The co-chairs for the 10th annual Jeans & Jewels…A Texas Size Party are Nita Bedford and Susan Diehl, and they are seeking sponsors, volunteers and auction item donations to help raise funds for NAM.
The Jeans and Jewels gala is NAM’s largest fund-raising event and proceeds go to help families in need. The gala is set for Saturday, Oct. 18, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Susan is reprising her role as co-chair after last year’s successful gala netted $502,000. Her 2007 co-chair was Valerie vonBerg. Valerie now serves on NAM’s Executive Board.
The gala honorees are Lindy and Steve Hamblin. Lindy has volunteered at NAM through the Junior Guild, Junior Forum and National Charity League. Steve joined NAM’s Executive Board in 1995. He served as Vice President of Long-range Planning. He helped locate NAM’s present headquarters building on Kuykendahl and participated in the purchase and preparation of the building. He served as 1st Vice President Elect in 1997-1998 and then two terms as President from 1998 -2000. The couple hosted the first Jeans and Jewels organizational meeting 10 years ago.
Susan said she started thinking about repeating as co-chair the night of last year’s event. “It was such fun. As I was walking out the door, someone told me that next year would be the gala’s 10th anniversary and NAM’s 25th anniversary. That’s when I started thinking I could be tempted to do it again,” Susan said.
“Last year, Valerie and I wanted to take the gala up a notch, to make it fresh and different, and we did. This year, since it’s the second year in the same location, Nita and I are adding a few surprises, you will have to come and see!”
Nita said she felt honored to be asked to co-chair the event. She first moved to the area in 1996 and got involved with NAM through the Cypress-Woodlands Junior Forum. “My heart really is here at NAM helping people in need. When you give to NAM, you can see where the money goes,” Nita said. “I’ve known Susan through other community activities, we met serving on the Heart Ball, and we work well together.”
Nita has been a supporter of the Centrum Arts League and serves on the board of the American Heart Association – Northwest Harris County Chapter. She co-chaired Heart Ball auction for two years, then co-chaired the Heart Ball 2007 gala.
“Getting involved with Jeans & Jewels is just a different way of volunteering for NAM,” Susan said.
Diehl got involved after a tour of NAM’s old location. She has been involved with the food pantry and Meals on Wheels program. She also worked through the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties, Inc. on immunizations, the Back-to-School Project and the Rotary Learning Center. She was the first chair of the Literacy Carnival which is now in its seventh year.
In addition to her Junior League involvement, Diehl currently volunteers with Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - The Guild, Centrum Arts League, The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Houstonia Garden Club, National Charity League – Yellow Rose Chapter, and for S.E.A.R.C.H.
Jeans & Jewels has more than 20 subcommittees that are responsible for different aspects of activities surrounding the gala. To volunteer, to donate auction items or to buy a table, sponsorship or partnership, call Tanecia Snid at 281-885-4608 or Diehl at 281-586-7823.
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