While Crystal Charity Ball volunteers were still cleaning up from Saturday night’s ball at the Anatole, work was underway to create the setting at NorthPark Center for Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 4, benefiting Children’s.
As Jesse Leos opened the family SUV’s rear door and pulled out a stroller, a trio of boys (Ollie Leos, Stone Leos and Hawke Leos) emerged from the vehicle to the curb as mom Rachel Leos retrieved seven-month-old Ivy Leos from her baby seat. The family of six soon found to their delight many magical characters on the upper level of NorthCourt willing and eager for photo opps.
Breakfast Co-Chair Amy McEvoy glistened all in sparkling white as she proudly pointed out the adorable Christmas cottages that served as table centerpieces. They had taken months for volunteers to create. After the day’s partying ended, the little cottages would be finding homes at organizations in the community.
Along the perimeter of the upper level, grandmothers Michal Powell and Honorary Co-Chair Diane Scovell were right at home surrounded by their gleeful grandkids.
Around the corner Jessica Nowitzki’s youngsters were off playing with friends as she took time to have a cup of coffee with Medical Center Foundation President Brent Christopher.
And speaking of Christopher, Monica Christopher was with another man. In fact he was the man of the hour — Santa. Monica was by his side helping him meet his fans of all ages.
But there were two little girls who were on opposite sides of the level. Between Batman and Spider-Man, little blond five-year-old Ella was in an adorable dress that had been made a couple of years ago. Made of her family’s tartan pattern with a bow, mother Lauren Kari reported that Ella was growing into it.
On the other side of the level as the dancers performed on the lower level was four-year-old Olivia Solis. She represented the very reason the sugar-loaded fundraiser was underway. At the age of three months, in February she had gone through a transplant at Children’s, thanks to the gift of a heart from a family whose son had died.
Even now Olivia’s mother Dr. Jacqueline Nortman seemed to tear up thinking of the sacrifice the donor’s family had made as she watched her healthy daughter bound about.
As Olivia and her mom headed to join the countless children in line for a chat with Santa, her dad Miguel Solis hugged Brent for the gift that Children’s had provided a couple of years ago.
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