Raising Spirits
Dallas young professionals make things merry and bright for cancer charities
- Jeriel Burke Zuraw, Arielle DavisPhoto by Jason Voinov
- Thai Truong, My Hong, Sarah Shin, Navid RaziPhoto by Jason Voinov
- The YTAC Dallas board.Photo by Jason Voinov
- The 2016 YTAC beneficiaries.Photo by Jason Voinov
- YTAC presented checks to its 2016 beneficiaries during a festive holiday party.Photo by Jason Voinov
- Marilyn Kpetemey, Ayesha Page, Eric Fernandez, Justin RainsPhoto by Jason Voinov
- Chris Schwiderski, Jason Ko, Natalie Solis, Sean BroderickPhoto by Jason Voinov
- Nolan Preston, James Carroll, Chris SchwiderskiPhoto by Jason Voinov
- Eric Fernandez, Justin RainsPhoto by Jason Voinov
- YTAC raised more than $200,000 to donate to the local cancer community.Photo by Jason Voinov
- Allison Eidson Austin, Doug HannaPhoto by Jason Voinov
- Craig O'Neill, Mandy O'NeillPhoto by Jason Voinov
- Jenna Shadowitz, Naomi Martin, Kylee WarshawPhoto by Jason Voinov
- The sign was right.Photo by Jason Voinov
- Nearly 150 guests partied at Hotel ZaZa Art House and Social Gallery.Photo by Jason Voinov
Tis the season to eat, drink, be merry, and give back — which is exactly what the members of Young Texans Against Cancer did at their end-of-year check presentation and holiday party at Hotel ZaZa Art House and Social Gallery.
In 2016 alone, these charitable young leaders raised more than $200,000, which was divvied up among 10 deserving nonprofits dedicated to helping families and individuals affected by cancer.
YTAC president Phuong Tran greeted the nearly 150 attendees, some of whom brought unwrapped gifts or monetary donations for children in need of some holiday cheer. The festive crowd posed for pictures in front of the beautifully decorated Christmas tree and mingled with YTAC beneficiaries while sipping champagne and sampling passed hors d'oeuvre. The LCI Media GIF booth was all abuzz as friends honed their mannequin challenge skills at the interactive station.
Then it was time for the check presentations. Tran invited the beneficiaries to share a few words about their missions and the personal experiences that lead them to champion their respective causes. The crowd heard from representatives of 1 Million 4 Anna Foundation, Baylor Healthcare System’s Hope Lodge Dallas, Bridge Breast Network, Camp iHope Foundation, Clayton Dabney Foundation, First Descents, Leukemia Texas, Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center, and UT Southwestern’s Dr. Erin Lampson.
Guests — including Isa Hetherington, Jeriel Burke Zuraw, Arielle Davis, Chris Schwiderski, Jason Ko, Natalie Solis, and Sean Broderick — applauded the organizations for the life-changing work they do before squeezing in some more celebrating.