In song and in words, the annual Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation “Shades of Roses” spring dinner at Fleming’s celebrated the memory of Holly Harwood Skolkin, sister of Silhouette Artist Cindi Harwood Rose who with her husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Franklin Rose, created the non-profit. Skolkin died of breast cancer in February of last year after a 14-year battle with the disease.
From SHELBY’S SOCIAL DIARY: 100 guests equals $100,000: Extravagant steak and cigar dinner really adds up for a good cause – By Shelby Hodge
“In the able hands of PR/Marketing Exec Kim Padgett and United Airlines Managing Director/Managing Counsel Jessica Rossman, the eighth annual Fleming’s dinner benefiting the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation was once again a smashing success with 100 guests contributing $100,000 to the cause.
Applause, applause for Sam Governale, operating partner of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar — River Oaks, which once again hosted the five-course dinner evening that included cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, cigars (from Lucho, of course), entertainment by Kristine Mills and Phlash Phactory photo ops courtesy of attorney Gregg Harrison.
Photos by Phlash Phactory, Cigars by Lucho – click on the photo to see more party pics! http://phlashphactory.smugmug.com/Events/Holly-Rose-Ribbon-Annual/29837780_m7KsNc#!i=2558638702&k=gbS65Sh
After socializing on the restaurant terrace, guests poured into the private dining room where Rose Ribbon founders Cindi and Dr. Franklin Rose thanked the merry throng that included newly-named Executive Director of the foundation Lily Paxson, Rona and Jerry Levit, Ben Harwood Rose, Amber Willis, Sherri Feldman, Diane and Michael Caplan, Dr. Jacob Varon, Dr. Ken Lee, Dr. Romy Mitchell and Tod Eason, Lori Freese, Dana Kervin, Starr Shephard, Shelby Kibodeaux, Bruce Padilla, Tina Pyne, Jessica and Lucho Rossman, Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia, Mark Sullivan, John Evatz, Debbie and Rudy Festari, Diane Caplan, Jared Lang, Mikey Hockey, Jaqueline Lemon, Mark and Christy Sullivan, Hector Villarreal, Alex Martinez, Marie Guillot, and Dave Hilfman, United Airlines senior veep of sales, who flew in from Chicago to emcee the event.
Dave Hilfman presented the Tracey Hilfman Award (named for his late wife who died of cancer) to Patricia Rauch, recognized for her courage and philanthropy. There to cheer her on were her husband, Mark Rauch; daughter, Danielle Rauch; and her mother-in-law Lila Rauch.” via CultureMap
Read the story & see the photos by Herb Hochman in CultureMap: http://houston.culturemap.com/news/social/06-04-13-100-guests-equals-100000-extravagant-steak-and-cigar-dinner-really-adds-up-for-a-good-cause/
Read about our honoree, Patricia Rauch: https://hollyroseribbon.com/the-holly-rose-ribbon-foundation-presents-patricia-rauch-with-the-tracey-hilfman-award/
By day, Dave Hilfman is the senior vice president-sales for United Airlines; however he might want to consider moonlighting as an auctioneer. Hilfman had hands flying over the no-limits, first-class tickets and the gorgeous Holly Rose Ribbon Memorial Diamond ring valued at $20,000 generously donated by Rick Antona of Uptown Diamond & Jewelry pictured above. From Uptown Diamond: “We are so honored to have been able to create the Guardian Ring representing the infinite life of Holly Harwood Skolkin! The pink diamonds on the side of the ring represent the beauty that is within each woman who is fighting or has fought breast cancer. It is a reminder that this terrible disease can never take away from the true beauty of a woman.” You can read more about this fascinating diamond and the story behind it here: https://hollyroseribbon.com/shades-of-roses-dinner-at-flemings/
From the Society Diaries: The latest in Houston society: A Bevy of Roses at a Private Fleming’s Dinner – by Lindsey Love
“With less than 100 seats available for the private Fleming’s filet feast, the annual Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation was a sell-out before the invitations went to press. Chairs Kim Padgett and Jessica Rossman (stunning in Herve Leger) along with honorary chairs Sam Governale made sure supporters like experienced a gift-giving eve from the swag bags filled with chocolate truffles and Uptown Diamond gift cards to a three-course dinner with specialty wine pairings handpicked by Governale. For those who left room for dessert, petit fours paired with Lucho cigars and cognac were served on the patio while Kristine Mills sang jazzy tunes.
