Room to Grow Luncheon Benefits Dec My Room

Room to Grow Luncheon chairs Ashley O’Malley and Heather Winn welcomed nearly 290 attendees at the seventh annual Room to Grow Luncheon and Fashion Presentation on April 2 in the South Court at NorthPark Center. More than $150,000 was raised benefiting Dec My Room, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to creating transformative, healing places for children and young adults in extended hospital stays. 

The rain outside moved the party indoors, but couldn’t dampen the spirts of attendees dressed in their latest spring fashions. Upon arrival, partygoers mingled while sipping Madre prosecco and Lalo Tequila’s Sahara sunrise cocktail and enjoying passed canapés. Tables were adorned with safari-themed linens, inspired by this year’s Celebrate Flight Award recipient Ellison Liechty’s love of elephants, and floral centerpieces by Petal & Field.  

Dec My Room North Texas area director Heather Smith shared the mission of the organization. Founded 17 years ago in Houston by Susan Plank and her daughter Kendall, Dec My Room’s purpose is to create personalized healing places for children admitted for three weeks or longer. Today, Dec My Room works through 11 Area Chapters, which collectively serve 191 hospitals in 27 states and Washington D.C., and is consistently adding new hospital partners and pediatric patients. 

Devoted advocate of Dec My Room and past Room to Grow Luncheon presenter Kameron Westcott was recognized with the second annual Monarch Servant Heart Award given to an ardent and continued supporter of Dec My Room’s mission. Mother-daughter volunteer duo Sofia Gonzalez and Aynalie Charron were honored as this year’s Dec My Room Heart of Gold Volunteer Award recipients for their outstanding service to the organization, having “Dec’d” 27 rooms in the past year alone.

Ellison Liecthy was posthumously honored with the 2025 Celebrate Flight Award, presented each year to a patient or individual whose experience or actions epitomize Dec My Room’s mission and who is an inspiration to all Dec My Room supporters. Ellison’s mom, Julie, accepted the award on her behalf and shared Ellison’s brave fight against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) which began in September 2019. Dec My Room was privileged to transform her hospital room into a safari for her 13th birthday before her passing in 2020.  

Neiman Marcus fashion presentation with facilitators Jodi Kahn, Vice President of Luxury Fashion and Bruce Pask, Senior Editorial Director, featured must-have spring looks, as models showcased the season’s top trends. Notable designers included Brunello Cucinelli, Gabriela Hearst, Dries Van Noten, Akris, Jacquemus, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de La Renta, Ulla Johnson, and Alexander McQueen.

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