parties

Now in Its 7th Year, ‘Women of Substance’ Lunch Draws A-Listers, Raises Big Bucks for At-Risk Kids

Now in Its 7th Year, ‘Women of Substance’ Lunch Draws A-Listers, Raises Big Bucks for At-Risk Kids

Dominique Sachse, Debbie Festari, Brigitte Kalai and Nicole Lassiter

UNDER THE DIRECTION of event founder Paul-David Van Atta and co-chairs Sippi Khurana and Amy Pierce, the 7th annual Women of Substance luncheon benefitting Houston reVision was a lovely success at The Post Oak Hotel.

Before dining on grilled radicchio Caesar salads and Airline chicken chasseur —chocolate mousse cake for dessert — this year’s honorees were presented to a crowd of nearly 450. The 2023 Women of Substance included Gina Bhatia, Laura Davenport, Elsie Eckert, Debbie Festari, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Kathy Givens, April McGee, Jordan Seff, Elizabeth Stein, Paula Sutton, Stephanie Tsuru and Rini Ziegler.

“All honorees had their fan base in the audience, but no one did it better than those supporting April McGee,” noted a rep for the event’s organizers. “They raised cut out images of her beautiful face as she was announced and erupted in cheers of joyous praise and adoration! Disruptive and delicious!”

Another highlight was a surprise musical performance. St. Francis student and son of co-chair Sippi, Shaan Khurana, 14, moved through the crowd Oprah-style singing “You Raise Me Up,” before joining his backup singers on stages for a rousing crescendo. Richard Brown musicians provided accompaniment.

Half a million bucks was raised — thanks in part to a successful auction and three surprise last-minute gifts of $20,000 each — for reVision, whose mission is to provide “a community of kinship, connecting caring adult volunteers, case managers, mental health professionals, and faith communities with disconnected youth,” the organization says.

Boldface names filled the hotel ballroom, including Jeff and Rachel Bagwell, Kelly Anzilotti, Philamena Baird, Devinder Bhatia, Bill and Cheryl King, Susan Boggio, Donae Chramosta, Andrew Cordes, Yvonne Cormier, Bobby Dees, Sidney Faust, Tena Faust, Elaine Finger, Gregg Harrison, Brigitte Kalai, Ajay Khurana, Nicole Lassiter, Tama Lundquist, Carmen and Butch Mach, Joella and Steve Mach, Lenny Matazewski, Melissa Mithoff, Bobbie Nau, Bruce Padilla and Shelby Kibodeaux, David Peck, Dominique Sachse, Laura Stein, Stacey Swift, Ileana Trevino, Elaine Turner, Betty Tutor, Astrid Van Dyke, Barbara Van Postman, Hallie Vanderhider, Beth Wolff, Cynthia Wolff and Sherri Zucker.


Andrew Cordes and Tena Faust

Sippi Khurana and Ajay Khurana

Deborah Duncan and Ernie Manouse

Cynthia Wolff and Beth Wolff

Dr. Devinder Bhatia and Gina Bhatia

Duke and CC Ensell

Kathy Givens

Stephanie Tsuru and Betty Hrncir

Jacob Stein, Elizabeth Stein and Laura Stein

Kelly Anzilotti, Susan Boggio, Sherri Zucker and Perri Palermo

Suzan Deison and Fran Litchenstein

Regina Rogers, Franelle Rogers, Reverend Carrie Leader, Warner Roberts and Dr. Yvonne Cormier

Parties
promoted

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

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.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres

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.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Setting Clear Goals’ Among Secrets of Success for Attorney Jess Bailey

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places