Our closing screening will take place at The Kessler Theater in the heart of beautiful, historic Oak Cliff.  At 5:00pm, guests are invited to a reception on The Green at The Kessler (outdoor stage & lawn behind The Kessler Theater)  where food and beverages will be available for purchase. Inside the theater at 6:30pm, we will share a selection of short films that highlight stories of characters that not only find purpose in the outdoors, but strive to share that opportunity with others.  Themes of conservation, food sovereignty and intersectionality will also be discussed both on screen and in thoughtful panel conversations.  The evening will close with an intimate performance from Danielle Ponder, a rising R&B/Soul singer who left her career as a New York public defender to pursue her calling in music. Valet parking available.

Following the event, guests that purchase a ticket including after party admission are invited to join us at The Wild Detectives for drinks, dancing, and music by DJ Elkin Pautt as we celebrate our final festival night.

Bell Nunnally Presents Eric Nadel’s Birthday Benefit for Grant Halliburton Foundation with Media Sponsor KXT 91.7

Celebrating its 11th year, the Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit supports the work of Grant Halliburton Foundation, a Dallas nonprofit that provides mental health education, training, and support to North Texas teens and families.

Headlining this year’s show is American soul singer Danielle Ponder! Danielle is both empowering and a powerhouse. NPR included Danielle on Slingshot’s 2023 list of Artists to Watch, and partner station KXT 91.7 noted, “The power behind her music could sway any jury of her peers into immediately becoming an instant fan.” In 2020, NPR described her music as “anthemic while compassionate; soulful, while bold and strong. She reverberates with a goosebump-inducing passion.”

Danielle attended Northeastern University where she received her Juris Doctorate. For five years, Danielle worked as a public defender where she provided criminal defense to the indigent community. While working as a public defender, Danielle also toured Europe and scored an opening spot with R&B singer and producer George Clinton. In 2018, after five years as a public defender, she made the gutsy decision to pursue her number one passion: music. In 2021, Danielle performed at the Newport Jazz Festival where her performance was hailed as one of the standout performances of the event. 2022 was a banner year for Danielle with appearances on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” and “CBS This Morning,” as well as tours with Marcus Mumford, Amos Lee, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Leon Bridges.

Danielle’s debut album, “Some of Us Are Brave,” was released in September 2022 on Future Classic. Danielle continues to advocate for criminal justice reform and is an influential leader in the Black Lives Matter movement in Rochester, New York.

Daphne Willis, one of the co-founders of Eric Nadel’s Birthday Benefit, has been a Kessler favorite since she first played at the theater in 2011. Best known for her song “Somebody’s Someone,” which has been viewed more than 24 million times, Daphne is also a speaker for mental health and addiction recovery organizations. Her songs have had countless placements in TV, films, and commercials, and her ability to connect with an audience is second to none.

Sponsor tables and suites for this event are available through Grant Halliburton Foundation. Visit granthalliburton.org/ericnadel to learn more or to purchase a sponsorship. QUESTIONS? Email hannah@granthalliburton.org.