The Real Estate Council Giving Gala Featured Clint Black, Karl Zavitkovsky and Playhouse Auction

Oct. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- The Real Estate Council’s Giving Gala was held on October 6 at the Hilton Anatole Sculpture Park. The Presenting Sponsor was Deloitte. The cantina fiesta-themed fundraiser featured 10-time, platinum-selling country artist Clint Black, announcement of Community Spirit Honoree Karl Zavitkovsky, and a live auction of pint-size playhouses designed and built by members.

Willie Hornberger of Jackson Walker, LLP, The Real Estate Council Giving Gala Chairman, announced Karl Zavitkovsky as this year’s Community Spirit Award honoree. “As a founder, past chairman and one of our most active and supportive members, Karl embodies The Real Estate Council mission to make our community a better place for all. For his unwavering commitment to creating opportunity and hope in Dallas’ neediest neighborhoods, his contagious spirit, and his exceptional ability to bring people and resources together for the common good, The Real Estate Council honored Karl.”

Zavitkovsky is director of the Office of Economic Development for the City of Dallas where he has been instrumental in helping Dallas define itself as a world-class city. He said, “TREC, as an organization, has had wonderful successes: the (Woodall Rodgers) Deck Park, the Land Bank—the land bank started in the early 1990s and has evolved into a powerful force in the city today.”

After honoring Zavitkovsky, the organization auctioned off four playhouses designed and built by members. The live auction of Pint Size Playhouses, presented by Goldman Sachs Commercial Mortgage Capital, included four houses designed and built by Corgan/Hill+Wilkinson/Pacheco Koch (Rocket);
Beck (Zebra); MYCON/O’Brien & Associates (Lakefront Living); and Centerpoint/Valhalla Design Group (Sliding Playhouse). All four houses were auctioned off to the highest bidder.  Of the four, two were donated by their purchasers to Voice of Hope and Canterbury Episcopal School. Last year, three of the four houses were purchased and donated to charity.  

In addition to Presenting Sponsor Deloitte., other sponsors of the Giving Gala included the following:
Limelight Sponsor: Schwob Building Company
Spotlight Sponsors: Comerica Bank, Corgan, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs Commercial Mortgage Capital, Hill & Wilkinson, Holt Lunsford Commercial, Jackson-Shaw, Thackeray Partners
Paramount Sponsors: Chase, Jackson Walker LLP
Platinum Sponsors: Archon Group, L.P., Balfour Beatty Construction, Granite Properties, KPMG.
Media Sponsors: Bisnow, Dallas Business Journal, The Dallas Morning News.

About The Real Estate Council:
Founded in 1990, The Real Estate Council is a dynamic organization of more than 1,300 commercial real estate professionals and 500 companies representing 95% of the top commercial real estate businesses in North Texas. The Real Estate Council pursues industry advocacy efforts on local and statewide public policy issues and works to improve the quality of life in Dallas with initiatives that address housing, education, job creation and the environment. Over the last 20 years, The Real Estate Council’s FightNight, Giving Gala and Community Partners Program have raised more than $20 million. The organization is a leader of efforts shaping the future of Dallas including the original $1.5 million investment that spearheaded Woodall Rodgers Park, as well as $6.3 million in pro bono legal and title services and $250,000 in funding that helped create Dallas’ Urban Land Bank. In 2010 the City of Dallas was awarded a $2.225 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant made possible by a $275,000 Transit Oriented Development study funded by The Real Estate Council and two of its Community Partners. Find out more at www.recouncil.com or by calling 214-692-3600.