Journo and Restaurant Weeks Founder Cleverley Stone Remembered on Anniversary of Her Passing Today

Journo and Restaurant Weeks Founder Cleverley Stone Remembered on Anniversary of Her Passing Today

Cleverley Stone / photo via Instagram

CLEVERLEY STONE, THE Houston media personality and Houston Restaurant Weeks founder who succumbed to cancer on May 28 last year, will be honored today, on the first anniversary of her passing, with live TV coverage and streaming content about her life and accomplishments.


According the recently formed Cleverley Stone Foundation, FOX 26 will present eulogistic commentary on the two platforms, beginning with coverage in the 9am hour on Houston's Morning Show and continuing with a live-stream presentation on the station's website and Facebook page beginning at 10:15am. Reporter Ruben Dominquez and Stone's daughter Katie, who now runs the foundation and is determined to further her late mother's philanthropic goals, will lead the effort.

"I am honored to continue my mother's worthy cause of helping Houstonians in need, and I look forward to The Cleverley Stone Foundation's continued support of her beloved restaurant industry and the Houston Food Bank," says Katie.

Cleverley, who was familiar presence on local TV and radio, where she covered the city's eclectic and fast-evolving dining scene, was born in New York and began her career Back East as the bridal director and buyer for the B. Altman and Company department store. Taking a similar job with now-defunct Foley's stores in 1989, she moved to Houston, where she was tapped to write and edit bridal content for the Houston Post, her first foray into journalism.

She would eventually lean into her life as a local media star and evolve into an expert on the local food scene, becoming known to some at the city's Diva of Dining. But Cleverley's most notable achievement relating the food was likely founding Houston Restaurant Weeks, a citywide fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank that runs from Aug. 1 till Labor Day every year. The fundraiser has raised nearly $17 million since its inception, enabling the distribution of almost 50 million meals for food-insecure Houstonians, the foundation reports.

Other notable Houstonians participating in the celebration of Stone's life include Alex Brennan-Martin of Brennan's of Houston, Ben Berg of B&B Butchers and other top city eateries like The Annie Café, and renowned chef Michael Cordúa of the former Américas restaurants.

Food
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.

Keep Reading Show less

What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less