Raising $872K at Minute Maid Luncheon, Salvation Army Knocks It Out of the Park!

Jenny Antill
Raising $872K at Minute Maid Luncheon, Salvation Army Knocks It Out of the Park!

Maria and Neil Bush

DURING A SEASON of giving and gratitude, Salvation Army of Greater Houston's annual lunch was a meaningful event — and a mega fundraiser.


Honoring the nearly 500 members of the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, the luncheon was held at Minute Maid Park's Union Station. Chairs Diana Delaup and Maureen Higdon took the theme, Change Lives and Rescue Hope, to heart, recruiting Billy Dorsey, Jr. as the event's special guest.

The Grammy-winning music producer — his company The Bridge Life represents several Christian-music stars — spoke to the crowd about how his faith has impacted his professional and personal life, encouraging folks to never give up.

The afternoon raised an impressive $872,000 for the Salvation Army's mission to provide long-term recovery resources for unhoused and underserved individuals.

Cathy and Joe Cleary

Vicki West and Ralph Burch

Dodi Willingham and Dorothy Nicholson

Nancy Willerson and Deborah Dunkum

Ginger Blanton and Betty Hncir

Marty and Kathy Goosen

Holly and Tom Forney

Gina Saour and Darlene Clark

Judi McGee and Sidney Faust

Judy Tate, Linda McReynolds and Jenny Elkins

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

THE CORINTHIAN WAS the scene for a haunted happening benefiting Children’s Museum Houston. The decidedly adult bash was filled with dark allure, gothic glamour, and generosity to the tune of $1.14 million, the second-highest total in the event’s history.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties

Morris Smith, Tilman Fertitta and Toni Smith

THE HOUSTON CHILDREN'S Charity gala is always anticipated, thanks to the big-deal musical acts brought in to entertain; this year it was Chicago. But the headliners this year were the generous donors, who seemed to surprise even event organizer with their largesse, with a total till of $6.2 million, a record.

Keep Reading Show less
Party People