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

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

Joy McCormack, Rita Joubran and Katie Brass

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

People + Places

I AM AN accomplished philanthropist, esteemed motivational speaker, renowned fitness expert, and host of an engaging podcast UNHINGED. Through my diversified endeavors, I have established several successful ventures, including TR Beauty and The Vault, a private community catering to like-minded people. Additionally, I am the founder of Houston Style Icons, a platform dedicated to honoring and acknowledging Houstonian style, and Fashion Woodlands, an annual fashion show that I have meticulously curated. Furthermore, I actively engage with my audience through my YouTube channel, providing valuable content and insights.

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BRIAN BOYTER IS a Houston native with an interesting background in real estate. After an impressive 16-year tenure managing commercial transactions in a Fortune 500 Real Estate Investment Trust, he recently made the shift to high-end residential brokerage. The experience left him uniquely suited to thrive in the sometimes-emotional world of buying or selling a home.

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