Jingle Bells of the Ball! Black-Tie Spindletop Soiree Brings Together Energy Execs, Raises $1.1M

Fulton Davenport
Jingle Bells of the Ball! Black-Tie Spindletop Soiree Brings Together Energy Execs, Raises $1.1M

Alex and Allison Sandlin, Holly Krivokapich, Katie Overton

ENERGY EXECS AND industry professionals from all the big players — including ConocoPhillips, Murphy, Transocean and others — came together for a cause. The 49th annual Spindletop Community Impact Partners Holiday Ball took place at the oh-so-festive Post Oak Hotel.


Around 600 partygoers attended the “Jingle Bell Rock”-themed event, which benefits three-dozen organizations that enhance the lives of at-risk youth in and around Houston. Speaking of Houston’s youth, the Ensemble Theatre Young Performers kicked off the night with a special dance number, and Virtuosi of Houston’s small ensemble presented rock’n’roll classics and holiday tunes during dinner.

In addition to the silent auction — which garnered a ton of enthusiasm and dollar signs thanks to prize packages like Houston Astros suites and a dove-hunting trip to Argentina — the night included the presentation of the Spindletop Awards. Those recognized for their commitment to the community included Starlee Sykes of Archaea, Rob Saltiel of MRC Global, and Parker Auld of Kosmos Energy.

The party concluded with Password taking the stage and attendees taking to the dance floor, celebrating the evening’s $1.1M haul.

Beneficiaries of Spindletop’s funding include The Brookwood Community, Houston Children’s Charity, Kids’ Meals, Small Steps Nurturing Center, and many others.

Ann and Alvin Haynes

Veronica and Aaron Foley

Bruce and Laura Miller, Valerie and Nick Tran

Tracy and Laurie Krohn

Casey and Stacy Stewart, Lindsay and Jason Weddle

Steven Bonno and Shelby Hoyt

Ensemble Theatre Young Performers

Virtuosi of Houston Small Ensemble

Jodan and Kaitlyn Zaiser, Kati and Parker Auld

Liam and Gill Mallon, Warwick King

Lisa and Ryan Lance

Signature Rockin’ Sweets Station with Girls Inc. of Greater Houston Decorators

Maggie and Greg Sheridan

Spindletop Award Recipient Starlee Sykes with Dominic Macklon, Lia Vallone and Clay Williams

Parties
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How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

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