People & Places: Old Bags event raises $150,000 for Crosstown Learning Center kids
BY DANNA SUE WALKER World Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
12/18/12 at 6:42 AM
The figures are in. Crosstown Learning Center's sixth annual Old Bags Luncheon at Southern Hills Country Club raised more than $150,000 for the nonprofit early care and learning center in the Kendall-Whittier neighborhood.
The event drew more than 400 women who bid on a handbag collection with a value of about $40,000, and heard inaugural keynote speaker Robert Block - an emeritus professor of pediatrics and past chairman, department of pediatrics, at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine in Tulsa.
Block is immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics and, when president, was selected to carry the 2012 Olympic torch prior to the games last summer.
He reminded the audience at the luncheon: "We must remember that all adults once were children. Toxic stress and adversities in early years increase the risk for many adult health issues. Investments in early childhood health and education have huge potential for returns on the investments."
Crosstown Learning Center is a curriculum-based early care center that has received national accreditation since 2000. The majority of the children at Crosstown rely on funds from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services or tribal funds to subsidize their tuition. The funds raised at the Old Bag Luncheon directly affect the children at Crosstown Learning Center and allow it to continue to offer the best educational opportunities for them.
This year's collection of bags up for bid included a celebrity bag donated by Trisha Yearwood. New to the event was the "Big Bag Raffle," which featured an 18-karat white gold and diamond interlocking circle necklace with 1.50 carats total weight of diamonds donated by William Noble Rare Jewels in Dallas.
Other packages included Botox from the Center for Plastic Surgery and a Spa Lux massage, hand-painted dinner plates from the children at Crosstown in addition to a breakfast tour at Crosstown Learning Center with executive director Debbie Guilfoyle, a one-year family membership to Sky Fitness & Wellbeing, yoga classes at Salt at Utica Square, a three-day challenge from My Fit Foods, a massage at Ihloff Salon, a beauty fête from Saks Fifth Avenue, Sunday brunch at Polo Grill, dinner at Southern Hills Country Club, tickets to Vintage Market Days Urban Affair, wine tasting at Parkhill's South Liquors & Wine, a holiday cookie bouquet from Cookies by Design, a Julia Knight bowl from Nielsen's Exclusive Gifts, and a beer tasting at McNellie's Public House.
KOTV's Terry Hood was the emcee. Toni's Flowers & Gifts was in charge of floral arrangements.
The "Chanel" Bag Presenting sponsors were George Kaiser Family Foundation, Mary K. Chapman Family Foundation and Phyllis N. Dotson.
Other major sponsors included the Hille Family Foundation, the Merkel Family Foundation, Claudia Abernathy, the Barnett Family Foundation, Ashleigh Boedecker, Patty Cappy, Marilyn Conner, Cuesta Foundation, Maggie Hille-Yar, Deniece Linn, Ruth K. Nelson, Cynthia Outlaw, Mary Pittman, Jess L. and Miriam B. Stevens Foundation, the Stuart Family Foundation, and T.D. Williamson Inc.
Also, Gwen Jones, Lorn Lyman-Morgan Stanley, Patricia McDonald, Julie and John Nickel, Parkhill's South Liquors and Wine, Dorothy Tramontana, the Dane Tucker Family, Williams, Armstrong Hearing Aid Center, John and Lucy Barker, Brainard Chemical Company Inc., Margo Dunbar, Nancy Meinig, RBC Wealth Management, and Hannah Robson.
Among merchants and businesses donating items were Bella Vita, Dillard's, Dolphin Fine Linens, Donna's Fashions, the Glass Slipper, J. Cole Shoes, J. Spencer Jewelry & Gifts, Love Crazy Designs, Lululemon, Marmi Shoes, Miss Jackson's, Okie Chic, Parkhill's South Liquors and Wine, Pavilion, Purple Glaze Studio, Purse-a-nality, Saks Fifth Avenue, Theraganics, Twisted Soul Sisters, and Toni's Flowers and Gifts.
Phyllis Dotson was the patron chairwoman. Amy Scott was chairwoman. Committee members included Karen Holiday, Debra Bezdek, Jenny Hairs, Ginger Mitchell, Ellen Hargrove, Heidi Harding, Crystal Smith, Bryn Smith, Amber Derman, Elizabeth Isbill, Adrian Lakin, Melissa Siemens, Libby Worley, Marjo Burk, Stacey Biram, Christy Johnston, Jennifer Cox and Dianna Brown.
Those who would like to be a part of next year's event through sponsorship, ticket purchases, handbag donations or volunteering should contact Elizabeth Inbody, event coordinator, at 918-582-1457 or einbody@crosstowntulsa.org.
Crosstown Learning Center's next event is Just a Little Valentine on Feb. 9 at Rucker's Warehouse. For more information, contact Inbody.
Original Print Headline: Old Bags event raises $150,000 for kids
Associated Images:
Debbie Guilfoyle (left), executive director of Crosstown Learning Center, joins Phyllis Dotson, Old Bags Luncheon patron chairwoman; event speaker Dr. Robert Block; event chairwoman Amy Scott; and Elizabeth Inbody, Crosstown Learning Center event coordinator, at Southern Hills Country Club. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
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