Waylaid by Hurricane Harvey, artists Dean Ruck and Dan Havel soon put the finishing touches on their newest site-specific installation, Ripples, at Montrose’s Cherryhurst House. This time, the duo — known for their perspective-shifting sculptures made from reclaimed material — transform the artist residence home on the Cherryhurst property into a work of art itself, by meticulously removing sections of materials from the walls and floors.
Fall Philanthropy Report: Be An Angel Improves Quality of Life for Children with Special Needs
Oct. 8, 2024
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.
What is your mission? It is our mission to improve the quality of life for children withs special needs by providing adaptive equipment, hearing devices, select services, and support programs.
Why did you launch the organization? We believe that children are the heart and soul of humanity, that they represent all that is good within us, and that we can help children with special needs experience life at their fullest potential.
What are you most proud of? We have immediate results for the children needing most any kind of medical adaptive equipment. No long waiting periods. Children and their families who have been waiting between 10-12 years for respite services alone from governmental services receive respite care within 30 days or less. All with a very small administrative staff and hundreds of volunteers. Additionally, we have opened offices in DFW and San Antonio.
What’s been your impact in the community? Be An Angel has provided adaptive equipment, respite care and other select services to over 9900 special needs children from birth to age 22 in just this past year alone. These children generally come from limited to low-income families.
Tell us about your big event. We are proud of the many events hosted by Be An Angel each year. Every February we host Purse Bingo with over 600 participants winning luxury end purses and prizes. Dan Pastorini hosts his Celebrity Golf Tournament which has raised more than 2 million dollars in the past years he has supported these children. Additionally, our Spring Gala, with “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” theme raises well over $700,000 per year.
How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? We currently have 5 employees in Houston, and two in DFW and San Antonio. We are thankful for over 600 volunteers assisting us each year.
What are your major challenges? Sharing our story making families know we are here to help them.
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MUTINY WINE ROOM in the Heights is celebrating five years with a bash this month. Opening just months before the pandemic, the tasting-room-style bar and restaurant is run by Emily Trout and Mark Ellenberger, who also own Kagan Cellars in Napa Valley.
“Wine, at its worst is an expression, and at its best is a work of art,” said the founders in a statement. “We founded Mutiny Wine Room to create connections between wine lovers and the hands, hearts, and minds of the artists that create great wine."
The food menu at Mutiny is helmed by chef Eduardo Alcayaga who emphasizes local produce from specialty purveyors for his Cali-meets-Texas menu. The Ranch Board, for example, is a twist on the wine-tasting staple with sirloin steak, venison sausage and bacon roulade.
On Jan. 23, the anniversary party will also celebrate the exclusive release of Kagan Cellars' 2019 Vintages with a grazing table from chef Eduardo plus discounts on wine club memberships.
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Gwen Stefani, Amal Clooney and Others Arrive in Houston This Weekend for Major Downtown Conference
Jan. 10, 2025
AMAL CLOONEY, LIZ Cheney and Brené Brown will be in Houston this week to speak at the Professional Convention Management Association’s annual conference. Houston First is bringing the conference — for meeting-planners who work on behalf of companies and associations to book conventions — to town. Houston First president and CEO Michael Heckman has referred to the event as “the Super Bowl of our industry,” as the organization hopes to book $200 million in new incremental business over the next five years.
Expecting an audience of 4,000 attendees at the GRB, Houston First is creating a working kitchen to showcase the city’s diverse dining scene. Participating Houston chefs and mixologists from Houston hotpsots like Jun, Kiran’s, Koffeteria, Ishtia, Gatlin’s BBQ, Julep, Maven and others will be serving up their most popular dishes. “Houston's culinary scene is uniquely vibrant, reflecting the city's rich cultural diversity and bold creativity,” says restaurateur David Skinner of Ishtia. “We’re proud to contribute to that dynamic tapestry through food and storytelling."
The conference opens on Sunday night with a massive street fair at Discovery Green, featuring Houston faves and icons like Art Cars, custom cowboy hats and a giant astronaut flying over the park. To round out the festivities, three-time GRAMMY® Award winner Gwen Stefani will perform a 90-minute set at Daikin Park on Tuesday night.
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