4th Annual
Black Tie & Boots 2025
October 4, 2025 · Fort Worth Stockyards Station
Fort Worth put on its boots again. On October 4th, the CloudDancer Gala 2025 brought the community together as they gathered at the Stockyards Station for our fourth annual Black Tie & Boots Gala — and it was the most powerful night in the organization’s history.
The evening opened with the familiar sounds of country music drifting through the stockyards as guests arrived in their finest — boots polished, hats in place, hearts full of purpose. What started in 2022 as a small gathering to honor Ashton Johnson and his dream of flight has grown into one of North Texas’s most anticipated philanthropic events. This year, supporters packed the house, and the energy from the moment the doors opened made it clear: the mission is resonating.
The live auction drew the crowd in tight. Bid paddles flew as supporters competed for a lineup that ranged from handcrafted Western gear to once-in-a-lifetime aviation experiences — every lot raising funds that go directly toward a veteran’s private pilot certificate. Aero Crew News was on the ground covering the night, and CBS 1016 was in the house, helping carry the mission beyond the Stockyards and into the broader community.
This year’s gala was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors, including the Gary Sinise Foundation, Thrust Flight, Plunkett Aviation, The Rec Room, AW Streeter LLC, Tuttle Brands, and HALO — organizations that believe, as we do, that a veteran with wings is a veteran with a future.
Every dollar raised on this night goes toward a veteran’s private pilot certificate — the one credential the GI Bill doesn’t cover. This gala is how we close that gap.
Joe Johnson, Founder — Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship
Each year, we commission a challenge coin — a tradition rooted in military culture — to mark the evening and honor those who make it possible. The 2025 coin is presented to our scholarship recipients and key supporters as a tangible reminder of why this community shows up year after year.
$234,000 Raised
The 2025 Black Tie & Boots Gala raised over $234,000 for the CloudDancer Scholarship mission.
The CloudDancer Gala 2025 Mission Continues
Ashton Johnson never got to finish his. Every veteran we put in the cockpit carries that forward. If you believe a uniform earns the right to fly, join us — as a donor, a sponsor, or a future recipient.
2025 Scholarship Recipients
Five more veterans awarded CloudDancer Scholarships to pursue their aviation dreams.
Alexander Boone
Breanna Scothorn
Jamar Ziegler
Le Hao
Tyler Perkins
A Special Thanks to All of Our Donors & Supporters
- 1845 Distilling
- 6 Flags Over Texas
- Aaron Tippin
- Air-O Specialists
- ALL ATP’s Flight School
- Amanda Higginbotham
- American Airlines
- American Hat Company
- Ariat Brand Store
- AT&T Stadium
- ATP Jets / ATP Flight School
- Barry Corbin
- Bass Performance Hall
- Bear Creek Ranch Golf Club
- Ben E Keith
- Beth & Keith Ashcraft
- Bird Dog Flight School
- Bluegrass Engraving
- Brandon Maso – DPE
- Brent Boyd Mult Engine Training
- Brett Hobson
- Carl Koele – DPE
- Cavender’s Boot Store
- Chelsea Peoples
- Cinch
- Class Axe Dallas
- Colonial Blade & Wood
- Cory Davis Hot Air Balloons
- Cowboys Golf Club
- Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- David Clark
- David Stiff Photography
- Davy Knapp Photography Studios
- DayDream Photography
- Dickies Arena / FWSSR
- Don Wallace
- Dr. Rowan Fraser
- Drink MOR
- Flying Ace Services
- Fort Worth Police Mounted Patrol
- Grayson Taylor
- Greatest Generation Aircraft
- Hangar Eleven – Oscar Rincones
- Hobson Comfort Experts
- J&G Aviation LLC
- Janice Wright – Rooted in NC
- JB Ranch Akaushi
- Jeremy Rider
- Jerry Jones Foundation
- Joel LeFluer
- Joe T Garcia’s Restaurant
- Joseph DiCarlo-Fischer Models
- Josh Douglas
- JSX
- Kendra Scott Jewelry
- Kerry LeFluer Gun Collections
- Kevin Johnson
- Lacefield Leather Goods
- Ladd Gardner Insurance
- Lightmaps
- Lt Col Allen West
- Mark Jacobs
- Mark McDonald
- Massage Envy
- Melody Kennedy
- Michael Burroughs
- Miles and Miles Argentina
- MJA Flight LLC
- Oak Grove Washateria
- Park Hill Photography Studios
- Perot Museum
- Pete Setian Auctioneer
- ScogWorks
- Scott Tekell
- Sephora
- Sheppard Air Force Base Honor Guard
- SkogWorks
- Sky Creek Ranch Golf Course
- Skydive Spaceland
- Smart Syndicator CRM – Brandon Wong
- Stella Ballard Photography
- Tailwinds LED Metar Maps
- Tammie Jo Shults
- Tavo Pets
- Texas Ballet Theater
- Texas Swine Stoppers
- The Best Hat Store, Ft Worth TX
- The Golf Club at Fossil Creek
- The Longhorn General Store Stockyards
- The Rec Room – Michael Colvard
- The Rodeo Shop Stockyards
- Thrust Flight
- Tim Carpenter
- Total Wine
- Tuttle Equity
- Tuttle Nutrition
- TX Whiskey Distillery
- Veracity Aviation
- Walmart
- WestRidge Golf Course
While every effort was made to recognize all of our generous donors and supporters, some names may have been inadvertently omitted for printing deadlines. We sincerely appreciate every individual and business who has contributed. A complete list of all the donors can be seen on this page.