party people

Ball Gowns, Birthdays, Bocelli! Italian-Chic Soiree Raises Nearly $2M for UST Scholarships

Ball Gowns, Birthdays, Bocelli! Italian-Chic Soiree Raises Nearly $2M for UST Scholarships

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, Annie Graham, Rev. Dempsey Rosales-Acosta, Bob Graham

THE UNIVERSITY OF St. Thomas welcomed more than 900 black-tie-clad revelers to its annual Scholarship Gala, held in the ballroom of the Hilton Americas hotel Downtown. The event simultaneously toasted the 75th birthday of Cardinal DiNardo, the metropolitan archbishop of Galveston-Houston.

In attendance were a number of current and former UST students, who took time to share their experience at the university and how much scholarships have meant to them. It was revealed that proceeds from the live auction as well as the paddles-up segment would be put towards establishing an annual scholarship in the name of Cardinal DiNardo.

The celebratory affair took on an Italian theme, from the delicious dinner to the evening's entertainment, Matteo Bocelli, who wandered throughout the ballroom dancing with lucky partygoers. Live-auction packages tipped their hat to the theme, too, as in a private dinner with His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Dr. Richard and Melynda Ludwick in the private Positano Room at Amalfi restaurant.

The festive fete concluded with a dessert parade, which featured a sparkler-topped cake for the birthday boy and mini cakes for all the guests.

Cynthia and Tony Petrello

Denise Castillo-Rhodes, Robert Sergesketter, Paula Hanson

Dr. Richard Ludwick, Melynda Ludwick

UST student Christel Vallagomesa

Honorary Chairs Bishop Italo Dell'Oro, CRS and Raye G. White, Honoree His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Event Chairs Ginger and John Niemann

Isabel and Ignacio "Nacho" Torras

Matteo Bocelli

Megan Jarchow, Craig Jarchow, Angela Jarchow

Lois Davis, Father Charles Hough

Lois and Richard Folger

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Parties
promoted

What’s the Secret to Biz Success? ‘Show Up with Kindness,’ Says Bianca Bucaram

What’s the Secret to Biz Success? ‘Show Up with Kindness,’ Says Bianca Bucaram

How did you get to where you are today? Passion, persistence, and faith, and a little bit of luck. I graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Political Science and Spanish, on the track to be pre-med. Little did I know that a journey to help my younger sister would set my course to sail in PR. I had no background in communication, except my raw talent, and was fortunate enough to have a family member who needed her story to be told! I was helping tell my younger sister (one of the most recognized influencers in the online vegan community) @fullyrawkristina’s story, and it all blossomed from there.

Keep Reading Show less
the magazine

Mag’s Annual ‘Sexy Issue’ Arriving Now, Features Real-Life Couple in Steamy Shoot

FOR THE SEVENTH time, Houston CityBook is heating up the dog days of summer with its annual Sexy Issue, hitting newsstands and mailboxes all over Houston now.

Keep Reading Show less
Style
nightlife

New Restaurants — Including an Exciting Revival — Bolster Westheimer Curve's Foodie-Friendly Rep

Dan Wierck, Army Sadeghi and Brandon Duliakas of the forthcoming Melrose bar in Montrose (photo by Alex Montoya)

LONGTIME HOUSTON FOODIES likely remember Mi Luna as a Rice Village mainstay, serving late-night tapas and wine on University Blvd. for years. Now, the original owner has plans to revive the Spanish restaurant, this time in the Montrose Collective development on the Westheimer Curve.

Keep Reading Show less
Food