On Oct. 6, more than 620 people attended the eighth annual Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation (NOMF) Luncheon at the Westin Galleria. This was a very successful luncheon, enabling the foundation to impact the community with energy and enthusiasm and raise awareness about breast cancer.
At the luncheon, the foundation donated $90,000 equally divided among the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM).
Eileen Campbell, president of the board of directors for the Komen Houston Affiliate, and Dr. C. Kent Osborne and Dr. Suzanne Fuqua from the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at BCM accepted on behalf of their organizations. This brings the grand total of monies donated by the foundation from 2002 through 2009 to $840,000.
The luncheon opened with a commemorative video, which celebrated the life of Nancy Owens and featured the continued success of the foundation that was created in Owens’ name and honor. Soprano Nancy Curtis performed, accompanied by pianist Alan Sexton.
Amy Bernstein, chairwoman of NOMF, spoke about the foundation’s continued commitment to raising additional funds and how this year has proven to remain strong during these challenging economic times.
The foundation has received community-wide support and during the luncheon, Bernstein gave several accolades. The foundation is grateful to Jennifer Hernandez at Patriot Bank Mortgage and Mike Huff at Suzanne Anderson Properties who donated at the Platinum level (a $10,000 contribution). The foundation is also appreciative of the Houston Chronicle, the media sponsor and to the Houston Association of Realtors, the professional sponsor, for their continued support.
This year, the foundation presented 13 companies with the “Spirit of Giving Award” to honor contributors who have shown philanthropic commitment to the foundation with each company giving more than $20,000 over the past eight years. The recipients included Alamo Title Co. – Post Oak & San Felipe; Bernstein Realty; Chicago Title Insurance Co.; Fidelity National Title; Greenwood King Properties; Katherine Stewart; Houston Association of Realtors; Houston Chronicle; John Daugherty, Realtors; Maxine Myers; Old Republic Title Co. of Houston; Stewart Title; and Suzanne Anderson Properties.
The guest speaker for the luncheon was Geralyn Lucas. At the age of 27, without a trace of family history, Lucas was diagnosed with breast cancer. Lucas is the author of Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy.
Suzanne A.W. Fuqua, Ph.D., provided the annual “Update from the Lab” for luncheon guests. Fuqua’s research is on the female hormone estrogen, estrogen receptors and their clinical significance in breast cancer progression and resistance to hormonal therapies. Yi Li, Ph.D. at BCM, will receive half of the 2009 proceeds for his research entitled: “Stem Cells in Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment.” His goal is to find a more effective method to prevent and treat breast cancer through the use of nanotechnology.
Another highlight at this year’s luncheon was the presentation of the “Nancy Owens Spirit of Courage Award,” which reflects the courage of an extraordinary individual in the real estate industry who has fought the battle against cancer and won. This year’s award was presented to Sharon Dreyer, an agent with John Daugherty Realtors.
Attendees had several opportunities to support the foundation by purchasing prize tickets, bidding on silent auction items, buying umbrellas with the NOMF logo and buying remembrance ribbon engraved business card holders.
View all photos from the 2009 luncheon.
2009 Luncheon Sponsors
Platinum
Suzanne Anderson Properties
Patriot Bank Mortgage
Media Sponsor
Houston Chronicle
Professional Sponsor
Houston Association of REALTORS®
Gold
Alamo Title Company – Post Oak & San Felipe
Bernstein Realty
Nordstrom
Old Republic Home Protection
Old Republic Title Company of Houston
Silver
Flagstone Lending Group/Landtitle USA
Katherine Stewart
Bronze
AmeriPoint Foundation
Bernstein Realty – Angel Table
Blake Pfeffer
Brubaker & Associates Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants
Carol Desenberg Private Mortgage Banking Wells Fargo
Champions School of Real Estate
Charter Title Company
Chicago Title Insurance Company
Cornerstone Mortgage Company
First American Title Company – Tanglewood
Friendswood Development Company
Gina Foster
Greenwood King Properties
Greenwood King Properties – Angle Table
Heritage Texas Properties
Hometrust Mortgage Co. / Ken Jacobson
Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Table I
Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Table II
Houston Association of REALTORS®
Initech Appraisals
Joe Schero
John Daugherty, Realtors
John Daugherty, Realtors – Angel Table I
John Daugherty, Realtors – Angel Table II
John Daugherty, Realtors – Angel Table III
John Daugherty, Realtors – Angel Table IV
John Daugherty, Angel Table V
John Daugherty, Angel Table VI
John Daugherty, Angel Table VII
Keller Williams Metropolitan
Keller Williams Metropolitan Agent Leadership Council
Lance Dreyer Family
Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine
Martha Turner Properties – Angel Table I
Martha Turner Properties – Angel Table II
Maxine Myers
Melina & Jim Noel
Platinum Title Partners / Republic State Mortgage
StarTex Title – Galleria & Inner Loop
Stewart Title
Tradition Title Company
Vicki Fullerton – RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring
Wells Fargo
Special Thanks
A & E – The Graphics Complex
Alan Sexton, DDS, Pianist
Bella Spatique
Beautique Day Spa
Ben Bridge Jeweler
Billy Reid
Candace Caspersen
Carol Cones
Carraba’s Restaurant
D’Amico’s Italian Market
Deanna’s Skin Care
Distinctive Details
El Meson Restaurant
Etui
Fox Inspections
Gabriel Tran Photography
Gayle Morton Skin Care
Goode’s Armadillo Palace
Houston Association of REALTORS®
Houston Chronicle
Jenny Bosby George, Pastorini Bosby Talent
Joe and Ann Liggio
Karen’s Kloset
Katherine Aguilar, Event Coordinator
Lindsay Adler
Liz Gentry
Mary Haskins
Masraff’s Restaurant
Mayer & Silver, L.L.P.
Men’s Warehouse
Michael Rubenstein, Partner, Schlanger, Mills,
Mike Bloom, Artist
Nancy Curtis, Soprano
Neha Parikh, Aptek Computer Services
Peggy Vineyard
Piatto Restaurant
Raymond Kong, intokoncept.com
Sketches by Beth
South Coast Film & Video
Starbucks
Suzanne Anderson Properties
Tara Sondock
Terry Pasternak Designs
Troy and Jill Evans
Tony Mandola’s Gulf Coast Kitchen
Westin La Cantera Resort