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| (top) Jennifer LeLash, Renee Rouleau, Janet Fresquez, Shay Geyer, Holly Davis, Event Chair Angela Choquette, Brandy Taylor (bottom) Event Chair Maggie Kipp, Dayna Anderson and Emily Eisenhauer. Photo: Shay Geyer |
The Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon & Fashion Show by Stanley Korshak is always one of the leading fund-raising events for North Texas. This event drew an audience of 800+ social and civic leaders in the North Texas region to the Morton Meyerson Symphony Center on Tuesday, February 12, 2013. Event Chairs Angela Choquette, Maggie Kipp & Paige Slates along with Honorary Co-Chairs Myrna and Bob Schlegal led the cause this year to raise critical funds and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
This was one of those all-day affairs that started with a champagne reception at 9:45 am. At 10:30 am, we were herded like well-dressed sheep into the McDermott Performance Hall for the awards presentation and fashion show. The always energetic FOX 4 anchor Clarice Tinsley kicked things off with a welcome and introduced the diminutive Ellen Terry. Terry is a real estate power house that is all of 4 feet something and when a handsome lad brought out a box for Terry to stand on to present the Lynda Adleta Heart of Gold Award to Stanley Korshak's Crawford Brock, Tinsley teased her saying, "Ellen, we always love to put you on a pedestal". Presentation of the Spirit of Tom Landry Character Award was given to adorable teen Joshua Cobler, who had been a bone marrow donor for his little brother and has since gone on to found and edit The Sibling Times, a newsletter intended for the siblings of children with cancer so they know they are not alone.
Pat Smith and Cynthia Smoot | Jayne Chobot and Emmitt Smith (Photo: Jayne Chobot)
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| Monique Lhuillier designs on the runway |
Jan Strimple executed a genius fashion show presenting the "best" of Stanley Korshak for Spring. The second act featured a live conductor leading a bevy of beauties down the runway featuring the Spring 2013 Collection of Monique Lhuillier. The collection featured short and long gowns in a rainbow of neon colors and sequined silhouettes. After the show, the crowd was again herded back out to the foyer for a delicious luncheon. My friend (and Reservations Chair) Jayne Chobot had asked me to sit at her table and I was pleased as punch to find myself in between my pals Jane McGarry and Parris Rigby. Dawn Mellon spoke of her battle with leukemia and gave the day's mission a human face. Her story was both brave and sad but fortunately had a happy ending for her family. It was at this point in the day that I had to skip out and get back to the office, but those who were lucky enough to stay, enjoyed the surprise appearance of Emmitt Smith. The after-party was held at Stanley Korshak were I am told the champagne continued to flow (so the sales gals could loosen up the ladies pocketbooks for those divine Monique Lhuiller creations).
John and Dawn Mellon | Nancy Gopez, Teffy and Doris Jacobs
To learn more about the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society visit www.lls.org/ntx.