The Woman's Hospital of Texas 12th Annual Labor Day Luncheon & Style Show held

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Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Gina Gaston
March of Dimes Chair Gina Gaston Elie also served as the event emcee.
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HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Woman's Hospital of Texas 12th Annual Labor Day Luncheon and Style show brought out 300 guests Saturday, mostly women and their daughters, to raise money for the hospital's Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit Family Support program.

The luncheon is expected to tie last year's fundraising record for the event.

"We are so grateful to The Woman's Hospital of Texas for hosting this event every year and for our partnership in the NICU Family Support Program," said Darcie Wells, March of Dimes Texas state director. "Not only is this heart-warming event a Houston institution, it also plays a critical role in continuing our efforts to serve families and babies in our community."

The event was co-chaired by Woman's Hospital of Texas CEO Ashley McClellan and ABC-13 Anchor Gina Gaston, who had her triplets at Woman's Hospital. Gaston's triplets were all treated in the NICU there.

McClellan was named CEO of The Woman's Hospital of Texas in March 2015. She is honored to be part of this annual event for this first time.

"We are thrilled to support the March of Dimes' efforts to improve the health of babies and celebrate fashion and femininity at our 12th annual fundraising event," said McClellan. The hospital's collaboration with the March of Dimes and the NICU Family Support Program is critical to help the more than1500 babies treated in our NICU each year and their families. Our partnership with the March of Dimes is one we want to continue for many years to come."

The NICU Family Support Program started in 2011. It utilizes a family-centered philosophy to provide comfort to families with babies in the NICU throughout the hospitalization, the transition home and in the event of a newborn death. The NICU Family Support Program at Woman's will help more than 1,400 Houston-area families this year alone.

"I'm so happy to have been able to lend my support to March of Dimes and Woman's Hospital of Texas working on this fun, fashionable, and important event," said Gaston. "My husband and I know first-hand how tough it is to learn your child needs to be put in intensive care, and getting the right information and support goes a long way toward making the challenging time more bearable."

The afternoon also featured a fashion instruction presentation by Rebecca Matthews, a fashion show produced by Todd Ramos, and a boutique bazaar with 25 pop-up boutiques.