Kristine Mills mesmerized the crowd with her song “Silhouette” written in memory of Holly Skolkin, along with other favorites.
The wedge salads kept guests’ quiet while honoree Patricia Rauch (aka “The Dish”) gave a thank-you speech in which she read excerpts from a letter written by her dear friend Holly Harwood Skolkin (the foundation’s namesake). As the 2013 Tracey Hilfman Award recipient, Rauch’s charitable roster includes eons of well-known causes, yet she aptly referred to this evening’s beneficiary as the “best-kept secret in Houston.” via the Houston Chronicle
Read the story in it’s entirety and see the photos by Dave Rossman here: http://blog.chron.com/societydiaries/2013/05/a-bevy-of-roses-at-a-private-flemings-dinner/
Another media mention in Texas Cigars Magazine here: http://www.texas-cigars.com/
Read the story also featured in H Texas magazine: https://hollyroseribbon.com/hrrf-fundraising-efforts-htexas-magazine/
In 2012, the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation donated $1 million in free surgeries and outreach programs.
Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, chairs, and volunteers for helping to make our dinner such a wonderful success and for supporting our continuing efforts to aid uninsured & under-insured men, women, & children with critical illness and cancer. Holly’s example proved that those who have goals, support, and prayer, battle their physical health opportunity with longer lives. By making those feel “whole”, your support has helped over 100 people in our 8 years of existence with reconstructive surgery, wigs, permanent eyebrows, education, research, prevention of cancer, outreach, & alternative treatments when requested, world-wide. Holly and Tracey’s examples of giving love to family and community while battling illness has made a lasting example to the world of living your highest path. Your continuing support has made this vision possible, of assisting those who have cancer and other illness stay well longer.
Nine years ago, the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation 501 ( c ) (3), a non-profit organization, was formed for the purpose of providing free reconstructive surgery for cancer patients that do not have alternative means. We furthered our mission to include wigs, permanent eyebrows, reconstruction on children with pre-cancerous tumors on the outside, and men. In addition, the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation provides cancer out-reach, live food alternative treatments, transportation and babysitting to those undergoing reconstruction after various cancers. The foundation was founded by Houston Plastic Surgeon Dr. Franklin Rose and Silhouette Artist Cindi Harwood Rose, when Cindi heard from her beloved sister, Holly Skolkin that many cancer survivors feel “sick” if their outsides look deformed, and scarred from tumors being removed, or mastectomies.
Unlike other non-profits there are no salaries, Dr. Rose and Cindi forfeit income to take care of the many individuals who contact the organization, and the fund-raisers are done without a staff. The small proceeds taken in, pay for hospitals, nurses, implants, alternative retreats for cancer wellness, airfare of patients, and other doctors. First Street Surgical Center in Bellaire is a major underwriter of this event, as well as the expensive surgeries. Thank you everyone for your wonderful contributions to the auction this year. When you contribute, you are helping to save lives, one surgery at a time.
Since our conception, we have helped both genders, all ages, all races, and individuals from foreign countries in their wellness. The over 100 people we have served (with no salaries, thus all funds go to the patient) have all remained alive, beating the odds and statistics. However, the love of the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, inspired by the love from Cindi’s sister, Holly Harwood Skolkin, helps the patients want to live. When they see themselves looking whole, they feel better and they are able to meet daily tasks, and set goals. Thank-you again, for helping families stay together, and loved ones feel loved. Cancer affects 1 in 5 people, and we are working on cancer prevention and wellness.
To get involved or to refer a possible patient, please contact Lily Paxson, our new Executive Director at lilypax@yahoo.com or call 713-622-3610 and ask for Autumn Ayers, assistant to Dr. Franklin Rose, MD.