Dec My Room has been pulling at heartstrings since 2007, when Susan Plank and her daughter, Kendall, began sprucing up rooms for youngsters having lengthy stays at Texas Children's Hospital. The annual fall luncheon further endeared the cause to many when the ladies packed the San Remo room at Tony's and raised $67,500 for the cause.
Kudos to chairs Rosemary Schatzman and Vanessa Sendukas, who planned the fundraiser that featured Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein as guest speaker. Her major point was that research has shown that a warm and fuzzy environment speeds healing. Thus, the work of Dec My Room goes far beyond an esthetic exercise.
Today, the Planks and a host of other volunteers decorate hospital rooms for young patients with stays of three weeks or more at Texas Children's, M.D. Anderson and hospitals in Los Angeles and, most recently, Boston. Not just any old dressing up will do. Each room is personalized to the patient's taste.
Lunching ladies lending their support included Mehrnaz Gill, Cheryl Byington, Julie Brown, Gina Gaston, Dilsat Baysal, Millette Sherman, Bethany Hughes, Ileana Trevino, Ellie Francisco, Karina Barbieri, Joann Crassas, Alissa Maples and Christine Napier.
Donna Vallone, left, and Claire Cormier Thielke at the Dec My Room luncheon at Tony.
