Museum Supporters Live La Vida Loca at Fab Four Seasons Gala

Wilson Parish
Museum Supporters Live La Vida Loca at Fab Four Seasons Gala

Emilio Armstrong and Kelly Robichau

NEVER BEFORE HAS the importance of experienced, compassionate healthcare professionals been so pronounced as the last three years. Houston is lucky to be home to some of the world's best, several of whom were honored at The John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science's annual fundraiser.


Chaired by David and Sara Cordúa, the Viva la Vida gala was held at the Four Seasons Hotel, which recently unveiled its spectacularly renovated ballroom. The Dia de los Muertos-themed night, which included a Cordúa-approved menu and Latin tunes courtesy of Divisi Strings, raised nearly $300K to support the museum's education and community programming.

An exciting live auction touted items like a Colorado vacation and a private party for 50 at the Health Museum — but nothing was quite as exciting as cheering on the Astros while simultaneously dancing to Divisi String's lively Collide band.

Maria Fernandez and Jennifer Franco

David and Sara Cordua

Honoree Daryl Shorter

Erica Little,John Burnette and Robert Burnette

Phillip Chang and Elizabeth Holt

Lucia and Michael Cordua

Carol Paret, Daryl Shorter, Toma Omofoye, John Arcidiacono, Maria Fernandez, Jesus Villejo, Jackie Ward and Gary Sheppard

Jennifer and Jim Drew

Ken and June Mattox

Parties
Cool for ‘Schools’! CIS Wants to Transport You to a Whimsical ‘Wonderland’ at Milestone Gala

CIS 2024 Gala Honorary Co-Chair Judy Tate, Co-Chair Lauren Brollier, Co-Chair Cassie Milam, Honorary Co-Chair Kirby McCool

WHETHER YOU PREFER Alice, the Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts, Communities In Schools of Houston’s A Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary GalaA Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary Gala is not to be missed! Join in the celebration for a whimsical good time on Thursday, April 4th, at the luxurious Post Oak Hotel.

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How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

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How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

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