On September 27, 2007 more than 900 people attended the Sixth Annual Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation (NOMF) Luncheon at The Westin Galleria.  This was the most successful Luncheon to-date, enabling the Foundation to set new fundraising records and impact the community far deeper than ever before. 

At this year’s Luncheon, the Foundation was able to donate $120,000 equally divided between this year’s recipients, the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM).  Dora Klaff, President of the Board of Directors for the Komen Houston Affiliate and Dr. C. Kent Osborne, Director of the Breast Center at BCM accepted the generous check on behalf of their organizations.  This brings the grand total of monies donated by the Foundation from 2002 through 2007 to nearly $650,000!

The Luncheon opened with a touching video, which celebrated the life of Nancy Owens, as well as featured the continued success of the Foundation that was created in Owens’ name and honor.  Soprano Nancy Curtis performed a beautiful rendition of the Mark Harris song, “The Line Between the Two,” as the video was played.

Amy Bernstein, Chairperson of the NOMF, spoke about the Foundation’s continued commitment to raise additional funds throughout the year and how this year has proven to be one of excitinggrowth.  The Foundation is extremely fortunate to have community-wide support and during the Luncheon, Bernstein gave several accolades.  Mike Mahlstedt of John Daugherty, Realtors completed the Ironman Coeur d’Alene triathlon in June and with the help of co-workers, friends and matching funds from Daugherty himself along with a generous contribution from LandAmerica Title, Mike raised nearly $15,000 which he donated to NOMF in memory of Ellen Kingsley, a close family friend who passed away from breast cancer earlier this year. 

Also in June, approximately 100 local real estate offices and title companies came together to participate in the Foundation’s annual “Pink & Blue Jean Day” and rallied to raise approximately $5,000, all with $5 donations for the opportunity to wear pink and blue jeans to the office on that day!  Additionally, Houston Title Company holds frequent MCE (Mandatory Continuing Education) classes and has committed to donating as well as matching 100% of their 2007 fees, collected from these classes, to the Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation.

The Foundation recently received the Susan G. Komen Hope Award for Ambassadorship as well as the Houston Association of Realtors John E. Wolf Citizenship Cup Award for their continued commitment to supporting breast cancer research and creating a theme of “Realtors Making A Difference” in the fight against breast cancer.  The Komen Houston Affiliate named their 2005-06 Grant Program cycle in honor of the Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation to recognize their generosity to the organization.

Bernstein briefly mentioned Proposition 15 which, if passed, would invest $3 billion during the next 10 years in cancer research and prevention programs in Texas, and create the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.  Bernstein also recognized Texas State Representative Ellen Cohen, a 38-year breast cancer survivor and someone whose husband lost his own battle with cancer four years ago.  Cohen is the first house sponsor of the legislation and one of its most vocal supporters.

Radio Music Theatre, a nationally acclaimed Houston-based comedy team formed in 1985, was the guest entertainment.  The satire-filled, sketch comedy was performed by Theatre founders, Vicki & Steve Farrell and their old friend Rich Mills who joined the team in 1992.  Their original comedy has become well known coast-to-coast and featured on “Saturday Night Live,” MTV and NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw to name a few.  Texas has remained its home, and Radio Music Theatre became known as “Houston’s Home Team For Comedy.”

The Foundation is thrilled to have cultivated a relationship with BCM, and Suzanne A.W. Fuqua, Ph.D., whose research has been a past beneficiary, provided her annual “Update from the Lab” for Luncheon guests.  Dr. Fuqua is widely recognized for her pioneering work in breast cancer research.  She has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has trained 23 pre and post doctoral fellows in her laboratory.

Adrian V. Lee, Ph.D. at BCM will receive half of the 2007 proceeds for his research “Predicting benefit from a new targeted therapy in breast cancer.”  His goal is to define which breast cancer cell lines respond to an IGF-IR (insulin-like growth factor-I receptor) inhibitor and then test if this can help personalize therapy for breast cancer patients.

Another highlight at this year’s luncheon was the presentation of the “Nancy Owens Spirit of Courage Award,” which reflects the courage of an extraordinary individual in the real estate industry who has fought the battle against cancer and won.  This year’s award was presented to Betty Bezemer, who has been praised about providing outspoken support about education, screening and treatment by sharing her personal story as a breast cancer survivor.  Betty, very much humbled by this honor, spoke briefly about her personal journey as a breast cancer survivor.  Betty received a beautifully handcrafted angel created by NOMF Committee Member, James Burke of Patriot Bank Mortgage as well as a sterling silver Survivor necklace designed by local jeweler Gin Bartlett of Be True Jewelry.  Two of the past award recipients, Nancy Elizabeth Garfield and Andrea Potts Snoddy, were also in attendance.

Attendees at the luncheon had several opportunities to support the Foundation by purchasing raffle tickets, bidding on silent auction items and buying umbrellas with the NOMF logo.  The generous items given for the raffle and silent auction were: (Raffle) 18K white gold pink sapphire bracelet donated by Ben Bridge Jeweler; 32” flat-panel television donated by Direct Training, Inc.; superior golf package donated by Fort Bend Publishing Group; (Silent Auction) basket filled with Elemis products donated by Elemis/Nordstrom; and a limited edition, signed watercolor by Kelly Daughn Halbach.

The Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation was created in memory of Nancy Owens, a much loved and well respected icon in the Houston real estate industry.  Owens lost her courageous 20-year battle with breast cancer in September 2001.  One of Owens’ final wishes, if she had survived her battle with cancer, was to dedicate a large part of her life to the fight against breast cancer and the continued advancement of its research towards finding a cure.  It is that very dream that lives on today.

The planning committee is made up of Nancy’s close friends whose tireless efforts, dedication and love of Nancy has been the driving force behind the success of the Foundation.  The Foundation’s volunteers are Amy Bernstein, James Burke, Cheri Fama, Vicki Fullerton, Terri Guerra, Peggie Kohnert, Lynn Mather, Gloria Moorman, Robin Mueck, Nancy Nunu, Mary Piper, Irby Rozelle, Michelle Sandlin and Katherine Stewart.  Amy Bernstein served as the Chairperson once again for this year’s Luncheon.

For more information about the Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation, or to make a donation, please call 713-932-1032 ext. 155 or visit www.NancyOwens.org.