Robin Williams’ Son Gives Moving Testimony at Benefit for Houston Mental-Health Org Re:MIND

Jenny Antill
Robin Williams’ Son Gives Moving Testimony at Benefit for Houston Mental-Health Org Re:MIND

David Kinder, Marie Louise Kinder, Christine and Blake Williams

HOUSTON ORGANIZATION RE:MIND celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special Circles of Hope luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. The event honored David Kinder for his generosity and advocacy, and raised nearly $420,000 for the mental-health organization, which runs free and confidential support groups for those affected by depression and bipolar disorders.


The keynote speaker was Zak Williams, son of the late Robin Williams. Zak launched the #speakyourmind campaign, a global movement intended to amplify the mental-health needs of underserved communities, and his journey of loss and grief was featured in the Apple TV+ series The Me You Can’t See.

Zak shared the statistic that 93 percent of people suffering from severe depression and bipolar disorder have no access to quality therapy, and programs like those offered by re:MIND are life-changing and live-saving. “Prevention is much more effective than crisis intervention,” said Zak, who received a standing ovation.


Elizabeth Pagan, Christine Williams, Ellie Bale

Will and Mary Williams

Drew and Tracy Pelter

Scott and Jill Holstead

Franna Litton, David Kinder, Marie Louise Kinder

Haresh and Yalamanchili Sushma

Kara and Ulises Vidal

Rich Kinder, David Kinder, Nancy Kinder

Jennifer Leal and Clint Leal

Katelyn Maida

Luncheon co-chair Christine Williams, speaker Zak Williams and luncheon co-chair Blake Williams

Mike and Janice Barker

Dee Dee Howes, Marie Louise Kinder, Aaron Howes

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Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

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How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

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