10 great moms and one super Blind Side dad shine at Hats Off to Mothers

With 10 fabulous women taking bows at the United Cerebral Palsy "Hats Off to Mothers" luncheon on Tuesday, the fundraiser hardly needed another element. But as guest speaker, Sean Tuohy, the real-life father from The Blind Side, not only enriched the event but he also stole the show.

Engaging, amusing and a touch inspirational, Tuohy shared numerous family insights with the packed ballroom at River Oaks Country Club. For starters, he and wife Leigh Anne, who haven't received a penny of the movie's phenomenal proceeds, are writing a book, to be published in July, on the subject of "cheerful giving." (Likewise, they are both on the speaker's circuit recounting their popular story for fun and profit.)

"In our house, we believe in miracles," Tuohy said, adding that miracles were the only way to explain how they came to take in a homeless Michael Oher and how he became a successful student and talented athlete. "It doesn't make any sense unless you look at is as a miracle."

Tuohy loved being portrayed by Tim McGraw, "a really nice guy," who checks in with the Tuohys about every six days. He also has affection for Sandra Bullock, who won an Academy Award for her role as Leigh Anne, and her wayward husband, Jesse James.

"I hope something good comes out of this for them," Tuohy said of James' tattoo mistress indiscretion.

How is it that Bullock looks so much like Leigh Anne in the movie? Filmmakers spent two weeks taping Leigh Anne applying her make-up. Bullock then studied her style and copied it exactly, using the same beauty products, Tuohy said. She also used the same hair color as Leigh Anne. And Tuohy allowed that Leigh Anne is indeed just as tough (he actually said "mean") in person as Bullock portrayed her on screen.

Tuohy's talk came after presentation of the honoree moms by luncheon chairs Kristi Schiller and Millette Sherman.

Taking bows for their role as exemplary mothers were Eva Bisso, Greggory Burk, Mary Cullen, Irene Fraga, Joanne King Herring, Susan Plank, Sybil Roos, Kathryn Smith, Randa Duncan Williams and Joanne Wilson. In keeping with the day's preference for hats, they all wore wide-brimmed chapeaus or cloches — just as most of the women in the room did.