Cynthia Smoot
“XOXO Sending Love & Care” Theme Wildly Successful For Attendees
By Cynthia Smoot Photography by Tamytha Cameron
and Caitlin Wilson
THE SETTING: The 2025 St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show: XOXO Sending Love & Care Co-chairs Courtney Petit and Caitlin Wilson, with Honorary Chairs Mona and Grey Stogner, were joined by more than 650 attendees at the St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) where more than $640,000 was raised for the LLS mission.
Clarice Tinsley
Guests arrived at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in their Valentine’s Day-inspired attire in varying shades of pink, purple, and red. Patrons mingled while sipping champagne and perusing items up for bid in the silent auction. Attendees then proceeded into the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall for this year’s program.
THE VIBE: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society president and CEO, Dr. Anders Kolb, spoke and shared that this year, LLS celebrated its 75th anniversary, and in that time, the organization had invested $1.8 billion in life-saving research, $1.7 billion in grants to help alleviate the burden of care for patients and their families, and every year was able to help hundreds of thousands of patients through education, support service, and navigation services. He said, “When we look to our future, this is what we are calling our ‘Bold Goal.’ Our Bold Goal is that by 2040, we are going to enable patients with blood cancer to gain more than one million years of life.”
and Susan Scullin
The 2025 Award Recipients Honored Were:
2025 ICON Award recipient, former First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush. Mrs. Bush accepted her award and gave brief remarks regarding the Bush family’s commitment to the mission of LLS as President George W. Bush’s sister, Robin Bush, lost her battle with leukemia when she was just three years old.
Dr. Robert (Brian) Berryman, a renowned oncologist with expertise in treating blood cancer patients, was presented with the Lynda Adleta Heart of Gold Award, which recognizes individuals who have had a profound impact in the community, specifically in the fight against cancer. Dr. Berryman is currently the Director for Outreach and Clinics for the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Services at Baylor University Medical Center.
Texas native and legendary actor the late Larry Hagman was posthumously recognized with this year’s Memorial Hero Award, which honors an individual in the community who has passed away and who battled blood cancer. Hagman played J.R. Ewing on the show “Dallas” for 14 seasons before passing away at age 81 from acute myeloid leukemia. His son, Preston Hagman, accepted the award on the family’s behalf.
The Spirit of Tom Landry Award was given to Jude Cobler, a youth who had battled blood cancer. After having bone marrow transplants, CAR-T therapy, and most recently relapsing during his freshman year of college, Cobler is a five-time survivor of leukemia. After years of battling cancer, he is in remission and studying computer science at the University of Texas at Dallas. He has relied on his family during his journey and continues to share his experiences and inspire others in their fights against cancer to stay positive and live life to the fullest.
The highly anticipated fashion show, produced by Jan Strimple, then began with models wearing fabulous spring looks from Highland Park Village retailers, including La Vie Style House, Love Shack Fancy, Veronica Beard, Simkhai, Lela Rose, and Carolina Herrera.
and fringe kimono skirt
Guests then proceeded to their luncheon tables to enjoy a duo salad plate of chicken salad with pomegranate seeds, served with cucumber and dill mini club sandwiches and garnished with a handful of raspberries, mixed green salad, and flatbread crackers. A mini dessert trio, including a fruit tart, a brownie with pink and white chocolate heat, and a pink macaroon, was the perfect end to the delicious lunch. As the event concluded, partygoers were treated to a selection of gourmet sweets courtesy of Make Your Life Sweeter.
embroidered caftan No. 2
Attendees included honorary chairs Mona and Grey Stogner, LLS president and CEO Dr. Anders Kolb, LLS Red River Region executive director Leah Swanson, advisory chairs Nancy Gopez, Maggie Kipp, Melinda Knowles and Samantha Wortley, luncheon co-founders Rusty Duvall and Janet Evans, Brooke Shelby, Todd Fiscus and Ceron, Peggy Sewell, Lynae Fearing, Elisa Summers, Louise Griffeth, Yvette Ostolaza, Heather Washburne, Yasmeen Tadia, Natalie McGuire, Andrea Cheek, Jill Goldberg, Kate Cutshall, Victoria Snee, Lottye Lyle, Jill Tananbaum, Jamie O’Banion, Kimberly Alexander, Katherine Coker, Katy Brooks, Laura Price, Hamilton A Sneed, Holly Davis, Meredith Ferrell, Megan Filgo and Capera Ryan.
THE NON-PROFIT: Founded by Janet Evans and Rusty Duvall, the annual Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show has raised more than $16 million in its 41 years, funding research in Texas, including UT Southwestern Medical Center. Since its inception, some patient survival rates have doubled, and countless advances have been made with new, safer treatments for patients.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org.
