Brenda Jarratt is proud of her surgical scar. Barely more than an inch long and situated above her left breast, the scar resulted when Brenda had a Pacemaker installed after suffering a heart attack at age 38.
Jarratt was one of three survivors of cardiovascular disease who turned up Friday to “testify” at the sold-out, 2011 Go Red For Women Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole. The annual event was focused on preventing stroke as well as heart disease, which is the No. 1 killer of women. Brenda was joined at Go Red for Women by Mary Gill and Wenter Blair, who also told the assembled about surviving cardiovascular scares.
More than 600 guests in all attended the luncheon, which combined fundraising with a number of health-related activities under the expert guidance of Susan Arledge.
Along with her executive leadership team, Arledge–the American Heart Association’s Go Red Dallas campaign chair–arranged for a rollicking, well-received keynote talk by basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. Lieberman is coach of the Frisco-based Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Development League team co-owned by Mavs president Donnie Nelson.
Leading up to Lieberman’s presentation, though, there was plenty for attendees to do. In spaces outside the Anatole’s Grand Ballroom, for example, guests could:
- Bid on an array of silent-auction items and take advantage of complementary readings for the likes of glucose and blood pressure by Methodist Health System. Two who did so were Doris Jacobs and Carmaleta Whiteley, who afterwards reported scoring “identical” cholesterol ratios.
- Stroll the various exhibits by vendors including Kathryn Nordstrom’s Pucker Up Impressions.
- Attend two educational breakout sessions led by Colleen Affeldt and Larry North. Affeldt’s offering dealt with building and leveraging business and personal networks.
North’s was called “How to Turn Your Fat Burning Engine on High.” Both sessions were packed.
Then it was time for the luncheon, which was emceed by CBS 11’s Tracy Kornet and—naturally–was a heart-healthy affair. On the menu: watermelon-tomato gazpacho, Moroccan spiced-beef salad, a yogurt and fruit parfait. (No word about the health content of each guest’s boxed-up Gigi’s cupcake, compliments of Allie Beth Allman.)
The event’s Signature Auction Item—a private dinner for six prepared by Richard Chamberlain at the home of Marianne and Roger Staubach—grabbed the spotlight next, with bidding starting at $3,500. Mary Ruppe-Hawkins (she owns the local Gigi’s Cupcakes with her daughter, Katie) snapped up the feast for $6,000.
Lieberman’s keynote was a mix of the inspirational and the humorous (she came on stage wearing a “Gucci defibrillator purse,” and later made a fake comic phone call to the Mavs’ NBA Finals foe LeBron James). Lieberman talked about three of her role models (boxing champ Muhammad Ali, businessman Warren Buffett, musician Michael Jackson) and exhorted the crowd to be fearless and consistent.
She also told them to have trust and belief, to be team players, and to never make excuses. “Work out, eat right, and get checkups,” she added, returning to the luncheon’s main theme. “You’ve gotta take care of yourself, because [stroke and heart attack] are hidden diseases.”
At the end of the event, Kornet announced that Go Red For Women had raised a whopping $502,305. That will buy a lot of cardiovascular research to help save women’s lives.
mary ruppe-hawkins says
We had so much fun making 500 cupcakes and donating them to American Heart Association for the luncheon. We made a special “American Heart Association Cupcake” with yummy white cake, delicious buttercream frosting, red sanding sugar and a white chocolate heart on top. We let our dear friend Allie Beth Allman advertise along with us on our box.
Katie and I were so blessed to be able to bid and win the Signature Auction Item. We are so excited to enjoy a wonderful dinner with such exciting company.
It was a beautiful event with such great speakers and a blast to attend.
Blessings,
Mary and Katie