Our history
Jewel Charity began in 1953 with two women - Billie Bransford Clark, President of the Woman’s Board of Fort Worth Children’s Hospital, and Nenetta Burton Carter - and a shared belief that all children deserve access to high-quality health care.
A committee of 15 ladies was formed, and within a month these women wrote a constitution, recruited a membership and held their first meeting. Jewel Charity’s first year of fundraising efforts resulted in a $9,000 donation to Fort Worth Children’s Hospital.
Billie Bransford Clark, Jewel Charity Co-Founder
Nenetta Burton Carter, Jewel Charity Co-Founder
“With pride in the past and optimism for the future, we feel that Jewel Charity Ball is here to stay.”
History of Jewel Charity Ball
The first Jewel Charity Ball was held on October 30, 1954 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Texas Hotel. Jewels from Harry Winston, Inc. were displayed by debutantes, and guests danced to the music of Blue Baron’s Orchestra.
Today, the Jewel Charity Ball stands as Fort Worth’s most anticipated charity gala. Beloved traditions continue year after year as each Jewel Charity President brings a unique vision to life for her Ball, with jewelers ranging from Tiffany & Co. to Nieman Marcus and entertainment including Earth, Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang and Diana Ross.
Past Jewel Charity Presidents
Nenetta Burton Carter, 1953 - 1955
Adelaide Polk Fuller, 1955 - 1957
Sarah Fox Harriman, 1957 - 1959
Valerie Fox Hogan, 1959 - 1961
Frances Gardner Baxter, 1961 - 1963
Gloria Lupton Tennison, 1963 - 1965
Catherine Johnson Durkin, 1965 - 1967
Virginia Middleton Landreth, 1967
George Ann Carter Bahan, 1968
Marcia Newbill Fender, 1969
Jane Chilton Justin, 1970
Mildred Hedrick Fender, 1971
Cornelia “Corky” Cheney Friedman, 1972
Ruth Carter Stevenson, 1973
Deborah Beggs Moncrief, 1974
Betty Nunn Taylor, 1975
Joyce Pate Capper, 1976
Phyllis Jones Tilley, 1977
Sarah Campbell Ray, 1978
Kathryn Lowdon Schutts, 1979
Jeanette Alexander Reynolds, 1980
Irene Keller Hyden, 1981
Martha Lou Morehead Kelly, 1982
Marguerite Hogsett Harrison, 1983
Betty Bell Ambrose, 1984
Beverley Taylor Smith, 1985
Janna Stradley Poland, 1986
Betty Claire Schmid McKnight, 1987
Pat Collins Massad, 1988 - 1989
Sharon Allison Martin, 1990
Rita Roberdeau Palm, 1991
Alann Bedford Sampson, 1992
Olive Beaton Pelich, 1993
Ann Richards Quinn, 1994
Marcy Marrs Baird, 1995
Lynny Weil Sankary, 1996
Carol Jacobsen Alexander, 1997
Martha McBride Fikes, 1998
Mary Alice Cowen Brumley, 1999
Lynda Landreth Shropshire, 2000
Betty Hoyer Rutherford, 2001
Suzie Martin Murray, 2002
Virginia Clay, 2003
Gayla Shivers Scheideman, 2004
Michelle P. Lowrance, 2005
Joy Ann Weaver Havran, 2006
Joan Dover Katz, 2007
Gail Widmer Landreth, 2008
Jeanie Luskey Huffman, 2009
Debby Jackson Brown, 2010
Olivia Claybrook Kearney, 2011
Michele Etcoff Reynolds, 2012
Leslie Milan Johnson, 2013
Laura Walker Bird, 2014
Debbie Belz Reynolds, 2015
Mary Anne Metcalf Polson, 2016
Angela Berry Donahue, 2017
Pamela Pollard Pigman, 2018
Louella Baker Martin, 2019
Michelle McKee Marlow, 2020 - 2021
Shannon Shivers, 2022
Kathleen Kelly Sneed, 2023
Peggy Sims, 2024