party people

Ballet Building Officially Named in Honor of Margaret Alkek Williams at Downtown Fete

Wilson Parish
Ballet Building Officially Named in Honor of Margaret Alkek Williams at Downtown Fete

Jim Nelson, Margaret Alkek Williams and Stanton Welch

IT'S OFFICIAL! THE Downtown Houston building that houses Houston Ballet has been named the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance building, and a group of Williams’ friends and Ballet faithful gathered there to celebrate.

The Houston Ballet announced in May that Williams, perhaps the Houston cultural scene’s more generous patron, had made a $10 million legacy gift to the company. “This philanthropic commitment was directed to the Houston Ballet Endowment and provides unrestricted support to maintain the Ballet’s home and ensure the Houston Ballet’s mission to inspire a lasting love of dance flourish in permanence,” noted a Ballet rep.

“In honor of Margaret Alkek Williams’ legendary devotion to the Houston Ballet, the home of the Houston Ballet, standing six stories tall at the entrance of downtown Houston, was named the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance.”

About 80 guests turned up to mark the occasion and honor Williams in the building’s lobby, decorated with florals in the grand dame’s favorite shades of pink and purple. “To be able to do this for the Houston Ballet means so much to me,” said Margaret Alkek Williams. “I am honored that you are all here to celebrate with me, and I thank you for joining me in supporting the Ballet.”

Kelley Lubanko and Jo Furr

Phoebe Tudor, Ileana Treviño and Leigh Smith

Mark Grace and Alex Blair

Danny Ward and Nancy Ames

Duyen Nguyen, Sunday Shepherd and Martha Finger

Bill Stubbs, David Wuthrich and John Mangum

Chase Untermeyer, Peggy Smith, Diana Untermeyer and Ashley Smith

Margaret Alkek Williams and the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance

Mignon Gill, Kristy Bradshaw and Ann Graham

Jim Daniel and Hallie Vanderhider

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Art+Culture
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Easter Seals of Greater Houston ‘Impacts Where People Need Us the Most’

Fall Philanthropy Report: Easter Seals of Greater Houston ‘Impacts Where People Need Us the Most’

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
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims

What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Urban Harvest Farmers Market Helps ‘Transform Food Accessibility’

What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.

Keep Reading Show less