Cancer Support Community North Texas Announces Co-Chairs and Emcee of Inaugural Thrive Event

April 2, 2014 - PRLog -- (DALLAS, Texas) March 2, 2014— Cancer Support Community North Texas (CSCNT) today announced new details of its inaugural Thrive fundraising event, the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. Doug and Laura Wheat will serve as co-chairs and Fox 4 sports anchor Mike Doocy will serve as master of ceremonies.

The Thrive event will take place on April 23 at the Hilton Anatole. A reception and dinner will raise funds for the organization’s free comprehensive cancer support programs throughout North Texas. Sponsorships for the event are still available and begin at $5,000. Tables can be purchased for $3,000 and tickets are $300 per person.

All CSCNT programs and initiatives are offered to patients with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones free of charge because of the organization’s core belief that no one should face cancer alone. The program’s free membership, psychosocial support, classes, workshops, and events give strength and encouragement to cancer patients as well as their caregivers and family.

Event co-chair Laura Wheat was a founding member of Gilda’s Club, the predecessor organization to CSCNT. Laura knows first hand that cancer is indeed a family disease, as she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32 and soon became heavily involved with nonprofits, serving as co-chairwoman of both the national and local Cancer Support Community as well as board member of Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. She has also contributed to extensive fundraising efforts for Westlake Academy. In 2005, the Wheats moved to Westlake, Texas where Laura was elected Mayor in 2008.

While Laura was busy in the volunteer world, Doug was engaged in more lucrative endeavors.  He was a partner with Haas Wheat and Partners from 1992 to 2006 and has been a Partner with Southlake Equity Group since 2007.  Doug has served for over eight years as Chairman of the Board of AMN Healthcare, the nation’s largest provider of temporary healthcare staffing, and is vice-chairman of Dex Media, a leading provider of marketing solutions for local businesses.

“Doug and Laura Wheat are vital contributors to the continually expanding menu of services CSCNT offers cancer patients and their loved ones,” said Michelle Louis, CEO of CSCNT. “They have devoted so much of their lives and energy to serving others and we are honored that they would continue to give back to the community as co-chairs of the inaugural Thrive event. We are also thrilled to have the always vibrant and entertaining Mike Doocy, a Texas sports icon, as our event emcee.”

Thrive’s master of ceremonies, Mike Doocy, is Fox 4 DFW’s weeknight sports anchor. He anchors the network’s weekly “Sports Sunday” broadcast as well as numerous specials throughout the year.

“Thrive is a key event for our fundraising, which makes all the free memberships, events, and education CSCNT offers to the community possible. We gladly provide these services to the community because we want every person affected by cancer to know they are fully supported. Thrive fundraising fuels these initiatives for the entire year,” said Louis.

James Muns, president of Muns Family Investments, and his wife Betty Bell Muns are among the event honorary co-chairs, as will Texas Health Resources Foundation president Jay McAuley and his wife Jennifer, Texas Health Resources Senior Vice President, Community Engagement and Advocacy, Dave Tesmer and his wife Karen, and Matt and Lisa Rose. Sponsors of the event include Texas Health Resources, Slalom Consulting & Paul Shultz, Texas Oncology PA, Laura and Doug Wheat, Cambridge Holdings, David Ashworth and Janet Moll, and AMN Healthcare.

During this event, CSCNT will present its first Community in Action Award to Doug Hawthorne, CEO of Texas Health Resources. The award will be presented annually to individuals who emulate the spirit of CSCNT’s vision that no one should face cancer alone. The bronze sculptural award presented to Doug Hawthorne was created by internationally acclaimed Dallas artist Brad Oldham. In 2011 the Texas Society of Architects recognized Oldham with their prestigious Artisan Award, and he was heralded as the Artist/Craftsman of the Year by the American Institute for Architects. In 2010, the Americans for the Arts included his $1.4 million installation, The Traveling Man, in its prestigious Year in Review program.  This past year, Oldham sculpted and installed a life-size bronze lion sculpture for National Geographic Society in Washington, DC, a 14-foot-tall sculpture of Wayne Gretzky and his family in Brantford, Ontario, and a 28-piece installation at the Lumen Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Hawthorne was chosen as the first recipient of this award for his dedication to creating healthier communities. Through that vision, Hawthorne helped to expand the area’s premiere psycho-social emotional support program for patients living with cancer by creating locations for Cancer Support Community North Texas, an independent provider, at three Texas Health Resources locations. In doing so, Texas Health Resources became the first major health care system in the nation to offer the CSC gold standard of cancer support on a hospital campus.

Currently, the growing CSCNT program is located at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Texas, Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance. A new office and clubhouse will open at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano in late March. The new clubhouses are made possible through a gift from Chairman and CEO of Cambridge Health Properties Jean-Claude Saada and the Cambridge Mindful Living Foundation.

About Cancer Support Community North Texas

Cancer Support Community North Texas ensures all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. Cancer Support Community is an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, education and hope to all people affected by cancer. Cancer Support Community North Texas offers a menu of personalized services and education for all people affected by cancer, not just the patient. For more information on Cancer Support Community North Texas visit CancerSupportTexas.org.