Mum's the Word! Inside ‘Barrier-Free’ Summer Camp’s Million-Dollar High School Heyday

Mum's the Word! Inside ‘Barrier-Free’ Summer Camp’s Million-Dollar High School Heyday

Ginger Bertrand, Susan Walker, Sherwin Gill and Pat Prior Sorrells

THE JOYS OF summer camp are the makings of childhood memories, and contribute to a sense of self-worth and confidence — a fact that is doubly true for those who attend Camp For All, a Houston nonprofit that runs a “barrier-free” camp for children and adults with special needs in the Hill Country town of Burton.


More than 500 supporters, decked out in nostalgic high school-themed attire, attended Camp For All’s “Homecoming” gala at The Revaire. The evening, emceed by Emmy-winning journalist Richelle Carey, included a live auction and remarks by Andrew Simms of The Arc of Greater Houston, who discussed his experiences living with autism and how transformative an experience like Camp For All can be.

The gala also honored Laurie and Jack Maddox, who were dubbed the Homecoming Queen and King thanks to their ongoing support of the organization, and included rousing entertainment by Plush Party Band. The night garnered an impressive $1.1 million.

This year, Camp For All will once again welcome around 10,000 campers — who attend for free! — to its 206-acre site, where a roster of favorite camp activities and a compassionate staff await.

Jack and Laurie Maddox

Gary and Cindy Gerson

Heath and Jennifer Sechrist

Toni Miller, Allison Leibman and Jennifer Zach

Les and Vaughn Clark and John Hastings

Susan Wilson and Barbie Hermis

Louis and Marilyn Mogas

Melinda and Matt Mogas

Stacy and Rickie Duke

Mike and Diann Lewter, Mandy and Philip LeBlanc

Stacie and Rod Pitts

Roman and April McIntosh

Parties

A next-gen artificial heart from BiVACOR has successfully been implanted in a patient at Texas Heart Institute. The patient survived more than a week, until a donor heart was found for a transplant.

THE PIONEERING CARDIOVASCULAR inventors and surgeons at The Texas Heart Institute (THI) in the Texas Medical Center have made another huge leap forward in the treatment of heart disease, officially announcing yesterday what they’re calling a “monumental advancement."

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People + Places

Rachel Gardner with her flower necklaces and, at left, Calla Lilly necklace

ON SATURDAY JULY 27, Foltz Gallery presents Endless Summer, a lively, playful exhibit of works by a multi-generational group of 28 emerging and established Texas-based artists. Taking its name from the 1974 Beach Boys double-album, which compiled the group’s early 1960s hit singles, the show is a visual “mixtape” of colorful paintings, prints, photographs, wall-based installations, ceramics and sculptures, installed lovingly throughout Foltz’s spacious and sunlit galleries. Among the works in Endless Summer are several examples of handmade “sculptural jewelry” by artist Rachel Gardner — a series of wearable wildflowers and fruits, including olives and strawberries.

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Art + Entertainment