Angelina Jolie donated earrings to Memorial Hermann luncheon emceed by Chita Craft
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
- Written by Chron
Seventh annual Razzle Dazzle luncheon raised record-breaking $400,000 thanks to celebrity auction items.azzle Dazzle luncheon chairs Hallie Vanderhider and Kristina Somerville were uncharacteristically secretive about the Memorial Hermann Foundation fundraiser's two live auction items.Vanderhider modeled earrings designed by her guest, celebrity jeweler Robert Procop, throughout the champagne reception and soiree. Reportedly, the pair met only a few months ago. During that brief period, Procop agreed to donate two pairs of earrings for Wednesday's soiree benefiting the Bobetta C. Lindig Breast Care Center. One of those sets comes directly from the personal vault of a very well-known breast cancer survivor: Angelina Jolie."Angelina, my client, has that unfortunate (BRCA1) gene," Procop said onstage of the Oscar winner and humanitarian's much-publicized preventive double mastectomy. He and Jolie have collaborated together on several jewelry collections and subsequently donated the proceeds to all-girl schools in conflict zones. "When we ask those little girls what they want to be when they grow up, they all say doctors."A tense round of bidding ensued over the 37.38-carat tourmalated quartz square bezel set in 18-carat rose gold earrings though Susan Sarofim emerged victorious for a cool $25,000. Vanderhider's dream of owning some Procop bling came true after she snagged the other pair of moonstone, diamond, and sapphire baubles for $12,000.
The luncheon, which raised $300,000 before some 560 attendees arrived at the Westin Memorial City, garnered a record-breaking $400,000 by afternoon's end.Expectant mother and mistress of ceremonies Chita Craft reminded the audience that the soiree has raised more than $1.6 million since its inception in 2010."We chose the theme '3D Pink' to highlight the technology," Somerville explained. Her mother, also in attendance, recently battled breast cancer.She has seven children, Somerville says, we named her tumor Voldemort.Honorees Mary Ann McKeithan and Mayor Pro-Tem Ellen R. Cohen, both breast cancer survivors, shared their experiences, too.McKeithan became tearful as she acknowledged her husband, David McKeithan, who took her to lunch after every radiation treatment."Trust me, we've eaten everywhere," she said during her remarks. "But it gave me something to look forward to."Guest speaker and "New York Times" best-selling author Elin Hildebrand raised the crowd's spirits by putting a humorous spin on her 2014 breast cancer diagnosis."Before, I was half of an A-cup," she quipped. "My doctor told me, 'They don't make implants as small as you are, so you're going to get bigger breasts."Hildebrand received implants after successful treatment on the four tumors in her right breast and one in the left. Shortly after, she contracted a MRSA infection and had to replace one."I'm probably the only person you know who lost three breasts last year," she joked in closing.
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