Arboretum's 'Enchanted' Evening Raises Half a Mil for Houston's Urban Oasis

Arboretum's 'Enchanted' Evening Raises Half a Mil for Houston's Urban Oasis

Robert & Amy Urquhart with Annie & Spencer Kerr

DURING APRIL'S STREAK of beautiful, breezy spring weather, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center hosted its annual alfresco fete for 400.


The "Enchanted Forest" evening included dinner and dancing under the stars, but kicked off at dusk with fine wine and views of the Arboretum's spring wildflowers. Clad in floral-inspired attire, the galagoers descended upon the Nature Center courtyard and lawn, greeted by chairs Annie and Spencer Kerr and Amy and Robert Urquhart.

The crowd applauded honorees Marilyn and Harry Kirk, longtime supporters of the Arboretum and its improvement projects over the years, as well as of conservation and nature education in general. After dinner and the silent auction, Infinite Groove took to the stage, and the party continued well into the night. In all, more than $500,000 was raised at this year's gala.

Jason, Meredith and Allyson Kinzel

Steve and Betty Newton and Andrea and Bill White

Bobbi & Jonathan Worbington

Sam & Mary Sommers Pyne

Charles Reynolds & Kelley Stair

Chris and Therese Odell

Nancy Greig and Debbie Markey

David & Katherine Andrew and Kent & Kristen Bayazitoglu

Megan & Joe Keefe

Jason and Stephanie Beauvais

Frank and Amanda Hauser

Marilyn & Harry Kirk

Leyton & Amy Woolf

Parties

Gerard O’Brien, Founder of Texas Entrepreneurial Summit

YOU HAVE BEEN successful with ORION Ambulance Services and various other business interests; how do you plan to diversify and potentially share your insights with others? A great deal of my excitement for this year comes from an opportunity to assist a crucial group of the Houston community: our local entrepreneurs. I believe that a key metric of the health of a region’s society is the success of local business owners. Consequently, I am forming the Texas Entrepreneurial Summit, a series of speaking seminars featuring myself and other entrepreneurs across a spectrum of industries. Together, we will offer new, or established, business owners glimpses of our own experiences through not only the uplifting aspects of being an entrepreneur, but also the treacheries of running a business. It will focus on the successes and failures we have experienced, as well as our strategies for confronting and overcoming relatable challenges throughout our careers.

Keep Reading Show less

Spring veggies at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market

THIRTY YEARS AGO, Urban Harvest – what some Houstonians think of as our awesome farmers market – was founded on the belief that people can feed and revitalize their communities by growing healthy food. This core tenant led to the creation of one of the largest networks of community gardens in the United States to address vital issues like hunger, health, community development, and ecological land management.

Keep Reading Show less
Food