MANY HOUSTON ORGANIZATIONS have had to rethink their in-person fundraisers over the past year, including Asia Society, which moved its annual glam gala to June.
A more intimate cocktail kickoff last week, channeling the main event's Incredible India theme, eased supporters back into the idea of group gatherings and celebrated a timely mission of strengthening relationships and encouraging engagement among the people of Asia, AustralAsia and America.
Dozens of patrons gathered at Steak 48 in River Oaks District, greeted by event chairs Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Claudia and Roberto Contreras, and Eileen and Kase Lawal in an upstairs private-event space. Trays of delicious bites — truffled-topped New York strip, crispy shrimp deviled eggs — were passed around as guests enjoyed catching up face-to-face, chatting about June's Tiger Ball and also about how Asia Society plans to support Covid-relief efforts in India, the beautiful country and culture that inspired this year's gala.
Ann and Jay Cuclis
Brenda and Marc Watts
David Leebron, Y Ping Sun
David Webster, Rose Chen
Moez and Sultana Magalij
Mustafa Tameez, Eileen Lawal
Steve Alvis, Cecilia Brown
Sultana, Mimi Levine, Kathy Goosen
Sylvia Quan, Lily Foster
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IT'S BEEN A wild week — all right, year — of weather, with a potential tropical disturbance on its way to the H today. But on Tuesday night, as the storms barreled through and many parts of Houston lost power, a gathering at River Oaks Country Club proceeded by candlelight, helmed by a determined duo who had already rescheduled the event three times.
Virginia and Will McMullen organized the Good Samaritan Foundation's 2021 Pearl Ball — perhaps unknowingly fittingly themed A Night Under the Stars — and had pushed the date back due to the pandemic and a broken water main. But on this night's event, the adage "the show must go on" rang as true as ever.
After guests enjoyed a well-lit cocktail hour set to the sounds of the David Caceres Band, the lights flickered and went out as dinner was being brought out. But Blooming Gallery's tablescapes luckily included plenty of candles, which illuminated the ballroom, and the band continued with some saxophone tunes. And the kitchen miraculously continued to churn out piping-hot dinner for the 150 guests.
Power was restored after about an hour, and partygoers celebrated on the dance floor. The evening raised $220,000 for the Good Samaritan Foundation, which recognizes the hard work of the nursing community and grants scholarships to nursing students.
Christine and David Wade
Courtney and Jason Fertitta
Daniel Zilkha, Janie Zilkha, Thomas Smith
Dr. Deborah Jones, Shawn Jones
Julie and Frank Bayouth
John Page and Dr. Tonya Page
Lauren Cottrell and Pam Wynne
Marc Vasquez and Sarah Ringold
Michael Reel, Darren Lindamood, Will McCullen
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