A Conversation with a Living Legend

Since A Conversation With a Living Legend® originated in north Texas in 1990, the event has become one of MD Anderson's signature fundraising events, replicated across the country in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Washington, D.C. Over the past three decades, Living Legend luncheons and dinners have raised more than $40 million for vital cancer research initiatives at MD Anderson. Here are highlights from three recent record-breaking events across Texas that together generated more than $4 million.

San Antonio – October 31, 2018
Fundraising Total: $946,724

More than 500 guests attended the ninth annual A Conversation With a Living Legend® San Antonio at the Marriott Rivercenter. The luncheon honored former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, in an interview with Tom Johnson, former CEO of CNN News Group and MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors member. The event raised more than $946,000 for summer camps benefiting patients at MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital.

Event chairs Bob and Mary Worth, Jordan and Brian Arriaga and Clint and Jessica Worth spearheaded more than $643,000 in fundraising prior to the event. Guests contributed more than $100,000 during the luncheon, ensuring an anonymous donor's full match of $100,000 and inspiring him to contribute another $100,000.

The Lewis Energy Group and The Rod & Kim Lewis Foundation served as the Title Sponsor.

Presenting sponsors were Jimmie Ruth and Dick Evans/Frost Bank/Kelley and Pat Frost/Nancy Loeffler, the Mays Family Foundation, the McCombs Foundation and the Worth Family.

Speakers included Richard Gorlick, M.D., chair and division head, Pediatrics; Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president, and 16-year-old cancer survivor Maggie Howard.

Dallas – November 5, 2018
Fundraising Total: $1,359,353

The 29th annual A Conversation With a Living Legend® Dallas honored PGA TOUR professional Jordan Spieth in an interview with CBS Sports' Tony Romo, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Event chair Wade T. Nowlin Jr., of Dallas, and a steering committee of North Texas community and business leaders raised more than $1.3 million to support MD Anderson's Moon Shots Program™, a comprehensive effort to significantly reduce cancer deaths and transform cancer care. With this year's enthusiastic support, the event's total fundraising since 1990 exceeds $18 million.

Lyda Hill was the presenting sponsor, with the AT&T Foundation serving as speaker sponsor.

Red Carpet underwriters included Lana and Barry Andrews, VIP reception; Sherry and J. Robert Brown and The Rosewood Corporation, event favors; RGT Wealth Advisors, VIP reception favors; and Sewell Automotive, valet.

Other top sponsors included Tandy and Lee Roy Mitchell, Rolex Watch USA Inc., Affiliated Bank and Sam L. Susser, and Julie and John Young.

Emcee Cindy Brinker Simmons led the program, with remarks by Nowlin; Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson; and Travis Arnold, 19, acute myeloid leukemia survivor.

Houston – December 6, 2018
Fundraising Total: $1,805,215

A Conversation With a Living Legend® Houston honored former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in an interview with CBS News' Bob Schieffer. More than 850 supporters attended the 10th anniversary dinner event, which raised more than $1.805 million for cancer research benefiting patient programs at MD Anderson. The fundraising effort, led by chairs Kathy and Jeff Love, was the most successful to date among past Living Legend events in Houston as well as throughout Texas.

The program began with a tribute to former President George H. W. Bush, Life Member and former chair of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, whose private funeral in Houston was held that day. Highlights included "Amazing Grace" sung by the Windsor United Methodist Church choir.

Highlights of the evening, emceed by Shara Fryer of 740KTRH News Radio, included remarks by Jeff Love and UT System Chancellor James Milliken.

As a tribute to Secretary Tillerson and his longtime interests in the Boy Scouts of America and The University of Texas at Austin and its UT Longhorn Band, the event featured an Eagle Scout presentation of the colors and a rousing rendition of "Texas Fight" by the UT Longhorn Alumni Band.