Wynne Cunningham
Lakewood neighbor Wynne Cunningham has been elected the event chair for Dallas Heritage Village’s 3rd Annual History with a Twist: a Celebration of the American Cocktail. She invites guests to “step back in time” on April 25. From 7-11 p.m., stroll down Dallas Heritage Village’s historic Main Street sampling a variety of unique creations by Dallas Mixologist Brian McCullough at numerous cocktail stations as well as food throughout the evening. There will be a vintage car show, jazz music provided by the Singapore Slingers, which is headed up by East Dallas neighbor Matt Tolentino, who we wrote about in May, and a silent auction with dining and wine packages. Guests are encouraged to come in their own vintage attire from Prohibition and the early 20th century. A selection of costume items will be for sale that evening and a photo booth to document the occasion. Proceeds support historical learning opportunities for students and adults at Dallas Heritage Village.
Cunningham has deep ties with Dallas. Her familial roots in North Texas date back to the 19th century. Although she grew up in Austin, she later moved to Dallas to attend Southern Methodist University where she earned degrees in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics with Honors. She spent a year working as an engineer before returning to Austin for a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. After spending a year in New York City working as a corporate attorney, she and her husband, Chris, moved back to Dallas in 2007.
“I immediately jumped into several philanthropic endeavors,” Cunningham explains, “really wanting to dig in, so to speak, in the city that was my new home and had been so significant in the lives of my immediate ancestors. Over the past eight years I have volunteered in various organizations and on several nonprofit boards, always with the goal of giving back to my new city.”
After having her son, Cunningham was inspired to join Dallas Heritage Village in 2013. She also chaired the board of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, an organization that she has been involved with for several years. When the SMU Lyle School of Engineering formed their alumni board in 2009, she was asked to be a part of the inaugural board; she remains on the board and holds the position of communications officer. She has also been a member of the Junior League of Dallas since 2009 and is the current technology chair and incoming administrative vice president of their board. Since moving back to Dallas, Wynne has volunteered with Genesis Women’s Shelter, Family Place, Community Partners of Dallas, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and the Dallas Museum of Art, among others.
The event is on April 25 from 7-11 p.m. at Main Street at Dallas Heritage Village, located at 1515 S. Harwood. Tickets are $75 for individuals or $125 for couples and include cocktail samples, heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, and valet parking. Sponsorships are available. For information and tickets contact Lisa Simpson at 214.413.3662 or lsimpson@dallasheritagevillage.org or visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org.
