The annual “Thank you” reception at the Dallas Country Club for supporters of the Children’s Medical Center Foundation and Children’s Health had been tweaked a bit this year. Instead of holding it on the third Sunday of January, as usual, the donors fete was moved to the fourth Sunday of the month— aka January 26. That way it wouldn’t compete with the NFL playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl.
And then there was an addition of a very brief presentation with some surprise guests. But more about that later.
As attendees like Georgina Hartland, Susan and Joel Williams, Christie Carter, Diane and John Scovell, Barbara and John Stuart, Marnie and Kern Wildenthal, Caren and Pete Kline, Lee Jackson, Jimmy Westcott, Andrea Nayfa, Holly Hassman, Joanna Clarke and Monica Egert Smith gathered at the DCC, one couldn’t help wondering whether that change-the-date strategy might backfire.
After all, news came earlier in the day that NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi Bryant had died in a California helicopter crash. Would that become a very sad topic du jour, casting a bit of a pall over the occasion? Turns out, it didn’t. Instead, the event was intent on celebration and rallying for the future of the country’s eighth largest pediatric healthcare provider.
Snapshots: Tucker Enthoven attended solo, as husband Rich Enthoven had just landed in Dallas after a Jackson Hole ski trip. … Children’s Health CEO Chris Durovich was working the room like a champ, as always. … As for that presentation and the surprise guests? Promptly at 7 p.m., the quarter of Suzuki Strings violinists put down their instruments and Children’s Medical Center Foundation President Brent Christopher took to the lectern. “Don’t worry — don’t start heading for the doors,” he joked. “We’re not going to do a big program.”
Instead, Brent briefly mentioned an expansion of the system’s Plano hospital and introduced a video spotlighting the journey to wellness of Children’s cancer patient Camila Marquez and her mom, Patricia Marquez. Before being diagnosed with Osteosarcoma by Children’s clinicians, Camila had wanted to be a teacher. But along with her successfully being treated for the disease at Children’s, she had changed her mind. She wanted to be a doctor.
Following the video, Brent welcomed Camila to the stage and disclosed that she had invited the Children’s “canine therapists” to join the festivities. At that, five dogs from the Pet Therapy Program came trotting in. One was Badger, who immediately became BFF with Susan and John Farris.
For more photos of the night, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.