KidneyTexas, Inc. The Runway Report Silver Anniversary Luncheon and Fashion Show – Celebrating 25 Years of Giving With Style

(Featured photo: Kaleta Blaffer Johnson, Luncheon Co-Chair; Barbara Bigham, Lifetime Achievement Award honoree; Monica Cooley, 2024 President, KidneyTexas, Inc.; Emilynn Wilson, 25^th Anniversary Award honoree; Claire Catrino, Luncheon Co-Chair.)

It was a perfectly lovely fall morning as guests arrived for the much-anticipated KidneyTexas, Inc. The Runway Report 2024 Luncheon and Fashion Show themed Celebrating 25 Years of Giving With Style, one of the premiere events of the fall season. Guests filled the Brook Hollow Golf Club as they chatted with friends and welcomed new supporters, underwriters and sponsors joining in the celebration of KidneyTexas, Inc.’s 25^th year.

Chairs Claire Catrino and Kaleta Blaffer Johnson with Lauryn Gayle White as honorary chair, welcomed guests to the reception as they enjoyed mimosas and champagne. Presenting sponsor, Sam and Helga Feldman Foundation/David and Natalie Taylor was represented by Natalie, who was joined by award recipients Donna Arp Weitzman, Sue Goodnight Award honoree; Barbara Bigham Lifetime Achievement Award honoree and Everson Walls, who would present his namesake Legacy Award to Raymond Quigley, MD. In celebration of this 25^th year, Emilynn Wilson and her late husband, Claude Wilson, were the 25^th Anniversary Award honorees.     

While the near-capacity crowd was buzzing about the live and silent auction items and raffle prizes, Jan Strimple, fashion show producer, was busy behind the scenes coordinating fashions from sponsors Betty Reiter, TOOTSIES, St. John and NARDOS, which was styled with fine jewelry from Bachendorf’s. After more than 25 years of producing this fashion show for the luncheon, Jan has announced she is passing the Jan Strimple Productions torch to Robyn Chauvin Productions, who steps in fully attuned to the specifics of the KidneyTexas, Inc. Runway Report.  Everyone at KidneyTexas, Inc. has grown to know Jan as a friend, trusting her high standards, excellent taste and imaginative ensembles. She will truly be missed.
        

Scott Murray, Murray Media, award-winning sportscaster and television journalist, served as emcee welcoming everyone and began the presentations with some facts about KidneyTexas, Inc., which has raised over $4.7 million in the fight against kidney disease and has impacted countless lives through the nonprofit’s beneficiaries. Saying that all funds raised stay in the North Texas area, he announced this year’s beneficiaries: Baylor Scott and White Health Foundation, Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Methodist Health System Foundation, National Kidney Foundation/Camp Reynal, Southwest Transplant Alliance and Texas Health Resources Foundation.
        

Monica Cooley, president of KidneyTexas, Inc., began by welcoming the crowd and said, “So where do your dollars actually go? Because of your generosity, we are able to fund a program that provides free kidney screenings in low-income communities. We support hardworking nurses and hospital staff by providing modern training devices and much-needed patient care equipment. We replace aging systems like dialysis machines and organ transport pumps. And, most near and dear to our hearts, we get to send our Kidney Kids to summer camp where they are able to just “be a kid” while having access to their dialysis and round-the-clock medical care. This, my friends, is what KidneyTexas is all about, and why it is my privilege to serve as part of this devoted group of extraordinary women who have done far more for this organization than I could possibly describe.”  She concluded her remarks by expressing her deepest thanks to the ladies who created today’s stunning event, “… my beautiful chairmen with hearts of gold, Claire Catrino and Kaleta Blaffer Johnson.”
        

Barbara Bigham, the first president of KidneyTexas, Inc., joined Monica at the podium saying, “Has it already been 25 years!” and shared background on the formation of KidneyTexas, Inc. as its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the tremendous help the late Claude Wilson was as the attorney who made it all happen. She was joined on the stage by Claude’s widow, Emilynn, who said that Claude loved KidneyTexas and that since 1999, “When we needed help, we called Claude.”  Through tears, she said that she and Claude were married for 28 years and this 25^th Anniversary Award is so very special to her and the entire family.   

