KidneyTexas, Inc. Celebrated at Zimmermann in NorthPark Center

(Featured photo: Courtney Rourk, Luncheon Co-Chair; Fran Cashen Wittenberg, President, KidneyTexas, Inc.; Therese Rourk, Luncheon Co-Chair; Susan Geyer, Honorary Chair.)

KidneyTexas, Inc. revealed details about the upcoming luncheon and fashion show at an event hosted by Zimmermann in NorthPark Center.

As champagne and hors d’oeuvres were passed, Fran Wittenberg, president of KidneyTexas, Inc., greeted guests along with Samantha Foster, manager of Zimmermann, Therese Rourk and her daughter, Courtney Rourk, co-chairs of the 2026 Runway Report Luncheon and Fashion Show themed Handbags & Heels, Susan Geyer, honorary chair and more.  

Welcoming the crowd, Fran thanked Samantha for her generous hospitality, which included donating back 10% of all sales to KidneyTexas, Inc. Sharing her personal experience with kidney disease, Samantha said her late father suffered from it before he passed and she feels very connected to the organization and was delighted to host this afternoon’s event.     

Fran encouraged everyone to join in the tours of beneficiaries and to contact Mary Black, who is coordinating those excursions, including Baylor Scott & White and Children’s Medical Center this fall. The group visited Methodist Hospital and Camp Reynal last spring. “It feels like God is here,” one member said as she toured Camp Reynal.    

Therese made the big reveal, announcing the award recipients: Nancy Greenbach will receive the Sue Goodnight Award; Colby Hanks Baer will receive the Community Award; Emilynn Wilson, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Angie Bullard will receive the Everson Walls Legacy Award. All of these awards will be given at the luncheon and fashion show. Honorary Guest is Jan Strimple.
        

Slated for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Runway Report Handbags& Heels Fashion Show and Luncheon will be at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas. Presenting sponsors are Sam and Helga Feldman Foundation/Natalie and David Taylor and Baylor Scott & White Health. Gold Sponsor is Carolyn Channel. Silver Sponsors are Nikki Ramji and Cindy Feld; Anne Seanor and Anonymous/Stacey Wiggins.

The morning begins with a reception followed by a program and runway fashion show produced by Robyn Chauvin featuring fashions from NorthPark Center, which is always a fabulous event including fun surprises. Beauty Sponsor is About Face Pros Agency, LLC. There will be live and silent auctions, raffle and award presentations. It is all topped off with a delicious luncheon. Laura Harris, NBC 5 co-anchor is returning as emcee. 

Sponsorships are $5,500 and up. Individual Patron Level Tickets begin at $1,000. For details and more information, Visit the web site at http://www.kidneytexas.org, email info@kidneytexas.org or call 214-891-0896.

All of the funds raised stay in North Texas and benefit Baylor Scott and White Dallas Foundation, Camp Reynal, Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Methodist Health System Foundation, and Southwest Transplant Alliance.

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 Luncheon & Fashion Show 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 attendees and Dallas business and community leaders. Your support is crucial to the success of our mission.

*Photos by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio

(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent KidneyTexas, Inc., its Luncheon & Fashion Show, special events and announcements and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)