Lantana residents Terry and Frank Cosmano, along with their daughter Heather, hosted a dinner in honor of Marc and Colleen Samuels and The Stroke Center of Dallas last week in Grapevine where checks totaling $30,000 were presented as proceeds from the first annual "Diamonds in the Rough" golf classic held last spring at Lantana Golf Club. About a year and a half ago, Marc Samuels was the owner of Marc Samuels Jewelers in Highland Village and Frisco when he suffered a massive stroke that has left him unable to speak, and a portion of the money raised in the golf tournament is to help his family defray medical expenses.?          

     Samuels, now in his late 40's, has gone through countless hours of rehabilitation and can now walk with assistance. He and his wife Colleen attended the dinner, and although Samuels couldn't communicate in words, his eyes and smile told of his gratitude to the friends who had gathered in support. As a jeweler, Samuels always made it a point to donate to and support charitable causes, and now many of his friends and former clients feel like it is their turn to give back to him. The Cosmano's organized last spring's benefit golf tournament in collaboration with the Texas Woman's University The Stroke Center-Dallas, which is a non-profit providing treatment and training for those who have suffered strokes. The Samuels family was presented with an original artwork Thursday night at the dinner. Highland Village resident and local artist Mary Ellen Wehrli presented a piece she made featuring an angel to her former employer.?          

     Samuels is currently undergoing rehab at The Stroke Center in Dallas. The Stroke Center received a check for $12,000 and the Samuels family received a check for $18,000. The Cosmano family is already hard at work on the next Diamonds in the Rough golf tournament which is slated for May 3 at Lantana Golf Club. May is officially stroke month, and the committee selected a May date to coincide with that since those who benefit from the tournament will be involved in stroke rehabilitation and/or research or families that have been affected by stroke.
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