MD Anderson Cancer Center
On May 5, 2011 Ward & Ames produced this 70th Anniversary milestone event at Minute Maid Park Houston. Over 2,000 guests attended dinner and were entertained by the Houston Symphony Orchestra with a festival billing of performers including world renowned mezzo soprano Susan Graham, violin virtuoso Sarah Chang, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Barbara Padilla with the University of Texas- Pan American Mariachi Aztlan and Ballet Folklorico Luz de Luna.
We designed and built a custom stage positioned on the north wall under the new LED video screen at Minute Maid Park. CBS Evening News Anchor Scott Pelley was Master of Ceremonies, along with Good Morning America’s Weather Anchor Sam Champion.
Program remarks were made by Former Secretary of State James A Baker, III, his wife Susan who delivered the invocation. Chancellor of The University of Texas System, Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, Chairman of The University of Texas Board of Regents, William Eugene “Gene” Powell, Luci Baines Johnson and three emotionally stirring cancer survivors saluted the retiring MD Anderson president, Dr. John Mendelsohn and wife Anne.
Ward & Ames also had the privilege of planning, managing, and producing MD Anderson’s 50th Anniversary in 1991 and 60th in 2001 that featured dinner for 2,000 guests on the field of Minute Maid Park. The night included performances from the Houston Symphony, Lyle Lovett, Ronan Tynan, Diahann Carroll and Joan Lunden was Master of Ceremonies.