Child Advocates, Inc. Event Highlights Angels of Hope Luncheon and Neiman Marcus Fashion Presentation Featuring Spring 2007 Collection, CHANEL 2006 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Court appointed advocate volunteer Katie Cullen and her sister-in-law Katherine Cullen McCord, along with the Friends of Child Advocates, kicked off this year's holiday social season in grand fashion with the annual Angels of Hope Luncheon and Neiman Marcus Fashion Presentation of the Chanel 2007 Cruise and Spring Collections. The luncheon took place on Tuesday, November 28 at the Westin Galleria’s Grand Ballroom. Over the years, Child Advocates has been blessed by the guidance of countless angels in infinitely different ways. Each year the Friends of Child Advocates recognizes and honors one of these angels for his or her devotion to children in our community. For the 2006 event, the Friends of Child Advocates were proud to honor Rosanette Cullen. Rosanette (Rose) Saragusa Cullen is a native Houstonian who spent her young years attending Catholic schools, eventually graduating from St. Agnes Academy and going on to attend the University of Houston. She has served on on the Alumni Board and chaired several events for both schools. Rose’s family is a very important part of her life. She is dedicated to her son Harry, Jr., daughter-in-law Katie, daughter Kathy McCord, son-in-law Jody, and her six grandchildren. They spend time together at their ranch, the Buena Vista Ranch on the Laguna Madre, and their home on the Comal River in New Braunfels, Texas. She believes that the best of times are being close to family: nurturing, caring, and watching her children and grandchildren as they grown to be fine caring adults, following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents who have led by example. The Cullen family motto: togetherness is the key to success. We are so lucky to have such a caring family contributing to the success of Child Advocates. Festivities for the 2006 event included a Luncheon Kick-Off Party in early October at the newly completed home of Friends member Kim Tutcher and her husband, Dan. Approximately 100 underwriters and Friends attended the cocktail evening event to personally meet Rose, Katie and Kathy. They enjoyed a short story by foster parent Elizabeth DeLuca about the need for a Child Advocate volunteer on each and every CPS case. Angel of Light Sponsor Sunny Sue Haik and her daughter, Amber Haik were introduced to the crowd and thanked for their premier sponsorship. Guests feasted on a fabulous spread of gourmet cheeses and hors d’oeuvres provided by Jerry Lasco and The Tasting Room Wine Café and wine was provided by long time Child Advocates supporter David Baird and Bevco International. The ballroom design at the actual event replicated the original season’s premier show that debuted in the fall at New York City’s Grand Central Station. The staging represented the train station - all in Chanel's signature black and white - right down to the black pin-tuck tablecloths, black chaivari chairs, and white rose and hydrangea centerpieces. Child Advocates’ Development Chair Barbara Scott emceed the event program. After Barbara introduced chairs Katie and Kathy,Katie share some of her experiences as a court appointed advocate. They then introduced Honoree Rose Cullen and presented her with the Child Advocates Excalibur Sword Award for helping slay the dragons of child abuse in our community. Prior to the Chanel Fashion Show Barbara pointed out to the crowd of 700 guests that Luncheon Sponsor Neiman Marcus and General Manager/Vice President Bob Devlin had helped Child Advocates raise enough funds to help over 700 children – the equivalent of the number of folks in attendance that day – with their support. Neiman Marcus has sponsored the Angels of Hope Luncheon since 1999. Bob Devlin introduced the Chanel show and reminded guests to attend the Chanel Trunk Show immediately following the luncheon at the Couture Salon at Neiman Marcus where they could purchase the fashions featured in the show. Some of the special guests that attended the Luncheon were five teenage girls currently being served by Child Advocates, thanks to Shannon Ferguson and Page Parkes-Eveleth of Page Parkes Corporation who raised the funds to underwrite a luncheon table for the girls for the second year in a row. In addition to attending this chance-of-a-lifetime event, the girls had their hair styled by Visible Changes and make-up applied by Sephora, received hip new outfits thanks to Palais Royal/Beall’s Stores, watched the fashion show rehearsal prior to the event, visited with the models, and walked the runway themselves. Thank you so much Shannon, Page, and all your sponsors for making this a special day for these young ladies. Their enjoyment was so obvious on their faces. After an incredible show, lunch was served and the Friends Luncheon Committee volunteers, chaired by April Lopez, went to work on the raffle. This years items did not disappoint the crowd, as long-time sponsors Four Season’s Punta Mita Resort, Page Parkes-Eveleth and jeweler Nancey Chapman again donated great prizes. New additions included an Alexandra Knight custom alligator purse and a trademark Chanel handbag from the Chanel Paris/New York Handbag Collection. Lucky raffle winners included Child Advocates Board member Suzie Thomas, Michele Love, Elaine Block and Soraya McClelland. The raffle raised over $29,000 for the Friends and the Angels of Hope Luncheon, always a huge addition to our bottom line revenues. This would not have been possible without the over 20 Friends Luncheon Committee volunteers who helped with the event set up the morning of the event and raffle sales during the reception and luncheon. Prior to the luncheon, an additional 30 volunteers helped with luncheon invitation stuffing and manned booths and raffle sales at the Kick-Off Party. Sincere thanks to all the Friends that helped to make this event another incredible success – we could not have done it without you! Gross revenue for the event again broke all previous records with $331,000 in proceeds to net $296,000 to benefit the children served by Child Advocates. Special thanks to Neiman Marcus, our chairs Katie Cullen and Kathy McCord, our Honoree Rose Cullen, Barbara Scott, Friends President Amy Anton and all the sponsors and volunteers who helped us raise the funds to provide hope for over 185 abused and neglected children. View highlights from 2005.