Honorees for the Great Contributors Gala
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden has revealed the recipients of its Great Contributors Gala fundraising event happening on December 5: Phyllis and Tom McCasland, Sue Ringle (posthumously), and Carolyn and Al Olson. The evening will commence with a champagne reception and silent auction at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a program at 7 p.m. in Rosine Hall at the Dallas Arboretum located at 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218. Event co-chairs Sharon Ballew and Mari Epperson also previously served as co-chairs for Artscape.
Mary Brinegar, the president and CEO of the Dallas Arboretum, stated, “We are excited to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these distinguished garden ‘greats’ who have dedicated their time, talents, and resources to our board of directors, The Women’s Council, and the volunteer team that helps keep our garden a treasured destination for visitors from around the globe.”
THE HONOREES:
Phyllis and Tom McCasland
Tom and Phyllis McCasland hail from Oklahoma, with Tom originating from Duncan and Phyllis from Blackwell. They met at The University of Oklahoma and married shortly after graduation. Tom had a distinguished career in the oil industry while both worked in banking. Phyllis also became a Master Gardener and contributed gardening articles to local newspapers.
Following their retirement and passing down the family business to their son, the McCaslands relocated to Dallas, where they have actively participated in various organizations, including the Dallas Arboretum. They have played a crucial role in the ongoing expansion and enhancement of the Dallas Arboretum, including funding for the renovation of the Sunken Garden, contributing seed money for the Chihuly exhibition, and conceptualizing and supporting The 12 Days of Christmas celebration. They also invested in land for the parking garage and helped underwrite its initial loan. Their donations facilitated the land acquisition for new greenhouses and provided funding for fencing, security, utilities, communications, and part of the greenhouse structure with a challenge grant to motivate others to complete the construction. In recognition of their generosity, the Dallas Arboretum Executive Committee dedicated the Horticulture Center and surrounding land to them. The McCaslands have two sons, Tom III and Mark, along with five grandchildren.
Sue Ringle (posthumous)
A proud Texan, Sue Ringle joined the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum in 2005, where she took on various roles. As president from 2012 to 2013, she was pivotal in the growth of funding for A Woman’s Garden, a project developed by the Women’s Council and gifted to the Dallas Arboretum. This peaceful and nationally recognized garden is maintained through collective funding from the council.
During Sue’s presidency, the Women’s Council celebrated both its 30th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the Mad Hatter’s Tea, the organization’s key spring fundraiser. She emphasized these significant milestones with a special Chihuly event and contributed to increasing membership by over 100 new members, bringing the total to more than 600.
Her dedication to community service extended into politics, music, and faith. A member of Highland Park Methodist Church, Sue established the Jester’s Program, a theater initiative for adults 16 and older with special needs. She shared 45 years of marriage with her husband Brett, whom she met at the University of Texas at Austin while both played saxophone in the Longhorn Band. She is survived by her husband and son, Kyle.
Carolyn and Al Olson
Carolyn and Al Olson have been married for 52 years, frequently found volunteering at the Dallas Arboretum. Since they began their volunteer work in February 2004, they have dedicated over 9,300 hours of service. Al, a retired employee from Exxon/Mobil, has a passion for roses, cultivating numerous new cuttings for the Arboretum. While he has volunteered in various parts of the garden, he now focuses his efforts in the new Tom and Phyllis McCasland Horticulture Center and its greenhouse, as well as on the Volunteer Advisory Board. Carolyn acts as an administrative volunteer in the Volunteer Department and participates on the Volunteer Advisory Board. Al served on the board of directors, including the executive committee, from 2013 to 2018, and was a past chair of the Volunteer Advisory Board, facilitating the activities of over 500 volunteers. In 2012, they both took on the role of volunteer chairs when the Dale Chihuly Glass Exhibition was launched at the garden and have participated in several festivals. Together, they have three adult children and six grandchildren.
Tables for the event range from $5,000 to $75,000, with tickets starting at $275. Underwriting opportunities are also available. For additional information, contact Missy Whisler at mwhisler@dallasarboretum.org or 214.515.6688. Visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/greatcontributorgala/ for more details.
Craig Hall, an entrepreneur, businessman, and lifelong art collector, was the recipient of the inaugural Great Contributor to Art award in 2017, followed by entertainment icon and author Martha Stewart in 2018.
About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:
Located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is also home to the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Dallas Morning News serves as the principal partner for the Dallas Arboretum, which is supported in part by funding from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum. For further information, call 214.515.6500 or visit www.dallasarboretum.org.
