As guests arrived for KidneyTexas Inc.‘s 2023 Runway Report at Brook Hollow on Tuesday, September 26, Crissy Perham sat quietly in a room adjacent to the ballroom. Lying on the floor next to her was Dutchie, her rescue dog. Crissy told how Dutchie was so sensitive and caring for others, actually sensing when an act of kindness was needed.
The same could have been said of Crissy, despite having achieved international acclaim winning two Olympic Gold Medals in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She not only scored the gold twice, but co-captained the team. When asked by Luncheon Emcee Scott Murray how she would like to be remembered, she didn’t hesitate in saying she would like to be remembered as a giver to others.
It was that caring for others that had her providing a kidney to the father of her former teammate Missy Franklin. In recognition of her act of kindness and her advocacy for transplants, KidneyTexas President Nancy Greenbach and The Runway Report Chair Venise Stuart were pleased that Crissy was presented with the Everson Walls Legacy Award.
Another honoree was Charlotte Kimberlin, who received the Sue Goodnight Service Award. For Charlotte the presentation was especially personal, since she and the late Sue Goodnight had met way back when, on a bus going to camp. The friendship had resulted in their donating time, talents and funding to a variety of causes, especially KidneyTexas Inc. Her hope was that she wouldn’t tear up.
A couple of additional surprises of the day were the presentation of the Lifetime Award to Scott, and the live auction bidding with trips to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta hauling impressive amounts, while the California Dreaming French Laundry, Cass Winery and Bulgari ring hardly made it to $6,000 despite its $10,000 value.
Upon receiving his award, a stunned Scott asked Venise if his wife Carole Murray had known. As Venise said, “No,” Carole in the audience shook her head with an equally surprised look.
Before the program got underway with Tootsies, Pockets, Betty Reiter, St. John and Nardos fashions on the runway, an oops occurred as Scott introduced a video of Everson congratulating Crissy on her award. As the ballroom lights dimmed, the audio was heard, but the screen was dark.
A similar dark situation arose following the fashion parade when a live auction package — The Runway Look: Nardos Design And Stephen Dweck Jewelry — took place. As a female model presented a sample of Nardos and a gentleman gave guests an up-close look at the necklace from the stage, all lights in the room went dark. A member of the production team scrambled to find the source of the blackout, and the lights came back on moments later.
Another oops took place, thanks to one of the ballroom chandeliers suspended over the elevated runway. As the day’s final model appeared wearing a gorgeous Nardos creation highlighted by an elegant, glittering headpiece, a collision between chandelier and headdress left the model doing a nice recovery, transitioning the headwear into a carry-on.
Speaking of the traffic of models on the runway, one near-collision was avoided during the Nardos segment, when one gal in an emerald green gown complete with a dramatic opera coat practically covered the way for others coming and trying to go. Luckily, thanks to gracefully making their way through the green cloud of fabric, there were no slow-downs or stop-gaps.
The guests including 95-year-old Ramona Jones, Linda Ivy, Maura Young and former Tootsies Sales Manager Dustin Holcomb, who revealed that he was now heading up Korshak’s women’s department, then headed to the verandah for lunch.
Funds raised from the day of fashions and bidding will benefit Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Methodist Health System Foundation, Texas Health Resources and Camp Reynal-National Kidney Foundation.
For more looks of the dozens and dozens and dozens of fashions and folks, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.