Super Bowl Blast!
Want to party with Michael Phelps, James Brolin and Common? Here’s your VIP ticket inside one of Super Bowl 51’s best bashes, the CityBook-sponsored Big Game Big Give blowout!
Feb. 6, 2017
SUPPORTERS OF THE American Cancer Society boot-scooted on over to Downtown’s The Rustic venue to kick off this year’s Cattle Baron’s Ball and the tremendous fundraising efforts that go along with it.
More than 350 guests joined kickoff-party chairs Kristen Cannon and Whitney Lawson, along with the Ball chairs Janette Marx, Robin Klaes and Stephen Toups, for the music-filled cocktail bash. It included the announcement that Easton Corbin and Roger Creager will be the evening’s entertainment at the main event on Sept. 14. Held at the Hilton Americas hotel, the gala will be “Neon Lights & Bayou Nights”-themed.
Lo Sessions of country station 93Q emceed the kickoff party, where there were rowdy armadillo races and an exciting jewelry pull courtesy of Christina Greene, who recently opened a new boutique. Plus, the Blake Harlow Band serenaded guests all night long. And when there’s a stellar auction at a pre-event party — this one had items donated by Tootsies, Festari for Men, Sunless Chateau and more — you know the one at the Cattle Baron’s Ball will be a real showstopper!
Andrea Simmons, Elia Gabbanelli, Yanette Carmona
Tasia Day and Katie Tsuru
Angela Hernandez , Kamisha Mickey, Jodi Merrett
Tamra Hughes, Ryan Hughes
Brent Milam and Lara Bell
Susan Blair and Lisa Curry
Cyndy Garza Roberts and Thomas Roberts
Steven Toups, Valerie Toups, Maegan Toups , Carson Joachim
Dakota and Joanna Klaes
Stacie Bullock, Gena Shell, Maria Valdes, Dana Dailey
Danny and Robin Klaes
Peter Remington, Karen Deguerin
David and Christina Greene McAllen
Leila Perrin, Leisa Holland Nelson Bowman and Marilu Garza
Davis Hance and Kittsie Klaes
Kristen Cannon and Whitney Lawson
Jane Johnston and Lauren Paine
Julissa Perez and Monica Laborico
Jenny Todd, Tiffany Halik and Nora Jarrard
David Gutierrez, Lauren Hill, Tasia Day, Rob Stevens
Jeff Marx, Jannette Marx
TWO OF THE city's most beloved summer-heat havens have new bragging rights! The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced that Children's Museum Houston and the Harris County Public Library system are two of just 10 recipients of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. It's the highest honor given to institutions that make gamechanging contributions to their communities.
The last time a Houston organization took home a National Medal was in 1997, when the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was named a recipient. Furthermore, this is the first time in the 30-year history of the IMLS program that two institutions from the same city claimed the honor in the same year. The feat is a "remarkable achievement for the children and families of Houston," said Children's Museum Houston CEO Rayanne Darensbourg in a statement.
The museum has made strides in ensuring that every family in Houston has access to the best science, technology, engineering, math, literacy, cultural and arts exhibits and programming. It emphasizes experiential learning as well as equity of opportunities across socioeconomic classes and language barriers: The museum admits around 35 percent of its 700,000 annual visitors free of charge, and provides an additional 120,000-plus participants with free outreach programming every year.
For its part, the Harris County Public Library leveraged Emergency Connectivity Fund grants to provide free laptop computers and 5G hotspots to 70,000 residents. Other efforts include a robust English language learning and naturalization program, a partnership to bring library services to young men and women completing residence programs with the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and a fleet of outreach vehicles that provide mobile libraries at community gatherings.
"It is fitting that the Children's Museum Houston and Harris County Public Library were awarded this honor in the same year. Our missions are, in many ways, parallel,” said the library system's Executive Director Edward Melton. “In a time when equitable public education has become politicized, our two organizations step up to offer access to programs and resources that inspire curiosity and nurture a lifelong love of learning. While this award honors the achievements of HCPL and CMH for the year 2024, I believe it is all about the future and our continued commitment to educational access.”