River Oaks Ballroom Transforms Into a Sea of Red to Remember One Great Lady

What: The 18th annual AWARE Luncheon

Where: River Oaks Country Club

PC Moment: The fundraiser for the Alzheimer Association‘s research and education programs honored the memory of the late Audrey Lawson and her family, all of whom dressed in red (as did many of her friends in attendance), her favorite color. Lawson passed away with dementia in December of 2015.

The luncheon, which raised $225,000 for the cause, was hosted by the Alzheimer’s Women’s Auxiliary for Resources and Education (AWARE), which, since its founding in 2000, has raised more than $3.7 million at the annual luncheon.

KTRK Channel 13 anchor Melanie Lawson, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church founder the Rev. William Lawson and director of the Neurocognitive Disorders Center at UTHealth Dr. Paul Schultz engaged in a panel discussion on the subject of caring for someone with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The luncheon was moderated by Jan Carson and KTRK Channel 13 anchor Gina Gaston Elie.

Phyllis Williams chaired the fundraiser in honor of her 90-year-old mother, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Joining her were co-chairs Jacqueline Kinloch and Lauren Randle. In addition to the Lawson family, the luncheon honored River Oaks Garden Club with the Community Partner Award for its contributions to the Association’s Memory Garden.

Who: Cornel Williams, Lora and Dr. John Clemmons, Clifford Pugh, Rosemary Schatzman, Lisa Mears, Cynthia Trigg, Linda Lorelle, Lili Pickard, Wendy Chiles, Mehrnaz Gill, Elizabeth DeLuca and Donatella Benckenstein.