Carolyn Mohsenzadeh and Gina Saour
The event, which benefits the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, this year adopted the theme “Blooming with Books.” Floral and harvest-inspired décor set the tone for a festive meal of salad with grilled chicken, roasted sweet potatoes and goat cheese, followed by a cinnamon-spice dessert.
Jeannie Gaffigan — actress, mom of five and wife to comedian Jim Gaffigan — joined KPRC anchor Lisa Hernandez onstage. The featured speaker shared stories from her best-selling book, When Life Gives You Pears, which chronicles her diagnosis, surgery and recovery from a pear-size brain tumor. While she kept things light yet heartfelt, Gaffigan also stressed the importance of women taking time to take care of themselves and “not ignore the signs that something else may be wrong.”
A raffle with items like jewels from Tenenbaum and a Gucci handbag, plus a silent auction with more purses, helped the day’s total till top $575,000.
Allison Schulze, Lisa Jakel, Emily George
Betty Hrncir, Donatella Benckenstein
Blanca Jolly, Raquel Lewis
Cathy Trask, Amber Alonso
Deborah Duncan
Elizabeth Dansby, Ashley Gentry
Hilary Purcell, Cathy Cleary, Caroline Dace
Kime Smith, Lynn Forte
Leah Rauch, Rebecca Linn
Linda Linder, Mary Sage, Deborah Deford Dunkum
Stephanie Mays, Laura Weaver
Brady & Zane Carruth, Brittany & Adam Clark
Chaired by Zane Carruth and Cheryl Byington, the bash welcomed more than 350 animal-lovers, outfitted in Halloween-chic attire and ready to paw-ty.
A cocktail reception featured spooktacular décor a la gauze ghosts and creepy-cool candelabras, and included a silent auction. The live auction, as well as dinner, followed. The after-party included “puppy cuddles” in the Adoption Center — and three dogs found their forever homes that night!
The evening raised more than $900,000 for the SPCA’s mission to save animals from abuse and neglect.
Abria Flowers, Onyinyechi Muilenburg, TJ Robinson
Carmen Thompson, Mark Anawate
Cameron and Tia Johnston
Cheryl Byington, Deborah Duncan, Zane Carruth
Cynthia Wolff, Mary Fusillo, Beth Wolff
Dr. Anna Joy Jackson, Dr. Carter McAdoo
Emily Gollady, Brooke Barit
Eric & Diane Jansen
Evelyn Griffin, Robert Wick, Carol Bardon
George Schalles & Maria Lacy
George and Jessica Foster
Giselle and John Greenwood
Kristen Cannon, Monique Wyatt, Lara Bell
Laird & Helena Doran
Leslie and Dane Johnson
Mark and Erin Packwood
Sarah Collins, Betsy Montgomery, Kristen Collins
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