“Broadway Nights and Runway Lights,” the 2017 Children’s Cancer Fund’s Annual Fundraising Gala on April 21 at the Hilton Anatole, raised a show-stopping $1 million+ and dazzled more than 1,000 guests with an all-star lineup of Dallas Cowboys and celebrities, including long-time honorary co-captains of the event Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman as well as NFL Coach of the Year Jason Garrett, current starting quarterback Dak Prescott, Cowboys safety Byron Jones, Miss Texas Caroline Carothers, and a cast of others. But the evening's spotlight was on 75 pediatric cancer patients and survivors taking the stage and hitting the runway as well as raising money for cancer research.
Sixteen children ages 5 to 16, matched with celebrity escorts, lit up the runway in their fashions provided by Dillard’s for a star-studded fashion show, coordinated by RSC Show Productions. Additional celebrity escorts included the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders; Rowdy, Dallas Cowboys Mascot; Station #19 Dallas Fire Department; Dallas SWAT Team; Julie Dobbs-Fox Sports Southwest Dallas Stars Commentator; Alisha Laventure, WFAA; Medieval Times Red Knight; Scott Murray; Pink Heals Firefighters; and Amy Vanderoef.
Backstage was a flurry of activity of kids, clowns, magicians, and fun and autographs with celebrities along with primping for the show with, makeup, nails, and hairstyles by longtime Children’s Cancer Fund supporters Salon Pompeo.
Emcees Karen Borta and Russ McCasksy of CBS11kept the evening on track introducing the young models and special guests as they hit the runway. Throughout the evening, entertainment was provided by the Jordan Kahn Orchestra, Next Step Dance, Avery-Jai Andrews, and Jacoby Pruitt.
Inspired by the cause and the featured young cancer patients, guests added to the success of the 29th annual fundraising event by donating more than $100,000 to the Live Auction and another $100,000 to this year’s Call for the Cure raising funds for a cure for Acute Myeloid Leukemia… which was matched by another $100,000!
The live auction included naming your own street; a Dallas SWAT experience; a Dallas Cowboys game package; a suite for the Justin Bieber Concert at AT&T Stadium; a Broadway experience in NYC; six nights in Pebble Beach home; an Aspen Adventure; a live painting by Cuban Artist Rolando Diaz; and an Oscar de la Renta chinchilla and mink vest. The event also included a silent auction and a raffle of a Mercedes-Benz GLA250.
Guests dined on a salad of white and red endive and arugala salad with toasted walnuts, pomegranate seeds, shaved parmiggiano-reggiano, and pancetta tart with champagne vinaigrette followed by filet of beef with demi shrimp ravioli with fennel and butter sauce, sweet potato mash and seasonal vegetables. For dessert, guests enjoyed lemon semi-freddo with raspberry coulis and chocolate bavarois.
A grand finale on the runway featured a total of 75 patients and survivors to a burst of confetti in sync with Katy Perry’s, “Firework,” played by DJ Lucy Wrubel. Immediately following, guests filled the dance floor to celebrate the evening’s success.
A standing ovation goes to Gala Co-Chair Pamela Moayedi and all the many sponsors – including lead sponsor Centurion American – donors, and silent and live auction bidders, and guests!
Sponsors include: $100,000: Centurion American/Moayedi Family; $50,000: Texas de Brazil; $25,000: Jennifer Stroud Foundation; Marianne and Roger Staubach, Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Medical Center; $15,000: Emergency Physicians at Presbyterian Dallas Hospital; $10,000: Troy Aikman; Aimbridge Hospitality; Albertsons – Tom Thumb; Lisa and Clay Cooley; Headington Companies; Swift Transportation; $5,000: Benchmark Mortgage; Essex Home Association Management; Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, LLP; Fischer; The Kitchell/Leete Family; Kroger; The McCullough Foundation; Relief Institute-Greg Young; Sendera Title; Sewell Automotive; Shamoun & Norman, LLP; Standlee Family and Trainertainment; Fashion Sponsor: Dillard’s; Media Sponsors: CBS11/TXA21; Good Life Family Magazine; and My Sweet Charity.
In-Kind Sponsors: ALBRITTON DAY; American Airlines; Belmont Icehouse; Elle Films; Gene and Jerry Jones Foundation; Hilton Anatole; Kendra Scott; Nomad Productions; Patty Foppen Photography; Picasso’s Pizza and Grill; RSC Show Productions; Salon Pompeo.
Proceeds from the Gala go to Children’s Cancer Fund to support pediatric cancer research and treatment programs at Children's Medical Center. Since 1982, Children’s Cancer Fund has donated almost $8 million to the cause. The Children’s Cancer Fund spring event is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser for pediatric cancer. For more information, please contact Children’s Cancer Fund at 972-664-1450, (fax) 972-664-1425 or visit www.ChildrensCancerFund.com.