Since its founding in 1982, the Children’s Cancer Fund has awarded more than $7 million to help Children’s Medical Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center in their battles against childhood cancer. Friday, April 4th, organizers were aiming to add another quarter-million dollars or so for the fight from the nonprofit’s 26th Annual Luncheon & Fashion Show at the Hilton Anatole.
CCF’s annual fundraiser is always one of the most heart-warming—and heart-rending—events of the year. And, the 2014 edition was no exception. That was evident right from the get-go, when many of the 39 participating young cancer patients and survivors gathered backstage with various celebrities before the luncheon began.
Over in one corner of the noisy space, a young girl was getting her hair curled. Another child was being interviewed by someone from NBC-5. Still others were posing for photos with “circus clowns,” or with a couple of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Country singer Rudy Gatlin sat talking quietly with one youngster, his arm thrown over the back of her wheelchair, while, not far away, Miss Texas Teen, Kellie Stewart, stood in the middle of a group of pink-clad firefighters from Longview as someone snapped their photo.
The heart-rending part continued in the Chantilly Ballroom, where nearly 1,000 people had gathered for the luncheon and fashion show. After welcoming messages from longtime Honorary Co-chairs Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman (it was Roger’s 26th year, Troy’s 18th), Luncheon Co-chairs Tyler Kuelbs and Stacie Wells addressed the crowd. Each was accompanied by her young cancer-survivor son—Nick Kuelbs and AJ Wells—and each broke down weeping before she could finish her brief message.
After attendees heard from Mistress and Master of Ceremonies Clarice Tinsley and Steve Eagar of Fox 4 News and began enjoying a lunch of cream of spinach soup, classic coq au vin, and lemon meringue pie, Scott Murray brought on auctioneer Matt Blevins. Blevins proceeded to conduct a very long, very drawn-out auction segment, during which the likes of a painting, a wine-cellar dinner, and a South African safari were sold—and the patience of the 1,000 guests was tried.
Following the second of two videos—and then a cash call after that!—the runway show, or what Eagar called “the meat of the program,” began at long last. Sponsored by Fashion Presenter Dillard’s, the runway show was adorable as always. Among the most memorable sights were Rush Urschel, president of the Junior Leadership Board at Children’s, accompanying little Brooke Hart, who was on crutches; former Dallas Cowboy Ray Johnston holding up a card representing Logan Quintana, who was feeling under the weather and couldn’t attend; and Staubach with Carter Fielding, who was sporting a “moustache” and holding up both hands in a triumphant Churchill-style, V-for-Victory salute. Cracked Eagar: “He’s a future politician, as you can see.”
After a raffle drawing for a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA, a pitch to buy the tulip centerpieces, and a closing song by Amber Carrington, semi-finalist on “The Voice” TV show, the event ended at last around 1:30 p.m., roughly half an hour past the scheduled closing time. For those who’d been there since 10 a.m., when the affair began, it all made for a very long, very exhausting day that might have benefited from a little prudent editing.
* Photo credit: Juan Pulido
** Photo credit: Edgar Vargas
Andrea says
As a parent of one of the Children Cancer Fund’s alumna, I have been to this show every year the past 4 years. I am so thankful to CCF and all the volunteers and local celebrities who make it special each and every year. No one at my table was watching the clock to see if started or ended on time, or to see if the live auction was going on to long (we all enjoyed this auctioneer- he has such “Texas” style and a great personality), because that was not what we were there to do. We were there to fundraise as well as honor all the kids and their parents and help them celebrate a day where they get to be a STAR! It is a day we cherish and can’t wait to do it again the next year- that is why we keep going back! Obviously, the volunteers and local talent must feel the same way, as they keep coming back too. Plus, I really like to hear from the doctors and find out where all the fundraising dollars are going each year. Our family has been down this path a few times with our daughter, who is a leukemia survivor and bone marrow transplant survivor, CCF gives us hope to know that we can help and do something about childhood cancer on this special, fun day. Frankly, if the event ended at 1:30pm or 2:30pm- we wouldn’t have cared!
