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Heroes in Disguise Mandy Lu Ristow, Michael Weinstein, Alison Weinstein, Lauren Stapleton, Reid Zlotky, Morgan Hallman

On October 27 at the Belo Mansion, the Heroes in Disguise Masquerade Ball held a festive, elegant evening soiree while raising funds for Heroes for Children. The evening included a cocktail reception, casino games, silent and live auctions, a scrumptious dinner and dancing to the Manhattan Party Band.

 

During the cocktail reception, guests enjoyed an exclusive Louis XIII cognac tasting and plenty of entertainment including acrobats and stilt walkers.

 

Mandy Lu Ristow and Morgan Hallman, event co-chairs, greeted the guests. Ristow said, “We are delighted you’re here for an evening of candlelight, mystery and to help Heroes for Children.”  

 

Hallman added, “We are in awe of your generosity in support of Heroes for Children, so that no Texas family battling childhood cancer fights alone. Our heroes come from all walks of life and all ages.”

 

Alison and Michael Weinstein, honorary co-chairs, introduced the two Heroes for Children Teen Board members who were the inaugural Heroes in Disguise Award honorees. The Weinstein’s son, Carter, founded the Teen Board when one of his friends had cancer, and he was looking for a way to make a difference. Alison said, “This new award recognizes everyday people whose actions reveal them to be heroes.”

 

The honorees:

Lauren Stapleton, a senior at John Paul, II High School in Plano, has been integrally involved with the Teen Board since its inception. She has attended almost every one of HFC programs and has shown a remarkable investment in its mission.

Reid Zlotky, a senior at Greenhill School, has also been a tremendous leader on the Teen Board. He chaired the Hospital Playroom Program, interfacing with hospital personnel, fellow teens and their parents.

 

Michael Weinstein added, “There’s another Hero in Disguse here tonight, and he doesn’t even know about it yet. Here to tell us more is HFC board member Dr. Stan Goldman.”

 

Dr. Goldman said, “This hero has done so much for those children fighting cancer and for the families who are supporting them. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Carl Lenarsky who practices pediatric hematology and medical oncology at Medical City Dallas Children’s Hospital.” An inspiration to many including HFC co-founders Larissa Linton and Jenny Lawson, Dr. Lenarsky also treated both their children, Allie and Taylor.

 

Linton and Lawson thanked Dr. Lenarsky, Dr. Goldman, Reid Zlotky and Lauren Stapleton for being heroes to them. They thanked everyone present for their generosity for remembering Allie and Taylor, and as moms who lost two daughters to childhood cancer, they were able to co-found Heroes for Children to help the many families who didn’t have the support they had when going through a tough time.

 

After the co-founders spoke, auctioneer Mike Sadler got the audience excited and auctioned off a Hill Country Deer Hunt, a Cajun fishing Adventure, Heroes Family Memories and general support, raising thousands. After the live auction, guests enjoyed dinner, dancing, casino games and camaraderie.

 

Julie Siegel, Heroes for Children executive director, added, “Families battling cancer need a HERO, especially as they’re dealing with a child who has cancer. We are so grateful for all the Heroes in Disguise honorees, our sponsors and supporters for helping us raise these funds.”

 

Special thanks to the sponsors:

Program: Whitley Penn

Diamond: Michael & Alison Weinstein

Emerald: JML Distribution

Design: United Healthcare

Illumination: 4Change Energy

Legacy: McKesson

Sapphire: Christy and Trey Brown, Jarred and Morgan Hallman, Hoppess Foundation, U.S. Capital Advisors, Chris and Buddy Ristow, Riveron Consulting, Charles and Julie Siegel, Southlake General Contractors, Texas Oncology/Dr. Stan Goldman and Dr. Ellen Sher, The Insurance Exchange, Dale & Rhonda Weeden.

 

Heroes in Disguise committee members include Kim Dymond Balogh, Laura Belcher, Tracy Bundy, Bill Cannon, Tiffany Conmy, Angie Corson, Angie Cunningham, Rachell Deleon, Aaron Dooley, Dana Eisenberg, Priscilla Gomez, Stacie Hampton, Thor Hoppess, Ali Kostovski, Silvia Martinez, Tyler Rainwater, Christine Ristow, Jill Russell, Jo Trizila and Jarret Willey.

 

Heroes for Children advocates for and provides financial and social assistance to families with children battling cancer. Founded by two moms, Larissa Linton and Jenny Scott Dowen, whose daughters passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Heroes for the Children has provided $5.5 million to nearly 6,000 families in need since 2004.

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Lauren Stapleton

Two local teenagers, Lauren Stapleton and Reid Zlotky, will receive the inaugural Heroes in Disguise Award being given by Heroes for Children for their extraordinary leadership and volunteerism on its Teen Board. They will receive their awards on October 27 at a new event called Heroes in Disguise Masquerade Ball at the historic Belo Mansion.

According to Julie Siegel, Heroes for Children executive director, “The Heroes in Disguise Award recognizes our hidden champions – those everyday Texans whose actions reveal them as true heroes for families battling childhood cancer. Lauren and Reid have been instrumental as leaders and volunteers on our Heroes for Children Teen Board, and we look forward to honoring them.”

Lauren Stapleton

Lauren Stapleton, senior at John Paul II High School and a Plano resident, has been a Heroes for Children Teen Board member since the board was founded in 2016.

