Jeanie Luskey, 2009 Jewel Charity Ball President

What recession?

This year’s Jewel Charity Ball ignored leading economic indicators, raising in excess of $3.5 million.

Gail Landreth, 2008 president of Jewel Charity Ball Inc., (www.jewelcharity.org) announced at the Feb. 12 annual meeting and celebration that this year’s ball total was $3,544,655.65. Most of the proceeds will be designated for Cook Children’s Medical Center’s uncompensated fund, while portions also will go toward behavioral health and hematology/oncology programs.

The theme for this year’s black-tie gala was “Jewel of the Nile,” with live camels greeting ball guests as they arrived Jan 10th. Decorations included giant obelisks and statues of the Egypitan god Anubis. Eiseman Jewels, NorthPark Dallas provided the jewelry showcased for the evening.

New ball president Jeanie Luskey officially took office Feb. 23, although she already is working toward the 2010 event, having held her board orientation Jan. 20. The next ball is set for Jan. 9, 2010.

The first Jewel Charity Ball was held in 1954 when $9,000 was raised for what was then known as Fort Worth Children’s Hospital. Now the charity ball, held every January in Fort Worth, draws approximately 2,000 guests.

The cumulative amount over the 55 years of the gala’s history now totals more than $45 million.