Cara Serber says
As the mother of a daughter who is a Stage 4 cancer survivor, I thank you for covering this amazing event. My daughter has been honored to be a part of the fashion show for two years. I must respectfully but strongly disagree with your comments in regard to the length of the luncheon. We knew many people at the event and no one, including those seated around us were concerned with the time. Being a luncheon, 1:30 seems an appropriate ending point. The joy in the room was palpable and everyone seemed to share feelings of excitement and gratitude.What Children\’s Cancer Fund is able to accomplish with their fundraising is nothing short of extraordinary. The fact that the funds are focused on the children with cancer in North Texas is remarkable. We are grateful to them beyond explanation. I wish that instead of criticizing the program publicly, you might have addressed your concerns in a private forum. It distresses me greatly that your comments might deter someone from attending an event that has such a direct impact on my child and the children of many others.
Denise Lee says
I attended the event and found it to be a heartwarming and emotional afternoon. I don\’t know anyone, well except yourself, whose, in your words \’patience were tried\’. I find it very disappointing that with all of the good done that afternoon, you find it necessary to point out the negative. And actually the extended time doesn\’t really constitute a negative. That half hour the program ran over is 30 minutes out of our lives…..our healthy lives. These kids get this one day and I don\’t consider it an imposition at all to spend a little extra time for a worthy cause. I hope you will consider that the next time you feel the need to check your watch at an event designed to do nothing but good and uplift the spirits of children and their familes who go through more than we can ever imagine.
Cathy O'Neal says
I had no idea MySweetCharity exists! But I am so glad it does. The (mostly) volunteers who work untold hours to raise funds for worthy causes deserve the accolades and a chance for others to know about their charity efforts. I have been one of those volunteers many times. And I have been a charity event attendee more often than I have been a volunteer. I don’t think anyone attends a charity function concerned with how much time it will take. I go knowing that I will be there however long I will be there, and plan accordingly. And I have never had my patience tested, as you mentioned in your recap. I attended the Children’s Cancer Fund luncheon and fashion show for the first time this year. I have donated money to pediatric cancer causes since 1990, when I watched my beautiful, vivacious, talented goddaughter lose her precious young life to this insidious disease. More recently, I stood by again and watched as a dear friend’s precious child underwent the horrific treatment necessary to fight her illness and mercifully triumphed, but not without gallons of tears, indescribable fear and many sleepless nights for her family and all of us who love them. My friend’s daughter walked the runway at the CCF event for the second year in a row as a cancer survivor, thanks in part to what CCF does in providing research and services for cancer patients and their families. Watching her and the other young people that day and hearing all the stories — some tragic and many more uplifting — was an experience I was honored to have and share with my friends who gathered that day because we had raised money for this worthwhile, life-saving cause. I would have stayed there all day if that’s what it took to support these families and the work CCF does. Isn’t it a bit at odds with what your site appears to be about to negatively criticize any organization’s efforts that is out there for the sole purpose of making the world a better place?
Becca Zuch says
I was disappointed to see that you embedded negative comments throughout this write up about the CCF luncheon. As a first time attendee, I truly enjoyed the event. I attended the event in order to see a 3rd grade student from the LISD elementary school where I work participate for her second year. I visited with her at school about it for weeks beforehand as she was counting down the days. After experiencing it once, she knew exactly how much fun it was going to be. If you are unable to see lifted spirits and excitement at this event and instead find something negative to discuss, I suggest that you no longer attend. Becca Zuch
Penny Moya says
I strongly agree with the comments posted…feeling the need to point out something negative about such a positive event only makes me question the author of the article. Having volunteered and attended the event for the past 9 years, and having a child who is a cancer survivor at the event each year, I can tell you it is something we look forward to and are excited to be a part of, and have never been concerned with how \\”long\\” it will last. Being able to see the faces of the children and share the experience with them and their families is heartwarming and the last thing on my mind is checking my watch to see what time it is. CCF is an amazing organization which I am proud to be a part of.