Ten Houstonians were honored for their selfless and generous ways of life at an event held at the Royal Sonesta. Mayor Sylvester Turner offered opening remarks before recipients of the Houston Humanitarian Awards — including NFL mom and philanthropist Karen Johnson, pastor Fernando Ruata, music-industry honcho James Prince, and several Hurricane Harvey heroes — received a standing ovation. The evening was put on by a local nonprofit called Houston Random Act of Kindness Day, which was founded by Treveia Dennis in order to spread love throughout her community.
Fall Philanthropy Report: Be An Angel Improves Quality of Life for Children with Special Needs
Oct. 8, 2024
What year was your organization launched? 1986 by a small group of committee community members that believed special needs children were not receiving basic life services.
What is your mission? It is our mission to improve the quality of life for children withs special needs by providing adaptive equipment, hearing devices, select services, and support programs.
Why did you launch the organization? We believe that children are the heart and soul of humanity, that they represent all that is good within us, and that we can help children with special needs experience life at their fullest potential.
What are you most proud of? We have immediate results for the children needing most any kind of medical adaptive equipment. No long waiting periods. Children and their families who have been waiting between 10-12 years for respite services alone from governmental services receive respite care within 30 days or less. All with a very small administrative staff and hundreds of volunteers. Additionally, we have opened offices in DFW and San Antonio.
What’s been your impact in the community? Be An Angel has provided adaptive equipment, respite care and other select services to over 9900 special needs children from birth to age 22 in just this past year alone. These children generally come from limited to low-income families.
Tell us about your big event. We are proud of the many events hosted by Be An Angel each year. Every February we host Purse Bingo with over 600 participants winning luxury end purses and prizes. Dan Pastorini hosts his Celebrity Golf Tournament which has raised more than 2 million dollars in the past years he has supported these children. Additionally, our Spring Gala, with “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” theme raises well over $700,000 per year.
How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? We currently have 5 employees in Houston, and two in DFW and San Antonio. We are thankful for over 600 volunteers assisting us each year.
What are your major challenges? Sharing our story making families know we are here to help them.
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THE CHILLY WINTER months aren’t slowing Houston chefs down from hosting hot events. Grab some friends, your appetite and a calendar and plan on attending one of these fetes for foodies.
January 23: Mutiny Wine Room’s Fifth Anniversary
Mutiny Wine Room in the Heights is celebrating five years with a bash. Enjoy the exclusive release of Kagan Cellars' 2019 Vintages and a grazing table from chef Eduardo, plus discounts on wine club memberships.
January 27: Kata Robata’s Southern Smoke Dinner
Chef Chris Shepherd and Chef Manabu Hori
Chris Shepherd and Chef Manabu Hori of Kata Robata are joining forces for a multi-course dinner to celebrate Houston’s vibrant culinary community. The evening is raising funds for Southern Smoke Foundation, Shepherds’ Houston-based nonprofit that helps hospitality workers in need — including those affected by the L.A. fires.
January 29: Lunar New Year Fundraiser at JUN
JUN is celebrating the Lunar New Year with Wine & Dine XV. This fundraiser for World Central Kitchen features a four-course dinner prepared by Chef Suu Khin and Chef Henry Lu with an option wine pairing. World Central Kitchen is also on the ground in L.A. helping those affected by the fires.
January 30: Plume Cocktail Bar X Feges BBQ Dinner
Super-chic Plume is taking steak nights to a whole new level. The pitmasters of Feges BBQ are firing up a premium six-ounce porcini-rubbed grilled hanger steak, with rich, flavorful romesco sauce and roasted cauliflower for $30. Don’t miss Mostly Chocolate's chocolate truffles and cookies, as well as Cosmic Ice Cream’s classic vanilla treat for dessert!
February 6: Littorai Wine Dinner at MARCH
MARCH (photo by Julie Soefer)
Recent Michelin star recipient MARCH is hosting a five-course tasting menu with pairings from Littorai Wines, one of California's most iconic wineries. The evening toasts Littorai’s 30th anniversary and includes rare vintages from the 1990s through present-day.
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Big Game, Bigger Eats: Make Your Super Bowl Party Menu Now with the Help of These Restaurants
Jan. 23, 2025
WE ARE A couple weeks out from Super Bowl LIX, and it's not too early to be thinking about parties, food, and party food. We rounded up some of the most unique and bang-for-your-buck eats to make the event memorable.
1891 American Eatery & Bar
Appetizer platter at 1891 (photo by Andrew Hemingway)
This Heights neighborhood hangout has a couple of options for party platters that include everyone's favorite part: snacks!!! One has crispy pork rinds; corn chips with smoked queso; and cornbread bites with jalapeno jam (serves 8-10, $60.99). And another inclues soft pretzels with chili-crunch butter and smoked queso; pimento cheese with tortilla chips and "wickles;" and hot honey ribs (serves 8-10, $89.99). Need something a little bigger? Snag 12 sliders smothered in spiced aioli, cheddar cheese and grilled onions for just $59.99.
Buttermilk Baby
Gameball Cake (courtesy of Carvel)
No party is compete without dessert! Score a Gameball Cake (serves 10-12, $29.99) made with Carvel ice cream from Buttermilk Baby, also in the Heights. The three-layer ice-cream cake includes vanilla ice cream and chocolate ice cream, separated by a layer of the brand’s famous Chocolate Crunchies. Cakes are available for walk-in pickup at Buttermilk Baby, or call the restaurant to place an order.
Candente
Beef fajitas at Candente (photo by Jenn Duncan)
Tex-Mex made with smoked goodness? Sign us up. Candente's Fajita Feast — mesquite-smoked chicken or beef fajitas with all the fixings — can be scaled to feed up to 50 people (10lb, $999).
Hugo's
Carnitas at Hugo's
Opt for the usual suspects — carnitas, enchliadas, taquitos, and quarts upon quarts of margaritas and other large-format cocktails — or choose the mouthwatering Carne Brava Family Meal. It comes with 1lb of marinated wood-grilled skirt steak, onions, poblano peppers, salsa and a dozen corn tortillas ($55).
Phat Eatery
The delectable restaurant with locations in Katy and The Woodlands supplies some fun twists on standard game-day fare. Try the salt-and-pepper wings — breaded, fried salt-and-pepper style with red onion, jalapeño, Thai basil, and a 13-spice house blend. They come with a choice of sweet mango chili or Phat curry sauce. Or, for a little variety, snag a party tray of Malaysian street food. Phat's famous roti canai with curry dip; equally famous and award-winning beef rendang; satay skewers; stir-fried noodles and veggies; and salt-and-pepper calamari are among the options. Choose a half-tray or full tray.
The Savoy
This Third Ward bar has an electric game-day atmosphere, but is catering to at-home parties, too! Its Super Bowl special offering is the Savoy Super Platter with a whopping 300 wings, naked or in a variety of sauces, with fries for $450. Preorders are required and can be made on The Savoy's website.
Tipsy Treats To-Go
Level up the bar with a selection of two dozen grab-and-go frozen craft cocktails. This fun spot on the Southwest Freeway has great deals on offer for Super Bowl weekend, including a half-gallon of frozen sidecars for $60; a gallon of Shan's Lemon Drops for $100; and 8oz variety packs starting at $50. It's also a one-stop shop for food, with gallons of gumbo and chili, red beans and rice, and scratch-made fried chicken available for pickup as well.
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