Academy Award-winning actress is the keynote speaker for the 23rd annual luncheon.
When the Celebrating Women committee members gathered this spring at the home of Tracey Kozmetsky, there was renewed excitement to kick off the 2022 effort and continue the fight against breast cancer in North Texas. Luncheon co-chair Marybeth Conlon and Elizabeth Gambrell shared that plans are well underway for a return to an in-person event at the Hilton Anatole Hotel on Friday, October 21, 2022, and that Amy Hegi and Libby Hegi have graciously agreed to serve as underwriting co-chairs.
Presented by Tom Thumb and Albertsons Companies Foundation, the 23rd annual luncheon will recognize Gene Jones, Charlotte Jones, Karen Jones and Lori Jones as honorary chairs. Their generous support of the American Cancer Society Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge facility in Dallas, which opened its doors last fall, provides cancer patients and their caregivers with free lodging when they travel to the Metroplex for care.
During the kickoff, Marybeth and Elizabeth made the exciting announcement that Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Arquette will join the fall luncheon as the featured guest.
A vocal advocate in the fight against breast cancer and the importance of early detection, this is a cause that is deeply personal to Patricia.
“I lost my own mom to breast cancer. She was only 57 years old and was stage IV when she was diagnosed,” Patricia shared. “Make sure that every year you have your mammogram and breast exam, because early detection is really critical to survival. Please don’t put it off.”
Over the last 22 years, Celebrating Women has raised more than $37 million to help care for the more than 20,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Texas. Although we’ve been unable to hold this luncheon in person for the last two years, the commitment from generous donors in our community has helped:
- Expand our High-Risk Breast Screening Program, which has already identified more than 3,000 women who were high risk and otherwise unaware.
- Provide mammograms and other breast cancer services for patients unable to afford this care.
- Support patient navigators, who play a crucial role in the patient’s journey by identifying and resolving barriers, answering questions and offering support.
