Cypress mom raises $365,000 for ‘Woman of the Year’ award
For the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Gulf Coast Chapter, the third time is definitely the charm.
The blood cancer nonprofit’s annual Man & Woman of the Year Gala has inched past the $1 million mark for three years in a row. Back in 2015, Woman of the Year Katie Daily helped move the needle with her winning $260,000 campaign. The following year, Cypress “cancer mom”
Stephanie Carroll (whose daughter and leukemia survivor,
Drew Carroll, is 2018’s Girl of the Year ) broke Daily’s record with $290,000 raised. This goaround, Carroll tapped friend and fellow Cypress resident
Jordan Simpson to challenge her crown. And did she ever. With $365,000 pledged in her honor by Friday night’s end, Simpson emerged as the chapter’s record-shattering titleholder. Keith Rollins clinched Man of the Year after securing a commendable $120,000.
In total, chairs Jason Ryan and Stephanie Bundage Juvane brought in more than $1.175 million for blood cancer research.
The 2018 organizers, supporters and patrons served their A-game from the get-go.
Jewelry designer and philanthropist Kendra Scott sponsored River Oaks Country Club’s al fresco cocktail station for the evening; 50 guests who received special drink cups with “Lucky You” scrawled on the bottom were able to pick out mystery boxes stuffed with necklaces, bracelets or earrings.
Over a three-course steak dinner, The Woodlands-based auctioneer Rick Grassi led a wildly successful live auction, which alone garnered $96,000. Considering that LLS’ Woodlands chapter raised $480,000 the previous weekend during its inaugural fundraiser, securing Grassi proved a winning coup. Heated bidding wars ensued over a handmade quilt honoring 24 leukemia-fighting patients and trips to the French Riviera, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colorado and more.
No pressure, 2019 candidates and co-chairs.