On Tuesday evening, February 10, 2009 in Katy, 120 men and women - leaders from the area's business, medical and church communities - came together to be introduced to Cinco Charities and learn about it’s Vision for the future of Katy. The event was held at The Tuscany Villa, who generously donated their facilities and staff for the evening's dinner program. Hors d’oeuvres and dinner were provided by Hasta la Pasta, whose preparation and serving staff were partially underwritten by Mr. Charles Cash of Nationwide Insurance.
Chris Hiller, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Cinco Charities, kicked off the evening with a welcome to our guests, inviting them to listen so that they might share The Vision of the charity. Linda Piazza, Events and Fundraising Chair, then took the podium to make some brief remarks including a thank you to the sponsors, and introduced the Board of Directors, the founding members of Friends of Cinco Charities and several local dignitaries in attendance. Cindi Lomax, Care Pastor at Grace Fellowship UMC, opened the evenings events with the Invocation and then guests were invited to enjoy a delicious dinner and dessert.
After the dishes had been cleared, Chris Hiller provided the attendees with an introduction to the mission of Cinco Charities - a Why we are here introduction to the charity. He described how the charity was formed and for what purpose, the challenges the Board had faced and overcome, and the strides the Board had made to bring them to this point. In the spirit of full disclosure and transparency, Lou Boxleitner, Board Treasurer, followed with a financial summary of the charity, demonstrating the importance that the Board places on being good shepherds of donations and money collected at fund-raising events for the benefit of the charity.
Listen to Chris Hiller’s Presentation »
Watch Lou Boxleitner’s Presentation »
Following Lou’s remarks, the Board presented a video presentation that opened with remarks from Mo Anderson, Vice Chairman of Keller Williams Realty, and proceeded to visually scrapbook the Charities’ fundraisers to date, the purpose of the charity, the inspiration behind it’s foundations and it’s Vision for the future.
The Video Presentation can be viewed online at right »
The keynote speaker, Christie Whitbeck, Principal of Seven Lakes High School, then shared her personal story to better illustrate the need for the services being offered by Cinco Charities. Diana Kerrigan of Wimberly, Texas, and former guest of Cinco Charities, then shared a video presentation that provided those in attendance with an "insider's view" of the difficulties and challenges faced by those with a serious, life-threatening illness in her "Survivor Story". Diana then took the podium to a standing ovation to share her thanks, not only with Cinco Charities, but also to her Oncologist, Dr. Gregory Chronowski with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Katy.
The evening closed with Gary Lamb reiterating The Vision of the charity, issuing a call to action and providing the audience with ideas of various ways they might participate in helping Cinco Charities achieve its ultimate goal - the construction of its own facility to better serve those in need. Reverend John C. Crowe, Pastor of River Bend Baptist Church, provided a benediction to end the evening.