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Successful Luncheon Completes $1 Million Endowment
PARTNERS honors Ben Love and adds to support for School of Nursing
"He's my hero," John Duncan Sr., right, said in introducing honoree Ben Love. Photo by Katy Anderson
Students gather around the simulated man who helps educate them at the UT School of Nursing at Houston. The sophisticated simulated patient has been named Mr. Ben in honor of Ben Love. The students are, left to right, Shawn Coleman, Mindy LaFour, Laurie Hemphill and Elyse Parchmont. Photo by Jennifer Canup
More than $433,000 will go to support student scholarships and faculty research at The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston, thanks to a sellout crowd and generous donors at the 11th annual PARTNERS luncheon.
The record-setting net proceeds will complete the $1 million PARTNERS endowment. "This endowment will generate enough interest to fund many nursing scholarships forever," said PARTNERS chairman Ann Ahuero at the March 29 luncheon at the Hilton Houston Hotel.
Ahuero expressed appreciation to luncheon honoree Ben Love, former president and chairman of Texas Commerce Bank and a member of the UT Health Science Center at Houston Development Board since 1978. "When you accepted the honor of being our honoree, you made it your goal to see that the funds were raised so that the endowment would be complete. You are truly a shining star for the UT Health Science Center at Houston and especially PARTNERS."
More than 600 luncheon guests gathered to honor Love and to hear guest speaker Nicholas Perricone, M.D., author of three #1 New York Times bestsellers. A board-certified dermatologist, Perricone discussed his idea that a low-grade invisible inflammation in our cells is responsible for aging and agerelated diseases. He described his three-step program to reduce inflammation with diet, nutritional supplements and topical products.
"The skin is the perfect reflection of what's going on inside our bodies," Perricone said. "When you reduce this micro-inflammation in your body, you'll reduce your risk of all the age-related diseases. Beauty is really from the inside out."
The luncheon program included several tributes to Ben Love. In a videotaped tour of the new School of Nursing and Student Community Center building, Patricia Starck, D.S.N., the John P. McGovern Distinguished Professor and dean, announced that a sophisticated electronic mannikin has been named Mr. Ben "in honor of our very special friend Ben Love." The simulated patient is used for training nursing students.
UT Health Science Center President James T. Willerson, M.D., thanked Love "for everything that he does for Houston, for Texas, for our country, for the world, everything that he's done for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and for all of us." Love has co-chaired the health science center's $200 million New Frontiers Campaign and has contributed to nursing scholarships through PARTNERS over the years.
Thanks
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| "I want to congratulate and thank our PARTNERS, all of you," said University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston President James T. Willerson, M.D., speaking at the March 29 PARTNERS luncheon. "We're very much in your debt, very grateful to you for the support of our school."All the proceeds of the annual luncheon go to support education and research at the UT School of Nursing at Houston. Since the first luncheon 11 years ago, PARTNERS has funded 49 scholarships and awarded 22 faculty research grants.Nursing research often is directed toward keeping patients physically and mentally comfortable in various medical situations."I know that each of us in this room has been touched in some way by a nurse - in the care of our own health or in the care of the health of someone who's very close to us," said master of ceremonies Steve Smith, former KHOUTV news anchor. "We all know the important role that nurses play because of their expertise and compassion to those who need their help. It's no great leap to say that when our nursing students need help themselves, they have the PARTNERS organization to support them." |
Love's longtime friend John Duncan Sr. introduced Love to the audience. "His business successes are legendary," Duncan said, "from his own private business to developing a banking institution that was legendary too. His bank - Texas Commerce Bank, which we used to call Ben's bank - had the highest credit rating of any bank in the nation outside of New York City."
Duncan recounted Love's development from an east Texas farm boy to a tremendous business success. "If there's one word that represents Ben," he said, "it's reputation. Ben's reputation is second to none, and he's earned that through hard work, through friendship and through character."
Love spoke warmly of the friendship shown by those attending the luncheon. "But of equal importance," he said, "is what you're doing to support individuals who want to dedicate their lives to others and become nurses but need some financial help. That's what you individually and collectively have provided with your contributions here today."
Enjoying a sell-out PARTNERS luncheon are, from left, luncheon chairman Betty Hope, UT School of Nursing at Houston Dean Patricia Starck, D.S.N., guest speaker Nicholas Perricone, M.D., and PARTNERS chairman Ann Ahuero. Photo by Katy Anderson
UT Health Science Center at Houston President James T. Willerson, M.D., and his wife, Nancy, right, congratulated Patricia Starck, D.S.N., on her 20 years of service as dean of the UT School of Nursing at Houston. Willerson said, "I'm a big fan of nurses. I'm even married to one." Photo by Katy Anderson
Attending the luncheon, Charles Butt was moved to contribute $100,000 to scholarships at the UT School of Nursing in honor of his friend Ben Love. Other major event donors were Margaret and Ben Love, the John P. McGovern Foundation, and Fayez Sarofim.
Perricone spoke at no expense to PARTNERS, and proceeds from sales of his books at the event also benefited the organization.
By Ina Fried, Public Affairs