parties

Pat Benatar and Laura Ward Help Raise Millions at Houston Children’s Charity Gala

Pat Benatar and Laura Ward Help Raise Millions at Houston Children’s Charity Gala

Ryan Jay, Amber Jay, Laura Ward

LAURA WARD, DUBBED one of Houston’s first ladies of philanthropy by Houston CityBook, took the stage at the 25th annual Houston Children’s Charity gala to welcome a fired-up crowd and rock legends to the Post Oak Hotel. Pat Benatar and hubby Neil Giraldo were the headliners at the event, always one of the liveliest and best attended events of the season — and this year a record breaker for its haul of more than $3.6 million!

“Chaired by Houston philanthropist Sheridan Williams and supported by title sponsors BMW of West Houston and Momentum BMW Southwest, the rock & roll themed night at The Post Oak Hotel, raised $3,625,000 for underprivileged, abused, and disabled children,” noted a rep for the gala’s organizers.

Before Benatar and Giraldo took the stage, regaling the crowd with hits like “Heartbreaker” and “We Belong,” Ward, Williams and HCC board vice chairman Gary Becker offered remarks. A raucous live auction featuring a new electric BMW raised nearly $500,000, while a special interlude in which Tony Buzbee challenged the generous crowd to help by wheel-chair-accessible fans for families in need netted another $1.7 million.

Other special contributions were made by Tenenbaum Jewelers. Among the many boldface names in the crowd were Paige Fertitta, Melissa Juneau, Rob and Amy Pierce, Kristina and Paul Somerville, Bradley and Joanna Marks, and Jana and Richard Fant.

Houston Children’s Charity has been at the forefront of providing beds, vans, school supplies, clothing, Christmas toys and gifts and much more for Houston’s special children, it says.

Kristen Cannon and April Salazar

John Eddie Williams and Sheridan Williams

Russell Ybarra and Monica Ybarra

Tony Buzbee and Frances Buzbee

Mario Ellie and Gina Gaston

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Bradley Marks, Joanna Marks, Hannah McNair, Cal McNair

Hallie Vanderhider and Neil Peeler

Steve Dujka and Mary Lou Dujka

Jeff Bagwell and Rachel Bagwell

Paige Fertitta and Deanna Barton

From Your Site Articles
Parties
promoted

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

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
the magazine

A Personal Note from Jeff Gremillion: Changes at ‘Houston CityBook’

ON JAN. 3, 2025, I observed a big personal anniversary. As of that day, it’d been 20 years since I first moved to Houston — from the Big Apple media circus, by way of my home state of Louisiana — and began working as an editor in the lifestyle-magazine biz here. It’s been two full decades, which is hard to believe! I like to joke that I’m far too young and good-looking to have done anything for two decades. But here we are.

Keep Reading Show less
theater

Kitchen Confidential! Director Weinbrenner’s Hot and Tasty ‘Seared’ Extended at Alley

Christopher Salazar stars as troubled-genius chef in the Alley's 'Seared'.

ONE OF HOUSTON'S favorite theater makers — Alley Associate Artistic Director Brandon Weinbrenner — has gotten some delicious news about his latest show. The run of his Seared, a sometimes-funny and sometimes-intense tale of life in the kitchen at a suddenly hot New York restaurant by playright Theresa Rebeck, has been extended beyond its original schedule and will now be up through March 9.

Keep Reading Show less
Food+Travel