Houston's hot — but not too hot for CancerForward black-tie gala (where white dinner jackets ruled)

Black-tie partying in June is as rare in H-town as are 60 degree temperatures at this time of year. But CancerForward pulled it off with a gala evening at Houston Country Club late last week. And plenty of gents embraced the season by donning white dinner jackets.

The non-profit drew a crowd of 240 that raised $185,000, funds that are earmarked for providing rehabilitation programs for cancer survivors who are members of The Survivor Network, the virtual support group of the year-old CancerForward.

The website's founder Beth Sanders Moore rounded up a blue chip cast to headline the evening, beginning with honorary chairs Marcia and David Solomon and continuing with chairs Betty and Stephen Newton, Cabrina and Steven Owsley and Phoebe and Bobby Tudor. 

Jazz singer, pianist and songwriter Tony DeSare mesmerized the ballroom crowd with his talents. New York-based jazz pianist Loston Harris, originally scheduled for the evening, had to cancel due to a family emergency.

Billed as "The New Summer Standard," the evening included dinner and dancing and an increased profile for the "all-volunteer non-profit that provides a free network for cancer survivors, caregivers and their families supporting rehabilitation through education and experiential information exchange."

Guests included CancerForward co-founder Bo Bothe and board chair Stewart Smith, lead underwriters Mary and Graham Whaling, Karen and Mel Payne, Suzy Sklar Simons, Linda McReynolds, Pat Breen, Cora Sue and Harry Mach, Tom and Susan Arnold Martin, Diane Lokey Farb, Mary Jane and Bob Wakefield and Saks Fifth Avenue's Terry Zmyslo and Sylvia Forsythe.