Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon and Fashion Show®
Presented by Stanley Korshak
Benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show® , one of the leading fundraising events for North Texas Chapter and one of the top fundraising galas for the Society nationwide, celebrated its 24th year in February 2008 with a record attendance of over 1,200 social and civic leaders from Dallas, Fort Worth and the entire North Texas region.

Co-chaired by Janet Nylund and Lillie Young, the luncheon raised more than $500,000, adding to nearly $6 million generated over the past two decades.  Funds were raised not only through table and ticket sales but also through a raffle of high-end items retailing anywhere from $500 to $10,000.

This “must-attend” event is popular not only in the social community but also with members of the area’s fashion industry, as it is the first runway show of the new season on the calendar each year.  Produced by Jan Strimple, professional model and experienced producer, the fashion show included “The Best of Stanley Korshak,” previewing all of the new spring fashions.

“Thanks to the generosity of presenting sponsor, Dallas’ premier specialty store Stanley Korshak, the fashion show was a full runway production comparable to any major fashion event,” said co-chairs Janet Nylund and Lillie Young. “The positive energy generated throughout the community by this event has been the key to 20+ years of successful fundraising for the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”
           
AWARDS & WHY:        
The mission of the Society is also integral to the event.

Mission-driven awards are presented at the Luncheon including The Spirit of Tom Landry Character Award and The Heart of Gold Award.

The Spirit of Tom Landry Character Award recognizes a youth with courage, integrity, dignity and dauntless spirit who has battled blood cancer through personal experience or who has volunteered extensively on behalf of others who suffer from blood cancer.

We are honored each year to have Mrs. Tom Landry, a beloved figure in Dallas, make this award presentation.  The cause is close to her heart, as she lost her husband to leukemia. Mrs. Landry was escorted by former Dallas Cowboy, Bob Lilly.

This year the Spirit of Tom Landry Character Award recipient, Ethan Ford, was unable to attend and was represented by Dr. Paul Bowman, his doctor at Cook's Children's Hospital and an LLS board member.

The Heart of Gold Award recognizes an adult individual or couple with a “heart of gold,” known for working tirelessly to help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

This year, we are honored to present Lynda Adleta with this award. Mrs. Adleta, one of Dallas' leaders in the residential real estate industry for the past 25 years, was also honored by her friends and colleagues, who have joined together with personal contributions to fund a research fellowship by a world-class researcher in the field of myleoma of over $50,000.

"We are touched by this spirit of love and generosity evidenced by so many people in the Dallas community in support of Lynda Adleta," said co-chairs Janet Nylund and Lillie Young.

In addition to these two awards, this year we are honored to have a special tribute to the life of the late Sydney Thweatt, granddaughter of dear friends of Annette Simmons, Honorary Chairman, whose valiant struggle with a rare form of leukemia claimed her life in 2007.
         

The Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show is always an upbeat, glittering affair enjoyed by everyone in attendance, but we try never to lose sight of our very serious mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested $550 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Last year alone, the Society made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
Also due heartfelt thanks are our many underwriters, sponsors and committee. This luncheon would not be possible without everyone’s involvement.
           

For information visit www.lls.org/ntx/valentines

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.