In this Article
After two years of virtual events, Celebrating Women’s annual luncheon reconvened at the Hilton Anatole.
In this Article
As Celebrating Women supporters filled the ballroom at the Hilton Anatole Hotel this October for the first time since 2019, luncheon
co-chairs Marybeth Conlon and Elizabeth Gambrell captured the excitement perfectly when they observed, “There’s just something electric about being together with people who are joined by mission and purpose.”
The mission and purpose at the 23rd annual Celebrating Women Luncheon was clear—advance the fight against breast cancer—and those in attendance were unwavering in their support. Presented for the 18th consecutive year by Tom Thumb and Albertsons Companies Foundation, this year’s effort—under the leadership of underwriting co-chairs Amy Hegi and Libby Hegi—raised more than $1.5 million to benefit Baylor Scott & White Health’s fight against breast cancer in North Texas. These funds will allow Baylor Scott & White to invest in research, treatment and patient-centered programs, and such investment would not be possible without the generous support from donors, including those who gave $100,000 and above: the Gene and Jerry Jones Family, Mary Kay Ash Foundation, The Aileen and Jack Pratt Foundation and Mrs. W.H. Smith.
2022 honorary chairs Gene Jones, Charlotte Jones, Karen Jones and Lori Jones were recognized for their family’s longtime support of Celebrating Women and the instrumental role they played in bringing the American Cancer Society Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge to Dallas. During the luncheon, Ben Renberg, president of Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation, made the exciting announcement that gifts made in their honor would support a new Hope Lodge patient navigator—extending the impact the Jones family has had in the lives of those facing a cancer diagnosis. This navigator will ensure every Baylor Scott & White patient staying at the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge has someone to walk hand in hand with throughout their cancer journey—identifying barriers, answering questions and offering support and encouragement.
A sound of celebration
One of the most memorable moments of the event followed the story of breast cancer patient Krystal Smallwood-Whitaker, whose battle
with the disease over the last 12 months included a double mastectomy, reconstruction, 35 days of radiation and 20 rounds of chemotherapy. Krystal completed her final round of chemotherapy the day before the luncheon and was in the audience that morning.
To help Krystal celebrate this important milestone, Elizabeth asked the audience to join in a ringing of the bell, sharing the significance of the action, “You may know that at a patient’s last chemo treatment, they get to ring the bell to signify the end of one journey and the beginning of a new one. The bell’s sound is a celebration for the patient. It may sound like a sigh of relief for their loved ones. For other patients in the midst of their treatments, the sound of the bell can signify hope that one day they might be able to ring that same bell too. Let’s remember what we are doing here today will help make this bell-ringing possible for many more women.”
More than $1.5 million was raised to benefit Baylor Scott & White’s fight against breast cancer in North Texas.
A dedicated duo
This year’s featured guest, Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Arquette, sat down for an interview with journalist and moderator Rene Syler for a conversation about their shared commitment to advance the fight against breast cancer and their personal connections with the disease. Rene’s mother and father fought breast cancer, and she made the decision to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy herself; and after losing her mom to the disease more than two decades ago, Patricia has been a vocal supporter of early detection and an advocate in the fight against the disease.
During the conversation, Patricia expressed her gratitude for the generous support of donors to advance the fight—like those who donate to Celebrating Women—sharing, “My mom passed away when she was 57 from breast cancer. She
was only three years older than I am now.
Losing our mom was like walking around with an arrow through our bodies the rest of our lives. To see groups like this at Celebrating Women, where you’re reaching underserved women, where you’re making sure they get mammograms, where you have this Hope Lodge helping and this incredible support system when people need it most…it’s so beautiful because it’s terrifying as a family to be faced with a diagnosis like breast cancer.”
For information on Celebrating Women or how you can help support the fight against breast cancer, please contact Christina Goodman at 214.820.4408 or Christina.Goodman@BSWHealth.org.
