Event co-chairs Lydia Novakov (left) and Marian Bryan (right) with event honorees Scott and Carole Murray.
More than 830 people gathered recently at the Omni Dallas Hotel for a party the size of Texas as Dallas showed its support for St. Jude at the Evening Under the Stars Party. The October 26 gala and the St. Jude Golf Classic, held October 28 at Stonebriar Country Club, raised more than $903,500 for the children of St. Jude.
Event co-chairs Marian Haggar Bryan and Lydia Haggar Novakov welcomed guests to an evening that offered live and silent auctions, as well as performances from some of Nashville’s top singer-songwriters, including Sonny Curtis, Tommy Lee James, Don Poythress and Phillip White.
“We are incredibly grateful to the sponsors, donors, committee members and volunteers who helped make these events possible. Because of their generous support, we are able to move one step closer to our goal of eliminating deadly childhood diseases,” said Bryan.
The evening also recognized presenting sponsor, Jani-King International, for their continued commitment to the children of St. Jude. Title Sponsors Chili’s Grill & Bar, and Diane and Mike Gruber were also in attendance, as well as printing sponsor, T-Mobile, operated by Amtel, LLC. Local St. Jude supporters Scott and Carole Murray were honored at the event.
Scott Murray, an award-winning broadcast journalist who hosts a weekly philanthropic/public affairs program, has often hosted St. Jude event chairs and patients on his TV and radio programs. He served as an emcee for the Evening Under the Stars party and offered his time as a spokesperson for the Dallas St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway.
During the Dallas party, ALSAC CEO Richard Shadyac Jr. announced that Chili’s, part of Dallas-based Brinker International, met its $50 million pledge to St. Jude with the culmination of the company’s recent More Hope for St. Jude Kids campaign at the end of September.
The Chili’s donation is the largest from a single-partner campaign in the hospital’s history. Committee members for the event included Holly and Doug Brooks, host committee chairs; Kevin Carroll, underwriting chair; Cindy Feld, party chair; Margo and Jim Keyes, live auction co-chairs; and Aprille Andrews and Pennie Marshall, silent auction co-chairs.
November 2013