With only one more black-tie gala to follow, CancerForward's Summer Standard stood as something of the last big-night-out before the Memorial Day exodus and, with that, more than 200 guests poured in to Houston Country Club for the fundraiser.
Donna and Bob Bruni and Ellie and Michael Francisco chaired the evening that honored breast cancer survivor Denise Monteleone and, in abstentia, Terry Zmyslo, former Saks Fifth Avenue GM now living in Florida. Monteleone's son Will gave a moving tribute to his mom while fashion designer Bill Hamilton, in from New York, spoke of Zmyslo and Saks' commitment to cancer research.
Joining the headliners were honorary chairs Lisa and Mike O'Leary and Liz and Robert Rigney and Tribute Committee chairs Estela and David Cockrell, Stephanie and Ernie Cockrell and Millette and Haag Sherman. Their evening added up to proceeds of $225,000.
Applauding the decor by Rebekah Johnson and dancing to the tunes of the Richard Brown Orchestra were Merele Yarborough, Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim Daniel, Louis Skidmore, Bethany Hughes, Tara and David Wuthrich, Harriet and Gil Gertner, Louis Skidmore Jr., Danielle and John Ellis, Beth Sanders Moore and Jess Moore.
Michael and Ellie Francisco with Donna and Bob Bruni at the CancerForward fundraiser.
