CFL Gala / Derby Event
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Cancer Foundation League’s
“Run for the Roses”
Annual Gala / Derby Event
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Cancer Foundation League’s, “Run for the
Roses” Crosses the Finish
Line with $100,000
Purse!
By: Johnna Van
“Run for the Roses” -- The Kentucky Derby has been called the
most exciting two minutes in sports. While
that may be true, those two minutes are also
a wonderful opportunity to throw a party
and join in the festivities, just as if you
were in attendance at Churchill Downs. The
Cancer Foundation League’s, “Run for the
Roses,” brought the festivities to the Twin
Cities where over 300 hundred gathered to
get in on all the fun and help the league
raise close to $100,000. The event was held
at the Monroe Civic Center which was miraculously
transformed into a magnificent garden party,
like that of a vibrant botanical bash! CFL
President, Saundra Robinson expressed appreciation
for this year’s results. “Without the support
of the community, we wouldn’t be able to
offer support to the hundreds of people in
our region who are fighting cancer,” said
Robinson. Since beginning just over ten years
ago, the league has spent over $820,000 helping
more than 2,400 cancer patients throughout
Northeast Louisiana.
Spring fashions, stylish hats, mint juleps,
and southern charm galore really set the
stage for a perfect evening! Out of the starting
gate, the event kicked off with guests watching
the Kentucky Derby race on the big screens,
as many cheered on their picks for the win.
This year’s Derby betting winner was Charles
Marsala. The festivities kept coming with
guests bidding on silent and live auction
items. This year’s winner of the Champagne
and Diamonds was Thurman Dickey. He won a
beautiful diamond necklace from Flair Jewelers.
A Kentucky Derby party wouldn’t be the same
without the sea of hats, which were all the
rage this year! Hats, hats, everywhere hats.
The styles were whimsical, elegant, funky,
and bold. The judges of this year’s hat contest
really had their work cut out for them. This
year’s judges included Diane Cage, Cindy
Stone, and Kori Clowers. The winner of the
“Parade of Hats” contest was Christy Holtz.
Floral designer, Joey Randels pulled out
all the stops to make the ambience truly
unique. One of the evening’s centerpieces
featured a fleur-de-lis fountain draped in
pure and majestic white lilies topped off
with bold roses with fabulous fragrant petals
and eye-catching whirling centers. Running
throughout the arrangement were soft hints
of Queen Anne’s lace. The sponsor’s tables
featured moss vases sprinkled with lilies,
roses, and tulips. Dinner was provided by
Thurman’s Food Factory. The dinner tables
were elegantly decorated with tall glass
vases with cascading lilies and bold roses.
Guest’s tables were adorned with pussy willow
vases, featuring spring colored tulips, and
for that Churchill Downs touch- brandy glasses
were filled with roses and small cylinder
vases held some of the world’s most exotic
flowers- Protea! Orchids were also abundant
throughout the room, adding a real sense
of that eclectic garden party style.
Special presentations were made throughout
the night. Dee Dee Cook and Virginia Knickerbocker
were presented a special award for being
the founding members on this 10th anniversary
year. Cook and Knickerbocker then presented
a framed Kentucky Derby poster to Dr. Robert
Ebeling and Dr. William Zollinger for their
kind donations every year for the last 10
years. CFL League President, Saundra Robinson
presented Laura Hartt a bouquet of flowers
for being selected as the League’s, “Member
of the Year.” The evening was topped off
with guests dancing the night away to the
sounds of Code Blue and the Flatliners.
This year’s gala co-chairs, Kristy Moore
and Dorothy Sims expressed their appreciation
to all those who helped make this year’s
event a big success. “Without the dedication
and numerous hours of hard work of our event
committee, ‘Run for the Roses’ would not
be possible. We say thank you to these volunteers
and sponsors for making a difficult time
in the lives of cancer patients a little
brighter,” said Moore and Sims.
The league will now be busy planning and
preparing for next year’s event. Now is the
time for you to get involved! If you are
interested in joining the Cancer Foundation
League or becoming a sponsor, please contact
the CFL office at 318.966.1953.
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Millionaires Row Sponsors
Dr. Robert L. Ebeling
Dr. William Zollinger
Gold Room Sponsors
Glenwood Regional Medical Center
Northeast Louisiana Cancer Institute
St. Francis Medical Center
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Trophy Room Sponsors
Chevron – Evans Oil
Dr. & Mrs. John Snuggs
The Thomas H. and Mayme P. Scott Foundation
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Jockey Club Sponsors
BancorpSouth Bank
Cartridge on Wheels
Centric Fedreal Credit Union
Children’s Shoppe
Community Trust Bank
Daran & Yvette Reeves
Dr. David Finley, DDS
Dr. & Mrs. Lance Donald
William T. Ferguson, M.S. APMC
Dr. & Mrs. Jeffery Counts
Lawrence Danna, M.D.
Dr. Ron Hammett
Johnny’s Pizza House
Louisiana Plastics Industries
The Mulhearn Corporation
P&S Surgical Hospital
Accardo Insurance Agency – Pam Accardo
Vantage Health Plan, Inc.
Cameron, Hines & Hartt, CPAs
Ouachita Independent Bank
Tom & Sharon Scott
West Monroe Civitan Club
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Grand Stand Sponsors
Albritton Photography
Brookshire’s Grocery
Capital One Bank
Chase Bank
Ouachita Terminals
Dr. & Mrs. William Foust
Kimberly Mills, M.D.
Dr. Glen Hummel
Gastroenterology Clinic
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes
Messenger and Associates
M.L. Bath Business Associates
Mr. & Mrs. Gus Campbell
Oncology Associates
Progressive Bank
Ryan Auto Group
Thomas & Farr Agency,
Inc.
Tim & Lis Langston
VideoLink Technologies
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In-Kind Sponsors
Marsala Beverage, LP
Flair Jewelers
Glazer’s
The Radio People
KEDM Public Radio
Associated Business Printing
Doug & Anjel Liles
Jerry Roark – video production
Doug & Angel Liles
Joey Randels
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