As co-chairs of this year’s Cattle Baron’s Ball, Linda and Frank Ginac are hosting the affair of the season, raising money that will allow the American Cancer Society to provide patient services, research, education and government advocacy to those afflicted with cancer and their loved ones. Both ideally embody the soul of hospitality, ensuring that this year’s event will be unforgettable. Your Address Magazine benefited from their supreme graciousness when the Ginac’s invited us into their home to share their sense of home, family and community.
Beyond welcoming, Frank and Linda opened the doors of their impeccable home to our crew, offering a complete and impressive spread of food and beverages, which perfectly reflected their ideals of home.
“We want anyone who comes here, whether it is family or friends, to feel like it’s their home,” said Linda.
Pursuing a style they have termed “Mediterranean comfort,” the Ginac’s have successfully struck the perfect balance between elegance and ease. While their furnishings, from John Williams Interiors for the most part, are luxurious, they remain comfortable and inviting, having been chosen with family in mind.
With the help of interior designers, Susie Johnson and Kelly Scully, Linda and Frank chose classic pieces in a monochromatic palate for the downstairs, making it ideal for entertaining. But it is the upstairs portion of their home that is infused with the vibrancy of their personalities.
Each room upstairs is a different color and was lovingly painted by Linda’s own hand. For the great room, she chose a rustic orange, Venetian plaster that warmly envelops the family as they gather for a meal or watch movies together. Each son was given choice of his room color. Andrew, 12 naturally selected a vibrant blue for his skateboard themed room, while Vaughn, 4 went Texan all the way with his rawhide brown, cowboy room.
The charming guest bedroom in cool blues and greens, is reminiscent of a Hill Country bed and breakfast. Frank’s mother, who stays in the room when she visits the family, was the inspiration for the cozy getaway motif.
Perhaps Linda’s most ambitious (and triumphant!) project is the Castle dungeon themed toy room, with walls featuring meticulously detailed aged, textured bricks. It is any child’s dream space and something Linda loved watching develop.
“I love that it’s the unknown, almost like an artist painting a canvas,” Linda said. “I don’t know what it’s going to end up being, but it’s going to be something that reflects us. It makes it ours.” Frank, too, takes a hand in personalizing their home. He has always loved working with wood, and gets great satisfaction out of seeing it all come together.
“For a house to be at all homey and inviting, you have to connect with it,” said Frank. “If you are putting your own hands to work on it, you do.”
That level of hard work and care is not something the Ginac’s reserve for their own home and family. They are equally committed to making their community their own as well, and actively do all they can to support local philanthropic efforts. After touring the facilities benefited by the American Cancer Society, Linda and Frank were moved to become involved.
“We became very interested when we saw with our own eyes exactly what the organization is doing for people,” said Linda. “It just really hit me that I don’t think the community knows enough about the level and the depth and the breadth of services that the American Cancer Society provides. Getting involved in the Cattle Baron’s ball, something that’s fun and addresses cancer in a hopeful way, really captured our attention.”
Frank, whose sister is a cancer survivor, is motivated by the brilliant, cutting edge advances the American Cancer Society is responsible for each year.
“The American Cancer Society has invested in research that most of the bigger companies and other organizations have turned away from –more risky, leading edge, promising research,” said Frank. “Over the last 60 years, they’ve invested in scientists doing research that couldn’t get funding anywhere else, and who ended up becoming Nobel Prize laureates!”
With so much at stake and such potential to make a difference, Linda and Frank have gone above and beyond the call of duty this year, coordinating not only the ball, but a series events with which everyone in the family can get involved – even a Lil’ Buckaroo’s party.
“We planned a season of events this year because we wanted to start building up momentum and energy for the ball. We also wanted different events that would appeal to people of all ages.”
Every detail, from the menu, to the live music, has been thoughtfully planned to ensure a great party, worthy our inner cowboy. Guests of the event, titled “Brandin’ a Cause; Ropin’ a Cure”, will enjoy a unique, western-style event complete with live entertainment, Texan-style cuisine, fabulous music, dancing, gaming, auctions and other special attractions. Bust out those Stetsons, dust off your boots (or slip into those Stilettos), put on your best attire and join the Ginacs for a rustic and rowdy good ‘ole time on May 31st at the TDS Exotic Ranch and Pavilion in Austin, Texas. The Ball promises to be an evening embracing the elegance of an era gone by as you stroll under the Texas stars, embark on a night of dancing and talking with your friends and gaze at the magnificent animals surrounding this one-of-a-kind ranch.
“We want everyone to leave saying, ‘that was a great experience -- something we want to come back to again and again!’” For more information about this year’s Cattle Baron’s Ball and other scheduled events, please visit: www.youraddressmagazine.com.