One of the ultimate favorite abodes in which to gather is community leader/philanthropist Michal Powell‘s home-sweet-home in the Park Cities. It was the setting for the 2026 Callier Cares Luncheon patron party on Tuesday, March 31.
Being the ever-considerate hostess, longtime supporter of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders Michal had already dealt with her live-in buddy Birdie Blue Powell, a Bernese Mountain pup. The devoted pooch is Michal’s ultimate BFF. So much so that when BBP is in the backyard and Michal is in the house, whenever he loses sight of her he lets the world know that he’s missing her. Fearing that Birdie Blue, who tips the scales past the 80-lb. mark, might be an overwhelmingly gracious host for the Callier Cares patrons that evening, Michal’s son Gideon Powell picked up BBP earlier in the afternoon for a playtime at Gideon’s household with Howie, their 6-year-old Bernedoodle.
But back to the Callier Cares patron party, which quickly resulted in Michal’s house being filled with guests like former Callier Cares Luncheon chairs (Pam Busbee, Christie Cater, Tiffany Divis, Laura Downing, Kim Hext, Sara Martineau, Beth Thoele and Emilynn Wilson), Melinda and Mark Knowles, Caren and Pete Kline, Claire Emanuelson, Caroline Wagner and Christine Durovich. The crowd gathered in the living room to hear 2026 Luncheon Co-Chairs Megan and Justin Steinbach and Callier Center Executive Director Angela Shoup describe the importance of the work being done at the Callier Center for Communications Disorders.
It was revealed that the fundraising luncheon on Monday, April 27, was on track to once again be a sellout featuring a conversation with Megan and Justin and their son, Luke Steinbach, about their benefiting from the Callier programs…