Event Date: September 7, 2023
Location: Union Station at Minute Maid Park
Event: Gala
Beneficiary: HelpCureHD
No. in attendance: 370
Money Raised: $600,000
Chairpersons: Joe Smith & Allie LaForce
Décor, Florals and Linens: Let It Fly
Event Coordination: Francisco + Co.
Photography: Daniel Ortiz and Jacob Power
A Standing Ovation as HelpCureHD Gala Hits a Home Run!
A former Houston Astros pitcher and a sports reporter for TNT held court in Union Station at Minute Maid Park to bring awareness to Huntington’s Disease. Joe Smith and wife, Allie LaForce, made a promise to Joe’s mother, Lee, in 2020, shortly before her passing, to end the disease, one family at a time. Thus, HelpCureHD was born and, to date has helped over 135 families.
370 lucky guests gathered for a seated dinner, a raffle for a dazzling Shaftel Diamond necklace, a silent auction of varied and celebrated items, a live auction featuring Jim Crane’s personal Astros Diamond Club seats, an NBA Enthusiast package, and more! As he always does with such aplomb, auctioneer Johnny Bravo ran out into the crowd to keep the bid paddles flying up until every item was sold at its highest bid! At the gala’s conclusion, $600,000 was raised!
Houston event décor staple Let It Fly brought their A-game to the event with outstanding design detail to the “Home Run” theme.
A heartfelt moment took place when Joe and Allie walked on stage with their son Jacob, who is HD free thanks to PGD-IVF, and were later joined by other families with their children who are HD free as a result of being awarded a HelpCureHD grant. As HD is hereditary and has a 50 percent chance of passing the disease on to your children, specialists can now screen embryos for the disease before being implanted thanks to Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnoses and In-Vitro Fertilization.
Socially present (not previously mentioned): Whitney and Jim Crane, Adrienne and Jared Crane, Kat and Ryan Pressly, Kyle Tucker, Marla Hurley, Dr. Erin Furr-Stimming and Chris Stimming, Jo Furr, Dr. Dottie Roach, Robert Clay and Dana Barton, Danny and Iris Shaftel, Rachel and Jeff Bagwell, Dean Putterman, Ed Finger, Elizabeth and John Elder, Dr. Sherri Levin, Bill Baldwin and Fady Armanious, Reagan and Alex Bregman, Melissa and Dusty Baker and Michael Brantley
