The weather was so perfect that it was disappointing that the hostess was MIA for the 2022 Children’s Cancer Fund Gala patron party on Thursday, March 31, at the Stodghill estate. According to the host, Steve Stodghill, his mother Pat Stodghill hadn’t felt well and her daughter-in-law, Anne Stodghill, wanted to make sure Pat was tended to. So Anne took Pat to the doctor, where Pat was immediately put on a regimen to speed her recovery. However, after two years of social distancing, Anne wasn’t about to be at the event where children, who are recovering from cancer, might attend. Luckily, Steve and his nephew “Chef Jake” had all the bases covered.
As if this challenge wasn’t big enough for the invite-only event, earlier in the week the A/C of the mansion filled with amazing film memorabilia was on the fritz. As Anne described it, “We woke up to an inferno.” But even the smartest A/C systems don’t mess with Ms. Anne. Having weathered the tornadic chaos of 2019, Anne got that air chilling just right.
Underneath the artful chandelier was the feast all set up for guests like newlyweds Monica and Brent Christopher, Laran O’Neill, TK Kund, Children’s Cancer Fund Executive Director Jennifer Arthur, KXAS co-anchor Meredith Land and Children’s Cancer Fund Gala Chair Amanda Dillard Shufeldt, who arrived early with husband Charlie Shufeldt on the way.
But the true highlight was provided by CCF alumna Haylie Geraci. It seems that during the chemotherapy treatments, her artistic juices were flowing. The result was a piece of artwork that she presented to Steve. Ever the lover of art and always on the lookout for budding talent, Steve joked, “I’ll be your agent on all your commissioned work.”
In less than a month the group of patrons would be joining Honorary Co-Chairs Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach and a multitude of celebs on the catwalk with youngsters like Haylie at the Hilton Anatole for the Gala on Friday, April 22, to support their battles against pediatric cancer.
*Photo provided by Children's Cancer Fund