Farm Fresh! Inside Recipe for Success’ Al Fresco Fundraiser — on the Prettiest Day of the Year

Daniel Ortiz
Farm Fresh! Inside Recipe for Success’ Al Fresco Fundraiser — on the Prettiest Day of the Year

Sippi Khurana, Lisa Sadoughi and Gracie Cavnar

This weekend brought with it perfect weather, the kind of days Houstonians spend all summer longing for. It was fitting, then, that Recipe for Success's annual fundraiser, Fashion in the Fields, took place al fresco on Sunday, at the foundation's Hope Farms venue.


Founder and CEO Gracie Cavnar, clad herself in the prescribed "farm-girl chic" attire, welcomed hundreds of guests for cocktails and brunch. The festively fall meal — centerpieces included colorful pumpkins — was preceded by a fashion show featuring looks from Neiman Marcus accessorized with items by featured designer Lele Sadoughi. Neiman's also popped up a shopable boutique on-site!

Brunch included items from popular restaurants including Bistro Menil, Eunice and Bludorn.

At the event, Cavnar announced the foundation's new initiative, Delivering Hope to Sunnyside, a partnership with Kids Meals to deliver Hope Farms' produce to food-insecure families in the area.

Between a paddle-raiser for the Sunnyside project and a raffle featuring items like a cooking class and dinner package at Hope Farms, the event garnered $185,000 for Recipe for Success.

Sheree Frede and Mary McMullen

Aaron and Kristin Blomquist with Isabelle

Amber Hicks and Jennifer Roane

Melissa Sugulas, Audrey White, Julie Longoria Chen and Bethany Buchanan

Chris Hendel and Lisa Sadoughi with models

Bailey Dalton-Binion, Debbie Bernstein and Nancy Mathé

Betiana Bumpass and Jennifer Henry

Maggie Sheridan and Amber Mees

Maricella Metzler and Cathleen Fishel

Priya and Brad Coffey

Ashkin and Sonali Mittal

Shantel Williams, Myrtle Jones, Travis Torrence, Brandon McClendon and Shari Williams

Stephanie Fleck and Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl

Tammie Johnson and Alice Mao Brams

Parties
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.

Keep Reading Show less

Jessica and Ryan Getz, Grace Ward

HOUSTON NONPROFIT Dec My Room threw a country-music-filled bash at House of Blues, where supporters two-stepped the night away and raised record-breaking proceeds, which will be used to decorate and customize hospital rooms of pediatric and young-adult patients all over the country. To date, the organization has improved the attitudes and healing process of 18,000 patients in nearly 200 hospitals.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties

THE STANDARD BEARER FOR LUXURY

We built The Village communities to exemplify sophisticated retirement living in Houston, surrounded by the heritage neighborhood of River Oaks, Tanglewood and Southampton. Each offers impeccable designer finishes and Aspenwood service detail with dining and resortstyle amenities making them premier locations for discerning Houstonians and their families. Impressive, spacious residential floor plans, generous natural light, and expansive terraces allow a new level of indoor-outdoor living. Beautiful spaces are designed for entertaining, fitness, and relaxation with a dedicated team to provide a secure lock and leave lifestyle for our members.

Keep Reading Show less