At Inaugural Ball, $1.7 Mil Worth of Wishes Are Granted

THE FIRST-EVER Wish Ball was held at The Post Oak Hotel this month, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana chapter.

The glam black-tie gala celebrated the chapter's 40th anniversary, and also honored Montgomery County residents Kay and Tommy Austin. The nonprofit's signature shades of blue and gold adorned the ballroom, where more than 750 guests enjoyed bubbly from the Champagne wall, a raffle of a Kim Chau & Company Fine Jewelers sapphire ring, and more.

Emcee Deborah Duncan led the evening's program, which included video messages from JJ Watt and Charles Barkley, each granting a young attendee a wish. The silent and live auctions were both exciting, the latter touting packages like a trip to the Country Music Awards, which sparked a bidding war that reached $30,000.

Speaking of the CMAs, one of the honorary chairs, Carly Whitehurst, noted that 2024 marks the 10-year anniversary of her granted wish to attend the CMAs. She and her fellow event chairs were thrilled with the evening's total till of a whopping $1.7 million.

Ashley and Jonathan Sloan

Tony and Frances Buzbee

Ben and Bethany Buchanan

Tommy and Kay Austin

Brian and Jennifer Rayburn

Teri and Jim Andrepont and Shelly Millwee

Brian Ching and Lindsey Yates

Stephanie and Thomas Hatfield

Brice and Maryann Mannen

Ryan and Holly Lambert

Edgar and Alejandra Rincon

Ron and Christy Phillips

Jason Salas and Lacy Dalcour Salas

Richmond Webb and Dan Pastorini

Jennifer and Alan Rosen

Paula and Bruce Jefferies

Jeston Adams and Raj Sheth

Norman and Donna Lewis

Lyndsay and Matt Pennebaker

Michael Vanderhider

Mandy Williams and Jonathan Goldsmith

Marian Harper and Rita Shuma

Mark Wawro and Melanie Gray