(Photo by Ana Hop)
In its third year, NorthPark Center’s Luxury Ambassador program boldly merges the worlds of fashion, art, and philanthropy, by way of celebrating Dallas’ top influencers and the nonprofits they support. NorthPark’s chosen few embody a rare-air kind of style — a group that contains equal parts fashion sense, civic leadership, and larger-than-life personality.
Here, we catch up with Kimberly Alexander and learn about her passion for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The 35th annual St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show — which benefits Alexander’s beloved Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — is February 7th at NorthPark.
Why the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
I lost my husband to an incurable blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma in 2010. Since then, I’ve been committed to helping patients and caregivers because I know how life-altering a cancer diagnosis is. I want to help others navigate through the process and help find cures, working with Leukemia & Lymphoma Society allows that.
A benevolent memory.
My favorite memory is from 2016, the year I chaired the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man/Woman of the Year campaign. I was proud of being able to convince my brother-in-law and my husband’s oncologist to be a part of it. They each raised well over $50,000 to establish research grants, which meant the world to me.
Philanthropic influencers.
My parents, they were both educators. I watched them go above and beyond for their students when I was a kid. It definitely set the tone that it’s important to help others when you see a need.
Role models.
Michelle Obama and Ava DuVernay are both incredible role models. I admire them because of their intelligence, grace, and ability to use their platforms to elicit change.
NorthPark Center is at the center of combining art and fashion. Describe your own art and fashion interests.
Kehinde Wilde, Kara Walker, and Lina Iris Viktor are favorites of mine. I also love Kaws, Jeff Koons, and Metish Atash. Rich themes, strong colors and sparkly things make me smile.
When it comes to fashion I’m a fan of clean, classic looks — anything effortless. I love Balmain blazers, Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dresses, and great skinny jeans. However, anyone who knows me knows I’m really a shoe girl, and the higher the heel, the better. I can’t walk in flip-flops, but give me a stiletto and I can run all day.
The perfect day.
The perfect day would start with me waking up to the sound of ocean waves, everything after that would just be icing on the cake. I grew up in Florida; water recharges me.
Your day job.
I own KimCONNECTS, a boutique consulting firm that helps to create business opportunities for clients. In addition to that, I’m a public speaker, and I co-host a sports talk radio show called The G.A.M.E. on 105.3 The Fan.
Looking forward.
Every year I look forward to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show in February and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man/Woman of the Year Grand Finale in June.
NorthPark memory.
When we moved to Dallas 22 years ago, I fell in love with NorthPark Center. I always made sure my sons got to see the turtles and ducks when they were babies. My babies are 21 and 23 now, but I still think about those moments whenever I pass by the indoor pond. I’m glad it’s still there, unchanged.
Advice to your younger self.
Trust your gut. Quite often that’s all the clarity you need.
On the horizon in 2019.
I really want to tackle the issue of disparities in cancer care within minority communities. It’s an issue I’ve become aware of that needs more attention. I also want to restart my KimCONNECTS events as well. I put both of these on my vision board for 2019 so now I have to make them happen.
For more information and to buy tickets to St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show, click here.
Part of the Special Series:
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