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92 ALL ABOUT RUTH By Lisa Collins Shaddock W hen asked to found the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas' Tocqueville Society 30 years ago, Ruth Altshuler famously raised $1 million from handwritten notes alone. Dallas' grand dame of fund-raising spoke to a packed room of more than 1,200 civic leaders and dear friends, including former fi rst lady and BFF Laura Bush, of whom Altshuler said, "She is just too good to be true. Except she is true. She is a real person!" The occasion was the society's 30th Anniversary Luncheon, and in her speech Altshuler referenced a favorite quote from Albert Schweitzer: "Example is not the main thing that infl uences others. It is the only thing." Little did she know that her example had inspired friends Kelly Hoglund Compton, Caren Prothro, Carolyn Perot Rathjen, and Dallas United Way CEO Jennifer Sampson to start a surprise letter- writing campaign of their own, bringing in more than $7 million to establish the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Basic Needs Fund — the first official disbursement was given to The Salvation Army to support Hurricane Harvey Relief efforts in North Texas. The megawatt announcement, made public during the luncheon, was one that caught even the unshakable Altshuler off-guard. But why just honor the legacy of one philanthropic powerhouse if you can have three. The society also presented both Margaret McDermott and Margot Perot with the 2017 Decades of Distinction Award, in recognition of their longstanding community support. And there was another surprise in store — sort of. When Sampson took the stage for a Q&A with United Way's 2017-2018 campaign chair and former gridiron great Troy Aikman, there was one thought on everyone's mind. Sampson called out the elephant in the room: "Congratulations!" she said, causing Aikman to blush. Just four days prior, Aikman wed Capa Moody in a private ceremony in Santa Barbara. Talk about an afternoon of milestones. WHO WAS THERE? Carol Seay, Elaine Agather, Michelle McAdam, Capera Ryan, Deborah Ryan, Anita Arnold, Annette Simmons, Barbara and Steve Durham, Gigi Potter, Lana Andrews, Susu Meyer, Lee Cullum, Linda Marcus, and Lisa Cooley. Jennifer Sampson, Ruth Sharp Altshuler, Laura Bush Troy & Capa Aikman Mary Kathryn Bass, Katherine Perot, Angie Carlson Roger Horchow Lizzie Routman Kelly Compton Caren Prothro Carolyn Rathjen Margot Perot, Kenneth Cooper Ross Perot Elaine Agather Lea Anne Laughlin Ellen Marsau Jeanne Phillips Peggy Sewell Gene Jones Drew Pearson Brett Levy