Out-of-this-World Raffle Keeps Champagne Flowing as Kid Cancer Ambassadors Warm Hearts
Touching Runway Moments Mark a Rousing $500,000 Night
BY Shelby Hodge // 11.14.19Austin & Holly Alvis, Holly & Steve Radom, Bill Gutknecht & Christine Falgout (Photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)
Champagne flutes tied with ribbons and twinkling rings sparkled throughout The Astorian as those among the packed house plunked down $100 for the bubbly and a chance to win from what seemed to be a bottomless array of raffle opportunities.
Tenenbaum Jewelers took raffle fundraising to a new high for “Catwalk,” the dinner evening benefiting A Shelter for Cancer Families (ASCF). The community-minded firm catapulted the evening to a soaring success with proceeds of more than $500,000. Tenenbaum’s Christina Stith and ASCF founder and board chair Missy Bellinger revealed to the gathering of 350 that in addition to the nine pieces of jewelry in the raffle, there were also eight $1,000 Tenenbaum gift cards to be had and one gift card for $5,000.
With 18 chances to go home a winner, guests snapped up the the sparkling glasses of champagne with fervor.
Key to the fashion-focused evening is presentation of Cancer Family Ambassadors that, for 2020, included Fox 26 news anchor Melissa Wilson, whose young son Caleb beat leukemia and rang the bell at Texas Children’s Hospital in 2016. While Wilson served as emcee and strode the catwalk with her husband, David, and son, Zach, Caleb was at home sick with the flu. The Wilsons were among five families presented in a celebratory parade, none more thrilling than that of high school freshman Jake Phillips, a brain cancer survivor, who in a surprise to all ripped open his tuxedo shirt at the foot of the runway.
River Oaks District sponsored the fashion presentation featuring fashions from Veronica Beard and Moncler.
Applause, applause for chairs Holly and Austin Alvis, Christine Falgout and Bill Gutknecht, and Holly and Steve Radom, all of whom contributed highly to the prestige of the annual fundraiser.
Elizabeth Anthony
PC Seen: Allie and Jay Fields, James Bellinger, Greggory Burke, Lindley Arnoldy, Jo Lynn and Gregg Falgout, Nicole and Evan Katz, Miriam Mansia, Fares Khammash, Marshall Heins, Laura Dalton, Aynsley Letzerich, Lauren Jones, Becca Cason Thrash, Traci Ling, Lyndsey Zorich, and Allison O’Neal.
_md.jpg)
