‘Houston Sweethearts’ Gather at Saks, Raise a Glass to Serving to Others

‘Houston Sweethearts’ Gather at Saks, Raise a Glass to Serving to Others

Chris Kase, Roz Pactor, Joyce Frassanito

“SAKS FIFTH AVENUE was awash in red and pink as guests arrived for the 12th Annual Houston Sweetheart Tea on Monday to celebrate seven outstanding ‘Houston Sweethearts’ who share much of their time, expertise and ‘heart’ in community service,” said the premier Houston Sweetheart, Warner Roberts, one of the hostesses of the event. Her fellow hostesses Sylvia Forsythe, Deborah Duncan, Alicia Smith, Kim Moody and Anne Carl welcomed almost 100 guests, who sipped wine and Champagne and noshed on beautiful delight bites “with very little tea in sight,” Roberts laughed.


The purpose of the Valentine’s-season event is unique and simple — “to provide an informal setting whereby guests can tell each other how much they are appreciated and loved for the work they do to improve the lives of other,” said Roberts. Funds are also raised for The Mission of Yahweh homeless shelter.

Honorees this year included Maria Moncada Alaoui, Nini Hale, Melissa Murphy, Saula Valente, Beth Wolff, Leticia Trauber and Laura Ward. Saks’ new GM Heidi Parkhurst, who earlier in her career was the assistant store manager before being reassigned to San Antonio, was also on hand.

Other guests at the event, which has become a who’s-who, included Sidney Faust, Cheryl Byington, Scott Evans, Lilly Andress, Ursaline Hamilton, Jacquie Baly-Craig, Trish Morille, Lara Bell, Kim Padgett, Sherri Zucker, Vicki West and Roz Pactor.

Cheryl Byington, Elsie Eckert, Mady Kades

Omar Alaoui and honoree Maria Moncada Alaoui

Warner Roberts, Barbara Biel, Angie Roberts

Cindy Bendy, Alicia Smith, Lisa Baldon

Tammie Anne Johnson, Leila Perrin, Gayla Gardner

Sylvia Forsythe, Saks GM Heidi Parkhurst, Alicia Smith, Kim Moody, Warner Roberts, Deborah Duncan

Cindy Bendy, Kim Moody

Kim Padgett, Dr. Susan Osterberg, Cheryl Byington

Parties
Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims

What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.

Keep Reading Show less

What is your mission? Launched in 2006, Kids’ Meals’ mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston by delivering free, healthy meals year-round to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children and through collaboration, provide their families with resources to end the cycle of poverty.

Keep Reading Show less

What year was your organization launched? 1986 by a small group of committee community members that believed special needs children were not receiving basic life services.

Keep Reading Show less