Top

Winter 2015 : Winter bash provides fun in the sun for patients

Winter bash provides fun in the sun for patients

Supporters deliver opportunity for kids to be kids

BY Miriam Spradling

Paige Fertitta, from left, Courtney Hill Fertitta, Jason Fertitta and Ella Fertitta. Photo by Pete Baatz.

For the ninth consecutive year in Houston and the fifth in Beaumont, hundreds of revelers gathered to celebrate the holidays by supporting the MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. This year, Santa’s Elves events benefited pediatric camps, a weeklong summer adventure MD Anderson offers its young patients and their siblings thanks to philanthropic support.

Paige and Tilman Fertitta hosted the Dec. 4 event in Houston, drawing a crowd of 375 and raising more than $80,000. The house was transformed into a winter wonderland with 14 towering Christmas trees and a string quartet on the back terrace. The Houston Children’s Chorus filled the home with joyful carols throughout the evening. Patsy and Greg Fourticq, Gregory Fourticq Jr., Diane and John B. Connally III and Courtney Hill Fertitta and Jason Fertitta served as honorary chairs.

Hosts Camille and Chris Ohmstede and Sharon and Scott Parker once again welcomed guests to Katharine & Co. at the Dec. 9 Beaumont event. The 20-person Night & Day Orchestra serenaded 125 attendees with jazz renditions of everyone’s favorite holiday tunes. The gathering raised close to $35,000, doubling the proceeds from the 2013 event.

More Stories From Promise

A message from Dr. DePinho

A word from the president

Energizing the effort to end cancer

Oil and gas industry adds significant fuel to the fight

Moon Shots Program

As of January 31, 2015, private philanthropic commitments to the program total more than $217.5 million.

My Moon Shot

David Ekas, a melanoma survivor and Marathon Oil Company employee, established the Oilfield Melanoma Moon Shot Fund with a $20,000 personal commitment. He reflects on his motivation to encourage others to support the Melanoma Moon Shot and his hope for a cure.

Stripes aligns with MD Anderson

Convenience store campaign raises millions for children with cancer

Guided by a beacon of hope

Survivor finds strength in team of 20,000

iPromise

Lawrence and Alma Turner, of Houston, are high school sweethearts who recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Lawrence is a three-time cancer survivor, a registered Professional Engineer and a World War II veteran. Alma is a two-time cancer survivor. Here, Lawrence reflects on the miracles they've found at MD Anderson.

Survivors Say

Sheryl Barnes is a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) survivor of 33 years from Bloomington, Ind. Here, she reflects on the miracles that awaited her at MD Anderson after almost 20 years of treatment elsewhere.

A hole in one for cancer research

Luncheon honors golfing legend

Head for the cure

Head for the Cure (HFTC), a 5K and Kids Fun Run benefiting brain cancer research, returned to the Houston area in September and raised $66,000.

Coaching greats leave it all on the stage

Luncheon raises record-breaking funds for the Moon Shots Program

The joke's on brain cancer

Broach Foundation finds hope in humor

Compassion inspires cholangiocarcinoma support

Foundation supports collaborative basic research to target new treatments

'Why not shoot for the moon'

Couple gives $500,000 to Breast and Ovarian Cancers Moon Shot

An inspired gift

Family's loss to ovarian cancer spurs investment in hope

Jin honored to the tune of $100,000

Young Investigator Award reflects music industry support for sarcoma research

MD Anderson researcher receives top Italian science award

Previous recipients include two U.S. Nobel laureates

Gardasil 9

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of a new vaccine that targets five additional strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) fortifies a proven cancer prevention weapon, says MD Anderson President Ron DePinho.