On The Move Luncheon

MS On the Move luncheon sends a positive message: Enjoy every moment life has to offer

What: National Multiple Sclerosis Society On the Move Luncheon.

Where: River Oaks Country Club.

The scoop: More than 400 guests packed the country club ballroom to support the fight against MS and honor individuals and companies supporting the cause. Emily Covey was honored as the Person On the Move, James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd accepted the Company On the Move award on behalf of Southern Smoke, and Marilyn Jaggard was honored with the Above and Beyond Award, receiving the distinguished honor from last year's recipient, Franelle Rogers.

Dan and Jennifer Digmann, authors of Despite MS, to Spite MS, shared their story about refusing to let the disease hold them back from enjoying and experiencing every moment life has to offer. The Michigan couple has dedicated their lives to MS activism and helping others to live their best life. "Today MS has met its match and together we can break through MS," they said as the audience responsed with a standing ovation.

Co-chairs Ashley Cruse and Catie Ross, along with honorary chair Erin Maggi, were thrilled that the luncheon brought in $200,000.

Who: Applauding the successful efforts were emcee Deborah Duncan, Brian Ross, Sam Cruse, Katie Brass, Stephanie Cockrell, Adrian and Rex Ross, Joyce Brass, Leslie Fertitta, Marcia Smart, Tama Klosek, Diana Mattingly, Wendy Bedortha, Liz and Brian Dinerstein, Luba Bigman, Kay and Ned Holmes, Lucinda Loya, Amber Mostyn, and Estela Cockrell.

Karen Sponsel, Adrian Ross, Patty Pagel, Janet Stanberry.

Photo by Kim Coffman

Karen Sponsel, Adrian Ross, Patty Pagel, Janet Stanberry.

luncheons fundraisers

Painted with Purpose

21 Houston doctors trade scrubs for canvases at Arts of Healing gala

Photo by Alida Bonifaz

Chita Craft, Bethany Buchanan, and Nora Jarrard.

Turns out, creativity isn’t just for the canvas. It pulses through the hands of healers, too.

Photo by Alida Bonifaz

Chita Craft, Bethany Buchanan, and Nora Jarrard.

That was the spirit of The Arts of Healing Eighth Annual Gala, where physicians traded lab coats for aprons and oils to showcase their artistic prowess at The Post Oak Hotel on November 8.

Guests — close to 500 — were greeted by a floral fantasia courtesy of Blooming Gallery. A grand circular bar anchored the room, while a curated silent auction, wine pull, and an ultra-chic Valobra raffle for a diamond necklace tempted attendees. The centerpiece? Art by 21 physician-artists being honored that evening lining the entire ballroom.

Among the physicians celebrated for their contributions both in hospitals and on canvas were Dr. Shetal Amin, Dr. Deepak Bedi, Dr. Mark Dannenbaum, Dr. Meshann Fitzgerald, Dr. Matthew Goldman, Dr. Brandon Goodwin, Dr. Mollie Gordon, Dr. Maysoon Hamed, Dr. Emily Jamea, Dr. Henry Kuerer,Dr. JP LeFave, Dr. Dean Moore, Dr. Marlene Morales, Dr. Sehar Najamus, Dr. Eric Powitzky, Dr. Terrence Wadley, Dr. Cindy Williams, Dr. Jose Miguel Yamal, Dr. Sarrah Zadeh, and Dr. Isaac Raijman, who, alongside his wife, Lori Raijman, founded the Arts of Healing Foundation.

Co-chaired by Rachel and Warren Ellsworth IV and Natalie and Mark Bordman, the evening marked a fundraising high, collecting more than $560,000 to support The Arts of Healing and its Sunshine Kids Summer Camp collaboration. The initiative brings children facing cancer from across Texas together for creativity, connection, and joy.

A special musical cameo brought the house down when honoree Dr. Jeff Ross took the stage, trumpet in hand, for a guest appearance with Dry Water Band. The dance floor stayed thumping well into the night, a tribute to the spirit of creativity as medicine.

Summoning their inner Picassos were Sarah Collins, Michele and Youval Meicler, Kristen Collins, Betsy and Jimmy Montgomery, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Kristen Cannon, Cathleen Fishel, Stephanie Wilcox, Alexis Rosales, Faith Majors, Bethany Buchanan, Susan and Steve Beatte, Larry Doty, Vanessa and Chuck Ames, Dana Barton and Robert Clay, Rita Shuma, Jennifer Wisler, Dr. Rukmini Rednam, Dr. Victoria Chang, Dr. Danielle Antosh, Katie Tsuru, and Dr. Kathy Nguyen.

fundraisers