The 8th Annual Bonne Santé Wine and Food Showcase was presented by The Westin Galleria Dallas and benefited the National Kidney Foundation. It was truly an exciting and heartwarming event.
Hosted by Executive Chef William Koval ofLakewood Country Club, Amber Harrell, Host Committee Chair and The Westin Galleria Dallas, Bonne Santé is the premier culinary and wine event featuring celebrity chefs raising funds to fight kidney disease. It featured a food and wine showcase, unique tastings with wine pairings, silent and live auctions and live entertainment. The event continues to grow with the support of chefs representing some of the finest restaurants in our community.
Participating chefs and restaurants were William Koval, Lakewood Country Club; Guest Executive Chef David Smith, Second Floor Regionally Inspired Kitchen, Westin Galleria Dallas; John Kleifgen, Nick & Sam's Steakhouse; Willie Singleton, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse; Mike Barraza, House of Blues; Daniel Menchaca, The Rustic; Bruce Wills, IdleRye; Justin Creel, The Oceanaire; Greg Wallace, Omni Dallas; and Bird Bakery.
LeeAnne Locken, television celebrity and emcee, welcomed the crowd and thanked sponsors including PSAV, Dallas Nephrology Associates, American Renal and Fresenius Medical Care. The complete listing of sponsors is attached.
Special recognition went to Betty Osborne, wife of the late Burl Osborne, the namesake for the Burl Osborne Awareness Award, which is given each year at the Bonne Santé event. The Burl Osborne Awareness Award recognizes individuals and organizations which have helped advance awareness and understanding of kidneys, kidney disease, and organ donation. Betty has been the award’s steadfast supporter and guiding light.
This year the National Kidney Foundation was honored to celebrate the Burl Osborne Awareness Award corporate recipient Tarrant Nephrology Associates in recognition of its outstanding support of the National Kidney Foundation and the DFW kidney community. They served as presenting sponsor of the Fort Worth Patient Education Seminar, donated over $10,000 for the Kidney Walk, have participated in clinical research at their offices and dialysis centers and remain active in teaching medical students and residents.
The Gift of Life Award recognizes a family or individual involved in the kidney transplantation process and provides hope and encouragement to kidney disease survivors. The Gift of Life award was presented to Erin Gossett. When John Gossett needed help his daughter, Erin Gossett, stepped up in a big way. John, a nurse at Baylor's Heart Hospital, needed a kidney transplant; his first transplanted kidney began to fail last year. Erin, a nurse at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, said she and her sisters didn't hesitate to volunteer as donors. Erin said the decision was made even easier having deep knowledge of the process from start to finish, as she's a nurse on the transplant floor.
In a very moving mission moment, Christina Rossini shared her story about donating one of her kidneys to Sandra Lopez, and how the experience has brought them close together as dear friends to this day.
After a spirited live auction headed up by last year’s Individual Award recipients, Danny Kolzow and Graham McMillan, everyone enjoyed desserts and chatting with friends.
Spotted in the crowd were Jill Price, The Westin Galleria Dallas; Neil Foote, President, National Kidney Foundation North Texas; Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation; McKamy Looney, Gift of Life Award honoree last year; Sam Harrell, Pat and Tom Hough; Maureen Stone, Regional Vice President, NKFServing Texas and the Southeast; Lorna Hankins, Executive Director, National Kidney Foundation North Texas; Saravanan Bala, Kate Campbell, Vikesh Gumpalli, Dr. Arti Gupta, David Knop, Stan Langhofer, Dr. Raymond Quigley, Brandon Rowland, Mark Schmidt, Mike Siegaland, Betsy Stein, Dr. Ruben Velez, and more.
Media sponsor was Addison Magazine and The Park Cities News/The Waters Family. More information about the National Kidney Foundation can be found at www.nkft.org or by calling 214-351-2393, extension 652.
National Kidney Foundation, Inc. (NKF) is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of patients, and tens of millions of Americans at risk.
Photos by Daniel Driensky.