Dallas Cowboys quarterback greats Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Tony Romo and Dak Prescott, along with other celebrities, lit up the runway with 22 children, raising funds to cure pediatric cancer
Over 1,200 guests, including 85 pediatric cancer patients, survivors and their families, celebrities, sponsors, and supporters, filled the first floor of the Hyatt Regency Dallas, transformed into a colorful, candy-themed wonderland, on Friday, April 27, for the most successful Children’s Cancer Fund Gala on record. The sold-out 30th annual fundraising gala raised more than $1.2 million to support pediatric cancer research and treatment programs at Children’s Health and UT Southwestern – surpassing fundraising goals for the second year in a row.
Longtime Honorary Co-Chair Roger Staubach, who has been involved all 30 years, began the event with a special announcement.
“This is the first year in this event’s 30-year history that Children’s Cancer Fund has not lost a child who has participated in this event,” said Roger Staubach. “For the first year, an in-memoriam video will not be shown at the gala. It chokes me up just to say that. Pediatric cancer research is making a difference.”
Staubach’s Co-Chair Troy Aikman followed Staubach to the podium sharing his passion for Children’s Cancer Fund as well as the impact of the nonprofit’s fundraising.
“Thanks to the generous support of people like you, Children’s Cancer Fund has donated more than $8 million to support pediatric cancer research in the Dallas area,” said Troy Aikman. “This is something you can be a part of – curing childhood cancer and helping make treatment safer, more effective, and less painful. When Roger invited me to this event 21 years ago, I was blown away. As long as they keep inviting me back, I will be here. A lot of money is being raised for pediatric cancer.”
Gala Co-Chair Hollie Siglin then shared her personal story of her dad collapsing and being hospitalized the morning of the gala. He was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma a few weeks after Siglin agreed to co-chair the event.
“I almost did not come tonight, but this cause is important so I left my dad’s side to be here and tell you why we need raise money to cure cancer,” said Hollie Siglin.
Siglin’s best friend and Co-Chair Candice Romo took the mic and told the audience that thinking about these children and what they and their families are going through makes her angry.
“I have three boys of my own, and I can’t imagine having to go through all of this,” added Romo. “We must take a stand against this awful disease and invest in cutting edge research to cure kids’ cancer. So tonight, get out your wallets, go big, and make it rain! We are here to cure children’s cancer!”
In addition to Staubach and Aikman, the 30th Annual Fashion Show presented an all-star lineup of celebrities including Dallas Cowboys Starting Quarterback Dak Prescott, who returned to the runway this year along with Cowboys Cornerback Byron Jones.
“I would not miss this night, and I look forward to participating for years to come,” said Dak Prescott. “This event is about hope and beating cancer.”
Twenty-two children ages 5 to 15, matched with celebrity escorts, lit up the runway in their fashions provided by Dillard’s for a star-studded fashion show, coordinated by RSC Show Productions. Backstage was a flurry of activity of kids, clowns, magicians, and fun and autographs with celebrities along with primping for the show with makeup, nails, and hairstyles by longtime Children’s Cancer Fund supporters Salon Pompeo.
Additional celebrity escorts included Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders; Former Dallas Maverick and current Indiana Pacer Monta Ellis, his wife Juanika, and their daughter Myla Ellis; Medieval Times Red Knight; KISS FM Crew; Miss Texas Margana Wood; Scott Murray; John Basham, CCF Alum whose family is one of the founding families of CCF and who walked in the very first fashion show; Garry Brown, producer of “Marvels Agents of Shield” and Melissa Brown, actress and stunt artist; Dallas SWAT Team; Dallas Fire Station #19; Belle of Beauty and the Beast; Batman; ESPN Commentator Victoria Arlen, para-Olympic swimmer; Mike Crum, skateboarding legend; CCF Alum Russell McKeown; Pink Heals Firefighters; Candice and Tony Romo; Ryan Hollingshead, FC Dallas Soccer Player; Amy Vanderoef, social media influencer and TV host.
Attendees also included Millie and Ken Cooper, Brent Christopher, Yvonne Crum, Diane and Nick DiGiuseppe, Jamie and Melbourne O’Banion, Stan Richards and Carol Murphy, Ashley and Jerad Romo, Anne and Steve Stodghill, Lori and Matthew Trent, Kim Schlegel Whitman and Justin Whitman.
Emcee Karen Borta of CBS 11 kept the evening on track introducing the young models and special guests as they hit the runway. Throughout the evening, entertainment was provided by the Ray Johnston Band and concluded with dancing and music provided by the Jordan Kahn Orchestra and special Guest DJ Tony Romo.
The live auction included a personal Quarterback Camp with Tony Romo at his home; National Fantasy Football Convention opportunity; a Sam Smith Concert Suite; a Custom Bicycle by Villy Custom; an opportunity to drive a new Sewell vehicle every 3 months; a Hawaiian Vacation; a Dallas Cowboys Experience; a Dallas SWAT Experience; a Mahindra ATV; a vest by Oscar de la Renta, and a Matthew Trent charm. NorthPark Center provided the raffle item, $500 in NorthPark Gold and valet parking for a year.
Sponsors included: $50,000: Anne Davidson; Texas de Brazil; $25,000: Children’s Health; Tiffany and Mark Cuban; Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation; Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; Marianne and Roger Staubach; $20,000: Anonymous; $10,000: Troy Aikman; Albertsons-Tom Thumb; Andy Beal; Lisa and Clay Cooley; Headington Companies; Jennifer Stroud Foundation; Barbara Lipshy; Mint Dentistry; Sewell Automotive; $5,000: Lindy and Brad Berkley; Kenneth Cooper; Dirk Nowitzki Foundation; Stacey and Kenny Doré; Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, LLP; Hawk+Sloane; The McCullough Foundation; Pacific Union Financial LLC; Holly and Barry Pennett; The Prather Family; and Simple Automotive.
In-Kind Sponsors: American Airlines; Dillard’s; Gro Event Design; Hyatt Regency Dallas; Katy Sky Group; Kendra Scott; National Fantasy Football Convention; NorthPark Center; OBOY! Productions; Outfront Media; Patty Foppen Photography; Primera Companies; Reunion Tower; RSC Show Productions; Rsoul Royal Studios; Sugarfina; and Matthew Trent.
The media sponsors were CBS11/TXA21, CultureMap Dallas, and Good Life Family Magazine.
Proceeds from the Gala go to Children’s Cancer Fund to support pediatric cancer research and treatment programs at Children's Health and UT Southwestern. Visit www.childrenscancerfund.com
Children’s Cancer Fund (CCF), founded in 1982, champions kids in their fight against cancer through strategic investments in research and care in North Texas. Since its inception, CCF has awarded almost $8 million in grants, and the organization received the 2014 Outstanding Foundation Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The group seeks to partially relieve the burden of obtaining and administering funds for pediatric cancer research and treatment at Children’s Health and for selected research at UT Southwestern Medical Center, both nationally recognized programs for the investigation and treatment of childhood cancer. The Children’s Cancer Fund office is located at 10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 463, Dallas, TX 75231 For more information, please contact Children’s Cancer Fund at 972-664-1450, (fax) 972-664-1425 or visit www.ChildrensCancerFund.com.