By David Taylor / Managing Editor
Amidst all the cat calls, loud music, and a few women making it ‘rain’ with dollar bills for their favorite dancers, organizers of Crosby’s Bras For The Cause managed to raise $170,000-plus to fight cancer on Saturday night.
The packed out American Legion Hall was rocking with tunes and 20 models from across the Gulf Coast area who donated their time and a little bit of humility helped raise funds for the cause.
After 13 years, the organization has raised more than $1.7 million, a staggering amount for a small community.
Austin Holmelin, president this year of the organization, said they have fought the economy the last few years and was glad they did a little better this year.
“We raised that amount in one night,” she said proudly. “We will give that money back to the community and through different organizations,” she said.
She has been a member of the Bras For The Cause committee for a decade since she moved back from college.
“We’re officially a 501(3)(c) charitable organization now and no longer under the umbrella of anyone else,” she said gladly.
Much of that money, she said, goes back into the community and area organizations that support cancer patients from the Crosby-Huffman-Baytown area.
“We give to the Pink Heals Fund and Breast Care Center at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital, The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance and the Lung Center as well,” she said.
They also support the Crosby organization Joseph’s Warriors whose mission is to promote childhood cancer awareness, to promote childhood cancer research, and to raise funds to be distributed as financial assistance to families of children undergoing cancer treatment in the Gulf Coast area.
Throughout the year the BFTC also gives out gift cards to aid families with parking, meals, and more as families visit their loved ones fighting cancer.
“We love having this in the American Legion Hall because this is home and the community we serve. Plus, the rental money also helps the veterans,” she said.
Holmelin was grateful to the sponsors who donated their services.
“Dan Meaux of Crawfish Shack donated the meal and for 400 attendees, the music was donated by DJ Cruz and Concierge Infusion Services, and the decorations came from Monica’s Brides and Touch of Glitz Flowers,” she said. The in-kind donations were worth thousands of dollars.
“If you look around the room, about 90 percent of what you see is donated and our VIP sponsors are a big chunk of what funds everything, she said.
The biggest chunk of the money, however, is raised by the models—some who come willingly, while others are lured into the event by their significant others.
“They come to us and want to do it every year,” Holmelin said smiling.
“I was volun-told to do it by my mom and girlfriend,” laughed first-timer Gunner Gates of Huffman. “He didn’t have a choice, and I can be a handful,” smiled Hayley Fulghum.
One real life cowboy was back for a second year after surviving his first experience.
Matt Crumpler of Gonzales, Texas works at a commercial feed company, jackpots at a few rodeos and is a champion roper.
His girlfriend Sarah Humphries recruited him last year.
“You know, it’s hard to say no. Great people. Great cause. I’ll be there for it every time. It’s a lot of fun,” the cowboy said.
Crumpler said now that he plans on being a regular, his biggest challenge after overcoming the fear of dancing in a bra will be finding a new costume each year.
“We’ll have to one up it every year,” he said.
He said a little bit of liquid courage helped him to overcome his worries of dancing.
“Heck, you kind of let your hair down, make a little bit of an idiot of yourself, and just have fun,” he smiled.
It’s not easy for some, but they all know the job assignment.
“I understand that it’s hard to walk out into a crowd of 400 people in a bra and model it, but at the same time, it’s usually less than five minutes and they’re raising thousands of dollars for people that need it,” Holmelin said.
The live auction of the bras alone raised just over $86,000, about half of the night’s haul.
The silent auction garnered another $14,000 from items donated to the event.
Back in the dressing room, Beth King is using her seamstress skills to make sure there’s no wardrobe malfunctions and about a dozen more women are spread out across the Legion Hall assisting with the production of the event.
Mike Stamper, who works at Sterling-White Funeral Home and Cemetery, said he was happy to do the event.
“It’s amazing how much this community pulls together. Everybody’s willing to step up and that’s so cool,” he said. Stamper was proud that between the sales of his bras and sponsorships by the funeral home, they have donated about $8,500 the last two years.
While the event is past, it’s not too late to make donations year-round in the name of the organization and its tax deductible. Donations can be made on their Facebook page and by the summer, a new website is in the making.
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