Texas Children's marked
the beginning of its 50th year on
Jan. 9, 2004, with a gala birthday celebration at Houston's new Hilton Americas
Hotel. The event attracted over 2,000 attendees and raised $1.5
million for the hospital.
The 50th Birthday Gala guests were
mesmerized by a whirlwind parade
of colorful, fun birthday cakes following dinner.
Mark Wallace, Texas Children's president
and CEO, along with his wife,
Shannon (left), review the silent auction items with volunteer,
Tammy Barber.
Texas Children's President and CEO Mark
Wallace (second from left)
and the hospital's Physician-in-Chief Dr.
Ralph Feigin (third from left)
are flanked by former Houston mayors Bob
Lanier (far left) and
Lee P. Brown (far right).
Actress and singer Hilary Duff poses for
a photo with the happy group
who were the high bidders on items Hilary
donated to the auction.
Lyle Lovett performs for gala guests.
Emily Crosswell,
April, Lyle's fiancé, Lyle Lovett,
and gala chair, Kay Watson.
Dr. Edmond T. Gonzales, head of Texas
Children's department of surgery and chief of Texas Children's urology
service, and
his wife,
Lynn, celebrate at
the gala.
It would have
been a grand party even if it hadn’t netted $1.5 million for
Texas Children’s Hospital, but the money raised was the
icing on the birthday cake at the 50th birthday
gala held Jan. 9 at the Hilton Americas hotel.
Nearly 2,000
guests were comfortably seated in the newly opened hotel’s
Grand Ballroom following a spectacular fireworks display
that kicked off the evening. The event came close to
setting a record for both the number of people attending a
gala in Houston and for the amount of money raised.
Many Texas
Children’s employees and physicians were in the crowd that
saluted the hospital’s half-century of service to the
community. Among those who gave remarks were former Houston
mayors Bob Lanier and Lee Brown.
Dr. Ralph D.
Feigin, Texas Children’s physician-in-chief, and Mark A.
Wallace, president and CEO, also addressed the crowd.
Wallace told the crowd about how far the hospital has come
since its opening in 1954 and about the 1991 and 2002
expansions.
“With these
ambitious expansions, we have been able to continue our
commitment to the initial dream of the hospital’s founders –
Jim Abercrombie and "Lep" Meyer, two great men – who had a
wonderful combination of vision, passion and resources,”
Wallace said. “We’ve been able to do all of this through
your continued generous support, as well as the untiring
commitment of our medical staff and employees.”
Feigin said
there is no other place in the world that can provide better
care than Texas Children’s Hospital.
“Science and
compassion, knowledge, skill and sympathy are applied here
in the service of children," said Feigin. "I believe Texas
Children's has fulfilled the expectation of its founders. To
do so was not easy and to continue to do so will not be a
simple task. I know, however, that with your continued
support, the next half century will shine even brighter at
Texas Children’s Hospital.”
After dinner
and a concert by Lyle Lovett, the crowd danced well into the
night to the music of Midlife Crisis and the Hot Flashes, a
local band.
