An Astounding $1.6 Million Raised at Cattle Baron’s Ball “Neon Lights & Bayou Nights”

An Astounding $1.6 Million Raised at Cattle Baron’s Ball’s “Neon Lights & Bayou Nights”

The “sparkle and glow” of “Neon Lights” on this “Bayou Night” was everywhere in the grand fourth-floor ballroom at Hilton Americas-Houston, where the shindig was filled with over 800 excited attendees for the 37th Annual American Cancer Society Houston Cattle Baron’s Ball.

Presenting Sponsor Texas Oncology and Chairpersons Robin Klaes (community volunteer), Janette Marx (Airswift CEO), and Stephen M. Toups (Turner Industries CEO) took well-deserved salutes for the more than $1.6 million raised to support the American Cancer Society. Lending their support and taking bows as honorees were the Tsuru Family (Community Honorees), OXY (Corporate Honoree) and Legion Healthcare Partners (Medical Honoree). Channel 11’s Chita Craft and Ron Treviño and 93Q’s Riggs served as the evening’s emcees and welcomed the chairs and honorees on stage to unending applause for their hard work, vision and financial support.

Guests were treated to the always exciting Pig Races, a variety of Texas-themed cuisine, sipped bourbon from WhistlePig, grabbed bottles from the “Wine, Whiskey & Spirits Pull,” bid on incredible auction items conducted by auction ringleader Johnny “Bravo” Holloway, including a Beck & Masten Buick GMC 2024 GMC Hummer EV, which sold at the live auction, not just once, but twice, for $130,000 each. This brought the total for that one item to an astounding $260,000.

The evening’s entertainment was a non-stop country/western bonanza! It began in the VIP area where the Magnolia Brothers Band got the crowd rowdy and ready for a night of fun! Guests donned their “light-up” glasses and glow sticks as music from C&W hitmaker Easton Corbin packed the dance floor and opened the show. Superstar singer/songwriter and South Texas native Roger Creager continued the musical festivities at the official after-party, where hundreds of partiers stayed until well after midnight.

Can we talk about the décor, audio/visuals, and event production? Let It Fly Events produced their usual spectacular event-themed décor throughout the gala, which included neon centerpieces and square-lit tables. Stage Directions provided their L-E-D screens, stage surround, sound, lighting, and special effects to dazzle the crowd. With an event of this magnitude, a special person and company must come in and help coordinate the efforts of many. Enter Ellie Francisco and Francisco + Co., who masterfully juggled all the moving pieces so even Houdini would be proud!

The evening had many poignant moments, but the most memorable occurred when Abbigail Gauna, a 20-year-old cancer patient and Hope Lodge resident since May, shared her cancer journey via video. Her heartfelt story kicked off an extraordinary paddle raise for the American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge, a free “home away from home” for people facing cancer and their caregivers who travel to Houston for treatment. A memorial plaque containing the names of all the contributors of $1,000 will be commemorated and placed at Hope Lodge, next to renowned artist Taft McWhorter’s “Expression of Hope” sculpture. Also sharing her personal story was Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, chair of the American Cancer Society Houston Area Board of Directors and cancer survivor.

American Cancer Society is very proud of its work, especially locally. Jenny Todd, Senior Executive Director, states, “ACS is making a profound difference by investing more than $26 million into the Houston community—more than five times the amount raised here annually. These funds are dedicated to advancing Houston-based cancer research, providing free transportation to treatment, and offering direct patient programs and services like our Hope Lodge Houston community.”

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Danny Klaes, Janette and Jeff Marx, Valerie and Stephen Toups, Stephanie and Frank Tsuru, Katie and Seth Tsuru, Kylee and Ben Siaw, Dr. Anish Meerasahib, Matt Todd, Jeff Fehlis, Elia Gabbanelli, Cyndy Garza Roberts and Thomas Roberts, Nora and Brian Jarrard, Kittsie Klaes and Davis Hance, Tany and Chaz Klaes, Joanna and Dakota Klaes, Melinda and Keith Landsness, Tricia Verbois, Alicia Jansen, Leila Perrin, Marilu Garza, Jill Watson, Karen Remington, Sandra Porter, Gretchen and Ken Sheirr, Amy and Tim Temple, Janet and Fred Wahrlich, Debbie and Britt Hance, Joyce and Eric Haufrect, Heather and Richard Holmes, Valerie and Tracy Dieterich, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Whitney Lawson, Heather and Richard Holmes, Mike Cavender, Taft and Dana McWhorter, Savonnah Schrieber, Derrick Shore, Brandon Bourque, Pete and Jana Delongchamps, Hon. Twila Carter and Courtney Zavala