KidneyTexas, Inc. Runway Report The French Connection 2025 Luncheon and Fashion Show was Trés Magnifique!
The event netted over $270,000 benefiting KidneyTexas, Inc. and its beneficiaries
(Featured photo: Allison Brodnax, Chair; Mari Epperson, 2025 President. Herb and Donna Weitzman, Honorary Chairs; Anne and William Seanor, Presenting Sponsors.)
There was nothing subtle about the KidneyTexas, Inc. Luncheon and Fashion Show The French Connection, chaired by one of Dallas’ most elegant and lovely community leaders, Allison Brodnax, as she welcomed a capacity standing-room-only gathering at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas, along with KidneyTexas, Inc. President, Mari Epperson, Presenting Sponsors Anne and William Seanor and Honorary Chairs Donna and Herb Weitzman. The event netted over $270,000 benefiting KidneyTexas, Inc. and its beneficiaries.
The weather was perfect as guests arrived at the VIP valet and entered the gallery, which GRO Designs transformed into a suite of colorful and fun photo op vignettes inspired by the French theme. To the left was a wall of greenery accented with a bicycle covered in flowers while champagne, wine and other libations were served, along with delicious hors d’oeuvres.
The French jazz group, La Pompe, grooved while everyone made their bids in the extensive silent auction, then stepped into the scene for more photo ops with a French-inspired telephone booth surrounded in a spiraling flow of flowers from top to bottom. Spying yet another open door, guests continued into a private enclave which brought smiles all around with two self-indulgent treats: hand massages by L’Occitane and decadent chocolates sponsored by Läderach Switzerland, who also provided truffles for a take-away treat.
Now was the chance to purchase raffle tickets for generous prizes sponsored by Bachendorf’s, Central Market, Ofaolain, and KRANE Home.
Ladies and gents made their way into the ballroom where the tables were set with luxurious white cloths topped with red napkins and blue tissue in the favor bags, all in keeping with the French red-white-and-blue color theme. The theme celebrates the life-saving collaboration between French and American doctors in the fight against kidney disease. In celebration of these advancements, the luncheon featured both French and American elements throughout the day.
Laura Harris, NBC 5 co-anchor, Emmy Award and Associated Press award-winning journalist and emcee, welcomed the crowd and named the beneficiaries, saying that all of the funds raised stay in North Texas and benefit Baylor Scott & White Health Foundation, Dallas Methodist Health System, Children’s Medical Center Foundation, National Kidney Foundation/Camp Reynal, SouthwestTransplant Alliance, and Texas Health Resources Foundation.
Mari said that KidneyTexas, Inc. is celebrating its 26th year and that since 1999, the dedicated volunteers of KidneyTexas, Inc. have worked in tandem with our generous underwriters to raise $5 million for local efforts to improve the ability to diagnose and manage kidney disease. She said we are all looking forward to the next 25 years and gave a heartfelt thank you to Allison for chairing today’s event, along with past chairs, presidents and founding members.
A very special moment followed when Cindy Hanson and Stacey Wiggins were announced as the Sue Goodnight Award recipients as they were celebrated with gifts and a rousing round of applause. Both ladies are longtime supporters of KidneyTexas, Inc. and have served on the board as volunteers for most of those years.
Introducing the fashion show, Laura thanked NorthPark Center, which is celebrating its 60th year, for sponsoring the fashion show. Produced by Robyn Chauvin Productions, the show featured fashions from ME+EM, Nordstrom, Scanlan Theodore, St. John, Varley and Wilson.
A delicious luncheon followed the fashion show and began with baby beet salad with greens, whipped goat cheese and toppings, with an entrée of ancho-spiced chicken with Manchego polenta, corn puree and haricots verts, and a delicious selection of desserts, including Madascar vanilla bean crème brulée, topped with fresh berries and a lemon madeleine dipped in chocolate.
Sponsors included Anne and William Seanor, Baylor Scott & White Foundation, Allison and Brett Brodnax, David and Natalie Taylor Sam and Helga Feldman Foundation, Donna and Herb Weitzman, Sandy Nachman, NorthPark Center, Maureen Brodnax, Tenet Health, Lauryn Gayle and Tom W. White and more. Special Opportunity Sponsors included Clay Cooley Auto Group, Valet Sponsor; Belmont Village, Invitation Sponsor; Dallas Renal Group, Graphic Design Sponsor; Nancy Hiles, Favor Bag Sponsor;Fran Wittenberg, Postage Sponsor; Julie Silcock, Patron Party Host; Food Glorious Food; Patron Party Catering Sponsor, Läderach Switzerland; Chocolate Sponsor. Media Sponsors were PaperCity and My Sweet Charity.
Visit the web site at http://www.kidneytexas.org for details on membership, which includes events at private homes, a Spring and Fall Tea, news about upcoming events, Holiday celebration for KidneyKids and more.
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: Texas represents about 10.3% of the U.S. total End Stage Renal Disease patient population.
- There are over 80,000 End Stage Renal Disease patients in Texas as of 2023.
- As of November 1, 2024, there were 8,860 patients in Texas waiting for kidney transplants.
- The two most common causes of Chronic Kidney Disease are diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension). These are especially significant in Texas.
- Minority populations are disproportionately affected: Black/African American and Hispanic populations have higher rates of disease and kidney failure.
- Many people with Chronic Kidney Disease are unaware of it. For example, in Texas (and generally in the U.S.), 9 out of 10 adults with early kidney disease don’t know they have it, because symptoms are often absent until late.
History: Since 1999, the dedicated volunteers of KidneyTexas, Inc. have worked in tandem with our generous underwriters to raise more than $5 million for local efforts to improve the ability to diagnose and manage kidney disease.
Each fall KidneyTexas, Inc. hosts its Fashion Show and Luncheon 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 its special announcements and events.)
