Celebrating Houston’s World-Class Medical Community, ‘Brave Heart’ Gala Is a Good Time After a Trying Year

Celebrating Houston’s World-Class Medical Community, ‘Brave Heart’ Gala Is a Good Time After a Trying Year

Claire Davis, Jessica Bernica, Liz Bernica and Annie Bernica

IF THERE'S A group of Houstonians worthy of being celebrated in 2021, it's our medical professionals. The Brave Heart gala, chaired by June and Kenneth Mattox, toasted the contributions of the medical community and raised funds for the Health Museum.


Held at the Four Seasons, the evening started off with a soundtrack by Divisi Strings' Amp'd Quartet. Two hundred guests were seated for dinner and a program that included a testimony from transplant surgeon Ronald Cotton, who said he was inspired to pursue med school after a visit to the Health Museum in high school.

A "gift wall," sponsored by Tenenbaum Jewelers, touted enviable party favors, and the live auction — with items like a Colorado vacation, diamond earrings and a private tour of the Michael E. DeBakey Library and Museum with Dr. Mattox — contributed to the evening's total till of $317,000.

A DJ from Divisi Strings ensured every guest got on their feet by spinning tunes from the'70s, '80s, '90s and beyond.

Kenneth and June Mattox, Greg and Liz Bernica and John Arcidiacono

Swan and Theo Franklin

Elsie Whitmire

Susan and Ward Pennebaker

Sujit Prabhu and Yvonne Kew

Ron Cotton

Russell Wellstead and Danielle Bennet Wellstead

Stacy Davis

Annette Monks

Parties
Wellness Pro LeBrina Jackson on Gratitude at the Holidays: It’s a ‘Reset Button for my Mind’

LeBrina Jackson

AS WE GET into the holiday season, we’re reminded of what we have, what we want and what might be lacking. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, Soak up the Sun, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you've got.” We caught up with LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, Texas, and learned how she tackles the holiday season with hope, love and most importantly, gratitude.

Keep Reading Show less

Ally Shell and Martijn van Koolwijk

BLAME IT ON the Moon! Mercury Chamber Orchestra’s 2025 gala at the Thompson hotel — themed “Moonlight Serenade and chaired by Ally Shell and Martijn Van Koolwijk — was a night of glamour and big band vibes, raising more than $350,000 for the company.

Keep Reading Show less
Art+Culture

Glenda and Russell Gordy and Alicia and Garrett Gordy (photo by Wilson Parish)

EVEN AS RODEO season winds down, the party people at the Stage Houston theater company were still donning boots and shouting yahoo — and taking in a record haul of $1.4 million!

Keep Reading Show less