No black tie, no ballroom gala, just brunch. And yet Sky High for Kids raised a record $2.85 million at its 11th annual Ladies Who Brunch on September 27 at The Revaire in Houston, the biggest single day in the organization’s history. More than 700 guests filled the sold-out room during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, and the final tally climbed past the $2.6 million announced at the event as late gifts rolled in.
The Runway That Stopped the Room
The heart of the afternoon was a fashion show presented by Alchemia and Modern Marla, where 16 young Cancer Warriors walked the runway alongside hosts and family members. Co-chaired by Alex Joven Kinsey and Peyton Wallace, the brunch paired cocktails and silent auction shopping with moments that kept the mission in full view. The live auction, steered by founder and CEO Brittany Hebert Franklin, moved fast: a private plane package with seven nights at a Martha’s Vineyard family compound sold for $160,000, twice. A custom home package, a Zanti chef’s dinner, and an 11.18-carat green sapphire from Shaftel Diamonds pushed the total higher still.
Proceeds support Sky High’s work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, where the organization helped establish the nation’s first pediatric Immunotherapy Center and a dedicated Sky High for Kids patient floor.
From $50,000 to $43 Million
Franklin founded Sky High in 2007 at age 21 with a grassroots fundraiser that raised $50,000. Nearly two decades later, the organization has donated more than $43 million to the fight against childhood cancer and is nearing completion of two $20 million commitments, one to each hospital partner. Beyond the headline gifts, Sky High works directly with families through Cancer Warrior Packs, family experiences, and Sunday Suppers for families staying at the hospital during treatment.
“Every person who bought a table, raised a paddle, bid on an auction item, sponsored this event, or simply showed up became part of a team fighting for those children,” Franklin told the room. As Sky High approaches its 20th anniversary in 2027, Houston’s brunch has become proof that the most powerful fundraising format in the city might be a Sunday afternoon.
The Social Register covers the galas, benefits, and society philanthropy shaping the culture.
The Social Register’s event directory tracks the season’s galas, benefits, and society evenings. Plan your next evening there.
