Baylor Health Care System Foundation Caps 10 Years of Celebrating Women
Randi Halsell and her daughter, Karen Halsell, M.D., Served as
Chairmen of the Event
(DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2009)—The Baylor Health Care System Foundation celebrated the 10th anniversary of their annual Celebrating Women luncheon, Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. The event benefited research, community outreach and expanded technology for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer throughout Baylor Health Care System.
Thanks to the generous support of this year’s donors, an important announcement was made at the luncheon. Gifts totaling more than $1 million helped to establish the Celebrating Women Endowed Chair for Breast Cancer Research in honor of Joyce O’Shaughnessy, M.D., an oncologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Randi Halsell and her daughter, Karen Halsell, M.D., served as chairmen of the event. To help recognize Celebrating Women’s 10th anniversary, all of the luncheon’s past chairmen were named as honorary chairmen this year. Debbie Scripps and her daughter-in-law, Nancy Scripps, served as underwriting chairmen.
Breast cancer survivor Lyda Hill, Alinda Wikert and their mother, the late Margaret Hunt Hill, were honored with the Circle of Care Award. The awards are given to those who have served as breast cancer advocates, volunteers, educators or donors and have made a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
Kelly Corrigan, breast cancer survivor and New York Times best-selling author of “The Middle Place” who is famous for her YouTube videos, was the featured speaker.
“Baylor is engaged in the fight against breast cancer, and the Celebrating Women luncheon plays a large part in that fight,” said Rowland K. Robinson, president of Baylor Health Care System Foundation. “Kelly’s story inspired us all and moved us to laughter and tears. We are so fortunate that our community gets behind this valuable and worthy cause every year to help protect the women they know and love against this disease.”
A writer, author and mother of two young girls, Kelly Corrigan was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36, during the period of life she refers to as “The Middle Place — that sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap.” While she was dealing with her own diagnosis, her father was also found to have late-stage bladder cancer, emphasizing the fact that cancer affects not only individuals, but also the ones who love and depend on them.
A video of her reading her essay, “Transcending,” has become immensely popular on YouTube.com, racking up more than four million views. She also supports her efforts with her own Web site, www.kellycorrigan.com, and she dedicates time to Circus of Cancer (www.circusofcancer.org), a site devoted to teaching people how to love someone through cancer.
Randi Halsell, a breast cancer survivor, has been involved with Baylor Health Care System since 1994 and is in her second term as a Baylor Foundation board member. That experience, among others, has made her passionate about Baylor.
“It is the best hospital with the best doctors and support staff,” Randi said. “All of us have spent weeks there.”
Randi has experience leading large fundraising events. During 18 years with The Crystal Charity Ball, she was the ball chairman in 1996 and has served in several other leadership positions.
Dr. Karen Halsell, a Dallas pediatrician, has been an associate member of the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas since 2004.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity to help Baylor in its fight against breast cancer,” Dr. Halsell said. “I know from first-hand experience the kind of quality patient care Baylor provides on a daily basis, and I’m thrilled to take on this role.”
Karen has also been active with the Children’s Medical Center Auxiliary, the Children’s Medical Center Trust and the Genesis Women’s Shelter.
Baylor Health Care System Foundation, a separately incorporated not-for-profit organization, raises and manages charitable funds to support Baylor Health Care System’s mission of exemplary health care, education, research and community service. Since the Foundation was established in 1978, it has distributed more than $325 million to Baylor Health Care System. Support comes from approximately 8,000 active donors, including individuals, corporations and other private foundations.
For more information about Celebrating Women and to see Kelly’s video, visit www.CelebratingWomen2009.org.
Honorary Charimen
In honor of Celebrating Women’s 10th anniversary, all of its past chairmen served as honorary chairmen this year:
- 2008: Sue Porter and Debbie Snell
- 2007: Sharon McCullough and Tincy Miller
- 2006: Margo Goodwin
- 2005: Barbara Stuart and Melissa Macatee
- 2004: Tucean Webb, Tucean Franks and Suzanne Webb
- 2003: Nancy Chapman
- 2002: Carol Seay
- 2001: Gretchen Minyard Williams
- 2000: Helen Nixon