Sold-Out Lunch Brings MS Society Supporters, Houston Heavy-Hitters 'Together for a Cure'

A SOLD-OUT affair at the River Oaks Country Club raised more than $200,000 for an important cause, one near and dear to many Houstonians' hearts.

Four-hundred-plus guests attended the MS Society's Together for a Cure luncheon, chaired by Franelle Rogers and emceed by ABC13's Chauncy Glover. Fellow KTRK reporter Melanie Lawson — whose father Rev. William A. Lawson, a noted civil-rights advocate and sometimes referred to as "Houston's pastor," was also in attendance — spoke to her colleague Art Rascon onstage about her experience living with MS. Rogers presented her with an award title Media Champion, and the crowd gave her a huge round of applause.

The afternoon also honored Karen Tellepsen, Denise Jones, Kara Olfield and the McCormack family — Joy and Don and their children, Hanna, Ian and Evelyn.

Sarah Back, Jennifer Tellepsen

Art Rascon, Franelle Rogers and Melanie Lawson

William Lawson, Mary Williams, Vandetta Levingston, Thomas Carter

Bob and Denise Jones, Mark and Karla Olfield

Nancy Strohmer and Beth Wolff

Cardon Gerner and Nancy Gerner

Mary Chandler and Jeannie Chandler

Luba Bigman, Cheryl Faillace

Carleta Sandeen, Jolene Cook, Linda Ittner

Kelli Cohen Fein and Rosemary Schatzman

Cheryl Byington, Heidi Rockecharlie

Kat LaPoint, Nikki Beisty

Don and Joy McCormack

Cathy Brock and Alison Tennant

Karen Tellepsen