Inside the 2020 Winter Ball!

Zane Carruth and Ed McMahon
Zane Carruth and Ed McMahon

Saturday's Winter Ball, benefiting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and honoring the Women of Distinction, was a fitting way to kick off a new decade of glam galas and philanthropic fetes.


More than 500 guests, all dressed to impress in wintry gowns, cozy furs and sharp tuxedos, enjoyed a festive cocktail hour while bidding on silent-auction items before filtering into the ballroom of the Hilton Americas hotel. Event chairs and former honorees Lesha Elsenbrook and Bobbie Nau transformed the space with the help of sleek lounge furniture and eye-catching LED light displays that changed and moved throughout the night.

After an exciting live auction — prizes included IW Marks baubles and a Sewell Automotive Companies car — emcee Tom Koch presented the 2020 Women of Distinction, who were recognized for their commitment to volunteerism: Cheryl Byington, Zane Carruth, Theresa Chang, Elsie Eckert, Myrtle Jones, Brigitte Kalai, Kelley Lubanko, Joy McCormack, Hannah McNair and Mary Tere Perusquia, along with the year's “ambassador," Betty Hrncir. Per the Winter Ball custom, the ladies were presented on the arms notable “escorts," this year including a few young Crohn's survivors, as well as top medical experts in the field. Also, Jeff Gremillion — editor of CityBook, a sponsor of the ball — took part. Several Crohn's patients shared their journeys with the disease and expressed gratitude for the Winter Ball's fundraising efforts.

After a seated dinner, guests packed the dance floor for an after-party sponsored by H-E-B. The evening's total till topped $800,000.

Parties

Zimmer and Gooch and, at right, their debut product, a super-strong magnetic silicone bib

IT'S A TALE as old as time: A flustered mom tries to put a bib or clothing item on her fussy baby — one-handed, naturally; moms do almost everything one-handed — only to have the kid put up a fight using that disproportionate strength of theirs, and everyone is left more frustrated than they were five minutes ago.

Keep Reading Show less
Style

Bob Eury, Deborah Keyser & James Stafford

HSPVA CELEBRATED FIVE years at its Downtown campus with a 1920s-jazz-club-inspired luncheon for 300 supporters. Guests were transported to the days of swing dancing as a student-conducted band played music by Duke Ellington, while performers, donning showgirl and flapper costumes from the high school’s performance of After Midnight, danced along.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties