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Brand-New Women’s Group Celebrates Raising $188K for Women and Kids in Need

Brand-New Women’s Group Celebrates Raising $188K for Women and Kids in Need

Alexandra Inman, Kristin Lenoir, Jessica Graham

A UNIQUE NEW philanthropic group with a straightforwardly simple fundraising approach has successfully logged its first big event.

Houston's new chapter of Impact100 had a goal to find 100 women to join and pledge $1,000 each. Instead, the group landed 188 members, exceeding all expectations.

At an awards celebration earlier this month, it divvied up the $188,000 total between four local charities. Angela's House, which provide rehabilitative services and trauma relief for formerly incarcerated women to looking to make a new start, won the largest grant of $100,000. Three other groups — the SPARK school park program, the Chinquapin School for exceptional students in underserved communities, Theatre Under the Stars and Kids' Meals — split the remaining $88,000 four ways.

"I know I speak for the entire membership when I say, we are so honored to be able to bestow these funds to such incredible organizations in the Houston area," said Jessica Graham, president of Impact100 Houston, in a statement. "Our members are passionate about giving back, and what an inspiration it has been to be a part of such a successful fundraising effort with this powerful group of women."

Amy Nichols, Alexandra Inman, Veta Byrd-Perez

Carol Dubose, Flor Dimassi

Katie Grahmann and Valerie Ly

Kristin Lenoir, Allison Young

Eileen Edmonds, Melissa Jurik, Christine Stevens, Hilary Hart

Laura Hipps, Dr. Dorothy Scrutchin, Dr. Mia Johnson

Semmes Burns, Jayne Johnston, Megan Hotze

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Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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dining

Bandista Shakes Up a Holiday Collab with Lauded Nashville Bar — for Charity!

HOLIDAY CHEER IS coming to Bandista, the Four Seasons hotel’s swanky speakeasy, in the form of a fun collab with Nashville bar Four Walls.

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Food
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This Weekend: Explore the Secret Warehouse of One of Houston’s Most Sought-After Restaurant Designers

Carla Gomez

You’ve eaten at Nancy’s Hustle, Tiny Champions, Better Luck Tomorrow, Milton’s and Lee’s Den. Now, you can explore the private warehouse of the design firm that created those spaces!

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