The Rachofskys lived together in their stunning house, constantly adding to their collection and hosting a growing number of charity events – most notably the annual Two x Two for AIDS and Art, which quickly became a major fund-raiser as well as the social event in Dallas.

Then they gave it all away. Well, not everything. Howard and Cindy still share their art obsession and their passion for philanthropy.

A NEW BLUEPRINT FOR PHILANTHROPY
In 2005, Robert and Marguerite Hoffman invited the Rachofskys and Rusty and Deedie Rose to join them in a bold move: the tight-knit group of friends agreed to jointly donate their substantial and important collections to the Dallas Museum of Art. The donation sent a shock wave through both the philanthropy and art communities – such that this sort of act of generosity now is known as the “Dallas model.”

The Rachofskys were not satisfied just donating their collection. They gave away their house, too, so that it continues to serve both as an architectural masterpiece in its own right and as an unmatched showcase for their art, which they continue to collect.

AN OBSESSION FOR ART
Howard Rachofsky stopped into a small Dallas gallery in the early 1970s and, though he did not know it at the time, his life changed. “I started out like many collectors, buying one piece at a time, very tentatively. An interest became a curiosity which became a collection which became a passion which became an obsession. It was the combination of exploring the ideas of contemporary art and enjoying the experience of it.”

That obsession drove Rachofsky to commission Meier to design a house that would do justice to his extensive art collection. Located on a major Dallas thoroughfare, the house soon became a hotspot for educational gatherings and fund-raisers.

TWO X TWO FOR AIDS AND ART
In 1999, the Rachofskys agreed to host a charity auction to benefit two causes for which they cared deeply – the Dallas Museum of Art and amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. They organized the first Two x Two for AIDS and Art in just six weeks. And raised $300,000.

“It has been said there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” Howard Rachofsky says. “That phrase has deep resonance for us as we consider amfAR’s work in the battle against HIV/AIDS. When you marry that important mission to our profound and personal belief in the life-enhancing potential of art, you understand why Cindy and I have been proud to host the
Two x Two event for the last 10 years.”

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
The gala receives generous donations of significant contemporary art from artists and dealers worldwide. About 400 people convene at the Rachofsky House for a black-tie dinner, entertainment, celebrity hosts and the art auction. Peter Doig – considered one of today’s greatest painters – has agreed to be the honored artist for this year’s 11th annual event. “It really is a lot of fun,” Rachofsky says.

To date, Two x Two has raised more than $21 million, becoming amfAR’s single-largest U.S. fund-raising event while also funding more than 70 major contemporary art acquisitions for the museum.

FLEXJET HELPS THE CAUSE
Two x Two has grown in other ways, too, becoming a weeklong series of events with each evening designed to engage a different collecting audience. The week concludes with an intimate Sunday brunch for patrons and sponsors at the home of a Dallas art collector, to recognize the year’s honored artist.

“In the last few years, Flexjet has been gracious enough to be the host of this Sunday brunch,” Rachofsky says. “The incredible support we receive from our generous sponsors like Flexjet means a great deal to us. It enables us to keep the event going and at a level that matches what our patrons and our artists have come to expect.”