. She then went on to show competitively through middle school and high school. Today she has combined her two passions — real estate and horses — connecting friends and clients to their dream homes and ranches. “We are honored to serve as Gala Co-Chairs and support Equest’s incredible work that continues to create profound impacts on the lives of individuals with diverse needs,” said Calvert and Melissa. “Embracing this role is our commitment to fostering healing, hope and positive change, as we believe in the human-horse connection, and the community it creates,” they added.   

Honorary chairs Kristy and Patrick Sands are longtime lovers of helping people and animals. Patrick’s late Mother, Caroline Rose Hunt, was one of Dallas’s most generous philanthropists, and her employees, children, grandchildren and family members carry on her legacy of giving back to the community. 

“Patrick and I are so excited to serve as honorary chairs of Equest’s gala. When horses interact with us, they tend to synchronize to our heartbeats, which is truly remarkable and so important in helping to enhance the lives of so many. We are honored to help people, horses and the mission of Equest,” Kristy said. 

In addition to Gala leadership, Equest also announces its 2024 award recipients: Pamela Dealey Petty as the Founder’s Award recipient and Carolyn Anderson as the Citation Award recipient.

Named in honor of Equest co-founder Susan Neustadt Schwartz, the prestigious Founder’s Award is given to individuals who have made significant commitments to supporting the agency’s mission. Dealey Petty has served on the Equest board of directors, including as president for two terms and as secretary, co-chaired the annual gala and served as honorary chair, received the Equest Award for Community Service in 2002, was inducted into the Equest Hall of Fame in 2008 and continues to volunteer regularly at Equest. 

Anderson will receive the Citation Award in recognition of her longtime support of Equest, including serving as a board member since 2017, chairing Equest’s Boots and Salutes and Hooves for Heroes events, and as a fervent testimony provider to raise awareness for Equest. Given annually since 2019, the Citation Award is named after the thoroughbred horse Citation (1945-1970), who won 16 consecutive races in major stakes race competitions and is the first horse in history to win $1 million. 

The Blue Ribbon Gala: “Hope Unbridled,” will be held in the Chantilly Ballroom at the Hilton Anatole Dallas. Guests in Texas-chic attire can expect cocktails, a seated dinner, entertainment by The Manhattan Orchestra, a silent auction and recognition of 2024 award recipients — all while celebrating the power of the human-horse connection.

Tickets are available now at equest.org/gala.