Pink Wasn’t Just a Color at American Cancer Society’s Fifth Annual Tickled Pink Luncheon presented by H-E-B

Pink Wasn’t Just a Color at American Cancer Society’s Fifth Annual Tickled Pink Luncheon presented by H-E-B

Pink wasn’t just a color at the Fifth Annual Quantum Capital “Tickled Pink” Luncheon presented by H-E-B; it was a wave of emotion and fashion, as 650 American Cancer Society supporters gleefully gathered in their finest “pink” ensembles to bask in the rosy glow of the more than $700,000 raised. Chair Sippi Khurana, M.D., Honorary Chairs Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Donna Lewis, and Beth Wolff, and ACS Houston Vice President Jenny Todd were “tickled pink” at the turnout.

Guests mingled in the pre-function area, where a specially designed champagne cart by Let It Fly Events provided bottomless rosé champagne, which was endlessly poured into flutes for those paying a champagne sponsorship fee. A beautiful floral photo wall provided stunning Instagram moments to share, and sweepstakes tickets sold out quickly.

Quickly making their way to their tables, the crowd was greeted by ABC-13 anchor Gina Gaston, who introduced chairperson Sippi Khurana, M.D. Sippi welcomed the crowd and stated, “I am truly honored to have chaired this year’s 5th Annual Tickled Pink Luncheon. This cause and the American Cancer Society are near and dear to my heart. We’ve all been touched by breast cancer in some way—by our mother, our sisters, our girlfriends, and even ourselves. But the Tickled Pink Luncheon is all about hope and helping put an end to breast cancer as we know it, for everyone.” ACS Houston V.P. Jenny Todd was then welcomed to the stage next and asked anyone in the audience whose lives have been impacted by cancer to stand. The entire audience rose to their feet, showing the effect this disease has on our daily lives.

Gina then proudly presented this year’s honorees, which included Myrtle Jones, Leila Perrin, Brandi Sikes, Rick Smith, and Gaye Lynn Zarrow. Each honoree’s favorite inspirational quote was mentioned, and their tribute photo by Gittings was shown on the screens as they accepted their well-deserved award.

As lunch ended, Airswift CEO and previous Tickled Pink honoree Janette Marx shared her breast cancer journey to an attentive audience. Her inspirational story set up Houston’s favorite auctioneer, Johnny “Bravo” Holloway, to begin the appeal, which raised $123,000, and prepared the lively group to participate in the live auction of a specially curated jewel-studded necklace from renowned artist Jared Lehr, who flew in from Los Angeles to personally showcase the jeweled piece as he traveled throughout the ballroom. Determined to own that revered piece, Janette skillfully outbid Ajay Khurana and won the necklace for $36,000, which was placed on her neck by the artist. Finally, seven-time Olympic medalist, cancer survivor and keynote speaker Shannon Miller was brought to the podium as videos of her Olympic performances played on the screen. Shannon spoke from the heart as she shared her story of disbelief at her cancer diagnosis, planning her treatment and healing as if she were in a “team” environment, and her ultimate triumph as she has been cancer-free for the past thirteen years.

Events like the Tickled Pink Luncheon have led to a 44% decline in the female breast cancer death rate by helping to fund a cure directly. In fact, the American Cancer Society is currently investing $84 million in breast cancer-specific research. Fourteen of those grants are in Houston, totaling $9 million.” Bravo ACS!

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Jennifer Allison, Ann Ayre, Sharmin Beacco, Ann Bean, Motryja Bejger, Roman Bejger, Cindy Bendy, Chree Boydstun, Anna Bryant, Juliet Breeze, Sue Burnett, Cheryl Byington, Tripp Carter, Chree Boydstun, Terrie Turner, Allison Lewis Cattan, Dr. Yvonne Cormier, Laura Davenport, Suzan Deison, Kathy De La Mora, Nancy Dinerstein, Lesha Elsenbrook, Cherrill Farnsworth, Tena Faust, Debbie Festari, Elia Gabbanelli, Donya Gardner, Gayla Gardner, Michael Garfield, Marilu Garza, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Maritza Gonzales, Lisa Graham-Garza, Sheri Gross, Winell Herron, Daniel Irion, Nora Jarrard, Mady Kades, Brigitte Kalai, Mandy Kao, Kirk Kveton, Evelyn Leightman, Stacey Lindseth, Julie Longoria Chen, Pam Lovett, Kelley Lubanko, Vicki Luna, Tama Lundquist, DeeDee Marsh, Janette Masten Gardner, Jan Mendenhall, Sneha Merchant, Denise Monteleone, Kim Moody, Patti Murphy, Roxann Neumann, Susan Osterberg, Sharon Owens, Roz Pactor, David Peck, Amy Pierce, Sandra Porter, Lauren Randle, Karen Remington, Vicki Rizzo, Heidi Rockecharlie, Mary Sage, Rosemary Schatzman, Alicia Smith, Elizabeth Stein, Marguerite Swartz, Katie Tsuru, Kim Tutcher, Phoebe Tudor, Betty Tutor, Jennifer Van Loh, Merele Yarborough, Stuart Zarrow