Courageous 7-Year-Old Girl Wins Tom Landry Award, Steals the Show at Dallas’ Big Fashion Lunch

BY Natalie Gempel // 02.23.18

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Kaitlyn Johnson and Clarice Tinsley on stage

Shannon Ridley, Eli Alexander, Kimberly Alexander and Evan Alexander accepting Memorial hero Award for Elijah Alexander

Patricia Thomson, Executive Director, LLS with Don Armstrong, North Texas Board Chair

Clarice Tinsley, Nancy Gopez, Rozalyn Colombo, Nancy A. Nasher

Kids take the runway during the fashion show.

Models take a finale walk down the runway

Di Hamilton, Kristi Bare, Lisa Cooley, Ciera Cooley, Bella Cooley

Chairs Nancy Gopez and Rozalyn Colombo with Presenting Sponsors Nancy Rogers and Melody Rogers

Jenna Alexander, Raffle Chair, with Tonya Foster and Gina Betts

Kristen Sanger, Lisa Singleton, Kate Rose Marquez, Katy Bock

Nancy Gopez, Jenna Alexander, Rozalyn Colombo

Nancy Nasher, Honorary Chair with husband David Haemisegger

Rozalyn Colombo, Gina Betts, Kristi Bare, Nancy Gopez

Underwriting Co Chair, Kim Hext with Krista Tankersley

Kaitlyn Johnson and Clarice Tinsley on stage

What: St. Valentines Day Luncheon

Where: NorthPark Center

PC Moment: There was a lot to love about the 34th Annual Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Guests turned heads in Holiday-inspired pink and red ensembles. The event had a sunny new venue – a clear tent at NorthPark’s CenterPark Garden, which had been transformed into a garden party by Cathy Kincaid Interiors.

Jan Strimple presented a stunning fashion show of the season’s hottest trends. But the real show stopper of the afternoon was 7-year-old Kaitlyn Johnson, the recipient of the Spirit of Tom Landry Character Award and a two-time cancer survivor. The remarkable young girl overcame cancer with groundbreaking CAR-T therapy, funded by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Thanks to the luncheon, the organization will be able to continue making important strides and saving lives. Led by chairs Rozalyn Columbo and Nancy Gopez, this year’s event surpassed its fundraising goal, netting over $630,000.

The afternoon kicked off as Fox4 anchor Clarice Tinsley welcomed guests and introduced the honorees. Kimberly Alexander was presented with The Memorial Hero award on behalf of her late husband, Elijah Alexander, who fought against multiple myeloma. The Lynda Adleta Heart of Gold award was given to Mona Carlton Stogner and Greg Stogner for their dedication to the LLS-led Beat AML initiative in honor of Mona’s brother, Olan.

Elizabeth Anthony

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ASSAEL

OLYMPIA LE-TAN

EMILY P. WHEELER

MARIA OLIVER

KATHERINE JETTER

MEREDITH YOUNG

LEIGH MAXWELL

MEREDITH YOUNG

After the honorees shared their emotional stories, the fundraising race was on. Raffle items like a trip to Aspen were highly coveted, and raffle sales alone raised $40,000.

The event ended on a high note as dozens of models stormed the runway in spring looks from NorthPark stores including Roberto Cavalli, Rebecca Taylor, and Neiman Marcus.

Who: Underwriting Chairs Carmaleta Whiteley Felton and Kim Hext; Table Sales Chairs Maggie Kipp and Mary Parker; Raffle Chairs Jenna Alexander and Andrea Nayfa; Design & Décor Chair Cathy Kincaid; Board Chair Don Armstrong; North Texas Executive Director Patricia Thomson; continuous supporters including Gigi Potter Salley, Rainey Fogiel, Lillie Young, Maggie Kipp, Lisa Singleton, Robyn Conlon and Dee Dee Lee.