New Friends New Life (NFNL) is proud to announce that acclaimed actress, producer, and founder/CEO Tracee Ellis Ross will headline the 2026 Stand for Her Luncheon on Thursday, September 24 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Ross is a leader whose cultural fluency and skilled storytelling allow her to forge meaningful connections with audiences and customers alike.
"We are honored to welcome Tracee Ellis Ross to Dallas to headline our Stand for Her Luncheon," said Bianca Davis, CEO of New Friends New Life. "Tracee's journey reflects the power of resilience, self-discovery, and living authentically. Through her work as an actress and entrepreneur, she has encouraged countless women to embrace their worth and pursue lives filled with purpose and possibility. We are excited for our community to hear her inspiring message and celebrate the strength and potential of the women and girls we serve at New Friends New Life."
Two inspiring mother-daughter teams will co-chair the 2026 Stand for Her Luncheon: Beth Thoele and Brooke Russo, and Kathy Helm and Marci Kramer. Honorary chairs are Lottye and Bobby Lyle. Their longstanding commitment to community service and nonprofit leadership reflects the transformative impact New Friends New Life creates for women and girls throughout North Texas.
For eight seasons, Tracee Ellis Ross starred in ABC’s critically acclaimed comedy series BLACK-ISH, earning a Golden Globe Award, six NAACP Image Awards, and nominations for Emmy Awards,Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics Choice Awards for her portrayal of Dr. Rainbow Johnson. The series also won an Emmy Award, a Peabody Award, and was nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, and Critics Choice Awards. Ross also starred in the Emmy and GLAAD Award-nominated series GIRLFRIENDS for eight seasons, earning two NAACP Image Awards and a BET Comedy Award for her portrayal of Joan Clayton.
In July 2026, Ross will make her highly anticipated Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated play EVERY BRILLIANT THING. In this one-of-a-kind solo show, a person looks back at their life and the glimmers of hope that sustained them through a list of every wonderful, beautiful, and delightful thing that makes life worth living.
Ross will also be seen in Season 2 of the Roku original series SOLO TRAVELING WITH TRACEE ELLIS ROSS. The first season set a record as Roku’s most-watched unscripted original series. The docuseries follows Ross as she embarks on transformative solo adventures, showcasing her unique blend of humor, heart, and honesty. At each destination, she explores the intersection of beauty, fashion, design, food, and culture. Ross serves as the Executive Producer of the series, which is produced by Joy Mill Entertainment and Artists First. Season 2 premieres July 20, 2026.
Ross recently announced a multiyear first-look scripted and overall unscripted deal with Fox Entertainment Studios via her production company Joy Mill Entertainment. Under the partnership, Ross will executive produce and develop scripted content spanning comedy, drama, and animation, as well as unscripted and reality programming. Joy Mill Entertainment is dedicated to creating entertaining, culture-bending stories centered around identity and joy.
Ross was last seen in THE FAMILY MCMULLEN on HBO Max, the long-awaited follow-up to the classic THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN, alongside Ed Burns, Connie Britton, and Michael McGlone. Additionally, Ross starred in season 7 of the critically acclaimed Netflix series BLACK MIRROR along with Paul Giamatti, Jesse Plemons, Rashida Jones, Chris O’Dowd, and Emma Corrin, among other returning cast favorites. Ross also appeared opposite Jeffrey Wright in the Oscar-winning drama AMERICAN FICTION, directed by Cord Jefferson in 2023.
Ross is the owner, founder, and co-CEO of PATTERN Beauty, the global multimillion-dollar hair & body care brand she created for the curly, coily & tight-textured community and everyBODY. With PATTERN, Ross is changing the paradigm of how the textured hair community is marketed to and supported.
Ross is a powerful voice for joy, self-acceptance, inclusivity, and equity. She has spoken at numerous prestigious venues including the TED Conference, where she made history as the first Black woman to open the event. Through her speaking engagements, Ross continues to inspire conversations about identity, belonging, and the expansiveness of joy.
Ross has been recognized with multiple prestigious honors throughout her career, including the People’s Choice Awards Fashion Icon Award and induction as a Disney Legend by The Walt Disney Company. Ross has also been recognized as a CNBC Changemaker and received the Achievement Award for Excellence in the Arts from the National Museum of Women in the Arts for her leadership in the entertainment industry and advocacy for gender equity. Ross received honorary Doctorate degrees from both Spelman College and her alma mater, Brown University.
Underwriting sponsorship opportunities begin at $3,000. A limited number of individual tickets will be released in August and will begin at $300. To reserve sponsorships or seats, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org/luncheon, email events@newfriendsnewlife.org, or contact Chief Development Officer Priya Murphy at 214-217-8652.
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About New Friends New Life (NFNL)
Founded in Dallas in 1998, New Friends New Life (NFNL) is an award-winning organization that restores and empowers trafficked and sexually exploited teen girls, women, and their children while leading efforts to end sex trafficking and exploitation through awareness, advocacy, and systemic change. In 2025, NFNL served 320 teen girls, women, and their children, providing holistic programs that support stability, emotional healing, education, economic mobility, and long-term independence. NFNL advances its mission through advocacy, legislative reform, community education, and strategic partnerships. Its drop-in Youth Resource Center (YRC), launched in partnership with the Texas Governor's Office, has provided comprehensive preventative and restorative services to more than 700 trafficked and high-risk teen girls since opening in 2018. NFNL’s Men's Advocacy Group has engaged men in the fight against sex trafficking and exploitation since 2015. In 2024, NFNL was named the D CEO Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Organization of the Year (Midsize). For more information, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org.