5-Year-Old Singing Sensation Helps Raise Money for Hungry Preschoolers in Houston

750,000 Vital Free Lunches and Counting

By Shelby Hodge // Nov 29, 2018

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Arthur Baird, Beth Braniff Harp, Philamena Baird

Roseann Rogers, singing sensation 5-year-old Claire Crosby, Lara Bell

What: Kids’ Meals 10th annual Harvest Luncheon

Where: The Marriott Marquis Hotel

PC Moment: A record crowd of more than 1,300 generous Houstonians turned out to help raise a record $370,000 net for the nonprofit that delivers healthy meals to the doorsteps of hungry preschoolers. The funds will go a long way in providing meals for more than 2,900 youngsters each weekday and more than 5,100 meals a week for older siblings during the summer. By the close of 2018, Kids’ Meals will have made and delivered 750,000 free lunches.

BFFs Lara Bell and Roseann Rogers chaired the event that featured New York Times best-selling author Laura Schroff, An Invisible Thread, as keynote speaker and performances by 5-year-old singing wunderkind Claire Crosby, a regular on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Awards were presented to meaningful supporters with Sysco Corp. receiving Corporate honors, Elaine and Jim Turner receiving the Burrell Legacy Award and Elizabeth and John Elder and Eloise and Jamie Taussing receiving the Golda & Gil Baker Award.

PC Seen: Kids’ Meals board chair JR Irvin, Dr. Roland Maldonado, Elizabeth Swift, Philamena and Arthur Baird, Leigh Cook, Jim Braniff, Cathy Cagle, Mary D’Andrea, Jessica Rossman, Katherine Whaley, Marty Braniff and David Rubenstein. Joshua Espinedo, Franelle Rogers, Audrey Gruber, and artist Taft McWhorter.