The Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation hosted our 15th annual luncheon on October 17 at the Hilton Americas-Houston. Approximately 840 guests filled the ballroom at the luncheon featuring celebrity guest speaker Henry Winkler, which raised $205,000 for breast cancer research in Houston.
Photo credit: TK Images and Daniel Ortiz Photography.
Winkler kept the audience spellbound as he shared his own life struggles with dyslexia and how that made him the person he is today. His message was of believing in oneself – even when others doubt you. Greatness, he points out is not a test score or where you graduated from college but rather in doing your best and finding your own path to success.
Winkler’s wife, Stacey Weitzman, a two-time breast cancer survivor was also on hand at the event and graciously greeted well-wishers and posed with Winkler for photos with supporters.
The 2016 Nancy Owens Spirit of Courage Award was presented to Donna Vallone. This award reflects and honors the courage of an extraordinary individual who has fought the battle against cancer—and won! Vallone was introduced by husband and Houston restauranteur, Tony Vallone. Her story is one of inspiration, courage and hope! A nine-year survivor, Donna stands as testament to early detection and positivity.
A donation of $120,000 was presented to the three Houston-based breast cancer research projects supported by NOMF: Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf – Department of Breast Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Dr. Matthew Ellis – Lester and Sue Smith Breast Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine; and Dr. Alessandro Grattoni – Department of Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Research Institute.
NOMF is organized to fund one or more qualified public charities that supports education, care, and research to find a cure for breast cancer, while memorializing Nancy Owens’s life, the values she lived by, and the courage with which she faced her bout with breast cancer.
Special thanks to all of this year’s sponsors!
Diamond Sponsor
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Anderson Properties
Platinum Sponsor
Jennifer Hernandez/ Legacy Mutual Mortgage – The Hernandez Team
Gold Sponsors
Bernstein Realty
Dan Diepenhorst, Legacy Mutual Mortgage, In Loving Memory of Cindy Diepenhorst
John Daugherty Realtors
Silver Sponsors
Alamo Title Company – Galleria & Bering
Benchmark Mortgage
EliteCare Emergency Center – Rice Village
Peggie Kohnert & Richard Yount
See a full list of all sponsors including Bronze and Angels.