Kaleta and Claire thanked their committee for their hard work and support, then presented a gift to Natalie representing the presenting sponsor, saying that the Sam and Helga Feldman Foundation had made the largest single donation to KidneyTexas, Inc. a few years ago in the name of Natalie and David Taylor.  
        

Thanking Lauryn Gayle for her dedication and enthusiasm for all things KidneyTexas, Inc. as honorary chair, the chairs also announced the awards to Donna and Barbara, presenting them with a lovely gift as a thank you.    

After recognizing the fashion show sponsors individually with heartfelt thanks for their participation, the chairs then welcomed Scott back to the stage as he introduced Everson Walls, who presented Raymond Quigley, MD with the Everson Walls Legacy Award, so named for Everson in recognition of his having donated a kidney to Ron Springs, a fellow Dallas Cowboys football player years ago and his ongoing support of KidneyTexas, Inc.   

Dr. Quigley is involved every summer at Camp Reynal, where children with kidney disease can have a good time at camp, just like normal children, but they also receive dialysis. Affectionately dubbed “Kidney Kids,” campers include the brother and sister duo of twins Eli and Emilee, who chatted briefly with Scott about their experiences at Camp Reynal, saying it is one of the most fun times of their lives every summer and gave their sincere thanks to the crowd for supporting KidneyTexas, Inc., as they received a standing ovation.

The Runway Report featured the latest styles in fall fashions that covered it all, from casual to luncheons, work, evening and galas, with an absolutely stunning finale. 

A spirited live auction included a private champagne shopping event at Bachendorf’s, a NARDOS gift card towards a custom couture piece and two seats to the New York Fashion Week NARDOS Ready to Wear and Evening Wear fashion show, and a combined gift from TOOTSIES and Bach Mai, which also included his signature cool-girl Bomber Jacket and two seats to Bach Mai’s New York Fashion Week September 2025 show.     

Sheridan Reeder and Reagan Pace were Raffle co-chairs. Sarah Bowlby and Niki Turner were Silent Auction co-chairs.   

Afterwards, a delicious three course luncheon was served which included a tomato and red pepper soup, entrée of pecan crusted chicken breast with a dried cherry port sauce and vegetables, all topped off with a delectable dessert of strawberry shortcake.
        

In addition to the presenting sponsors, other sponsors included Baylor Scott & White Health, Patricia Abbott Fowler, and more. Media sponsors were PaperCity and My Sweet Charity.     

For more information about KidneyTexas, Inc., including membership and its benefits, visit the web site at  http://www.kidneytexas.org, email info@kidneytexas.org or call 214-891-0896.

Mission Statement: The purpose of KidneyTexas, Inc. is to provide funding to improve the methods of treatment, the search for a cure and prevention of kidney disease and other kindred or contributory diseases; and to develop more adequate provision for the care of persons suffering from such diseases.

Statistics: Debilitating kidney disease impacts approximately 35.5 million people in the United States today. Groups at high risk include African Americans, Hispanics, senior citizens and people with diabetes. In Texas as of 2023, there are over 50,000 people on dialysis and 8,294 people on a transplant list. There were 2,394 kidney transplants in Texas in 2022.

History: Since 1999, the dedicated volunteers of KidneyTexas, Inc. have worked in tandem with our generous underwriters to raise over $4.7 million for local efforts to improve the ability to diagnose and manage kidney disease. 

Each fall KidneyTexas, Inc. hosts its Luncheon & Fashion Show in an effort to raise money for designated beneficiaries and awareness for a disease that affects millions of people each year. The success of this event depends heavily upon the contributions and dedication of our Dallas business and community leaders. Your support is crucial to the success of our mission.

Photos by Thomas Garza and Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio

(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent KidneyTexas, Inc. and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)