Stapleton became involved with HFC because her French and PALS teacher, Madame Dowen, invited Larissa Linton to speak to her PALS class. In her words, “I fell in love with the mission of Heroes for Children!”

That led her to volunteering at the Valentines Dinner and years of service. As an HFC Volunteer, she involved her school’s National Honor Society chapter in creating hospital decorations, chaired Holiday Heroes, and this school year is chairing the Valentine's Dinner.

Cancer has touched Stapleton's family. Their next-door neighbor, Norman Wu, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer when she was in 5th grade. “Norman's battle was my first personal encounter with this severe illness. He was not only a brilliant anesthesiologist, but he was also a loving father and friend. It was a difficult time, but I was so inspired by how the community banded together to support him and his family. That experience motivated my desire to serve Heroes for Children.”

In addition to Heroes for Children, she volunteers with Texas Therapeutic Riding Center, Bonton Farms and Special Needs Sunday School at Prince of Peace. She is a member of John Paul II's Academic Decathlon Team, serves as senior class treasurer and an officer for the French and Science National Honors Society. In her free time, she enjoys riding horses, farming and boxing. 

Stapleton plans on attending Texas A&M University to study biological and agricultural engineering joining her older sister who is studying aerospace engineering. Along with her parents, she has two younger brothers and a miniature Goldendoodle named Charlie Brown.

Reid Zlotky

Reid Zlotky, a senior at Greenhill School, has been a Heroes for Children Teen Board member since it was founded in 2016. He has been familiar with the organization since he attended the Light the Night opening event when he was seven years old.

Cancer has touched Zlotky’s family. “My mom suffered from breast cancer, and the son of one of my family friends suffered from Leukemia when he was a child, and thankfully survived.” 

He joined the HFC Teen Board because he wanted to help support people suffering from cancer. His first year, he was involved in a myriad of volunteer activities. In 2017, he ran the Children's Hospital Oncology Playroom volunteer program. This year, he is chairing the Valentine's Day dinner. 

At school, he is co-president of the Greenhill Quiz Bowl Club and Jewish Studies Club. He is also a sector leader in the Greenhill Business Society, debates on the debate team and plays ultimate Frisbee. He is also involved with Children's International Summer Village. He lives in Dallas with his parents, his twin Ryan, and twin sisters.

The Heroes for Children Teen Board is a volunteer program that provides teens in grades 7th through 12th with an opportunity to give back to their community and help families with a child battling cancer. Founded by Greenhill student, Carter Weinstein, in 2016, the Teen Board helps members gain both leadership and volunteer experience within their communities and schools. They have various ongoing programs such as hospital care package deliveries, school ambassadors, hospital room decorating and hospital play room volunteers and assist with Heroes for Children family event’s such as Holiday Heroes, Movie Day, Valentine’s Dinner and Easter Egg Hunt.  For those interested in applying for the 2019-2020 school year, applications will be available in 2019.

For those interested in attending the Heroes in Disguise Masquerade Ball, tickets to the dinner and program where the teens will receive their awards, are still available for $250. Tickets for the After Party, which starts at 9 p.m., are $99 each. Event co-chairs are Morgan Hallman and Mandy Lu Ristow, and honorary co-chairs are Alison and Michael Weinstein. For more information, visit https://heroesforchildren.org/heroes-in-disguise/or contact Larissa Linton at 214.256.5824 or llinton@heroesforchildren.org.

Heroes for Children advocates for and provides financial and social assistance to families with children battling cancer. Founded by two moms, Larissa Linton and Jenny Scott Dowen, whose daughters passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Heroes for the Children has provided $5.5 million to nearly 6,000 families in need since 2004.

 

 

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Alison and Michael Weinstein Honorary co-chairs

Just in time for Halloween, adults can enjoy some masquerade fun, while raising much needed funds for Heroes for Children. On Saturday, October 27 at the historic Belo Mansion (2101 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75201), a brand new event called Heroes in Disguise Masquerade Ball features casino games, fast-paced auctions, a scrumptious dinner and dancing to the Manhattan Party Band until the clock strikes midnight. Cocktail attire and masks are encouraged.

The VIP reception starts at 6 p.m. with an exclusive Louis XIII cognac tasting, entertainment surprises and early bidding opportunities. At 7 p.m., the general reception opens with cocktails, casino and silent auction bidding. At 8 p.m., dinner is served, and the program includes an awards presentation to “heroes in disguises,” followed by a live auction and dancing. The event concludes at midnight.

Event co-chairs are Morgan Hallman and Mandy Lu Ristow, and honorary co-chairs are Alison and Michael Weinstein. Tickets are $250 each, and sponsorships are available. For more information, visit https://heroesforchildren.org/heroes-in-disguise/ or contact Larissa Linton at 214.256.5824 or llinton@heroesforchildren.org.

According to Julie Siegel, Heroes for Children newly hired executive director, “Families battling cancer need a HERO, especially as they’re dealing with a child who has cancer. We invite you to be a hero and join us at this elegant event.”

Heroes for Children advocates for and provides financial and social assistance to families with children battling cancer. Founded by two moms, Larissa Linton and Jenny Scott Dowen, whose daughters passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Heroes for the Children has provided $5.5 million to nearly 6,000 families in need since 2004.