Tequila Shots & Shirtless Hunks! Fashionable Fiesta Raises $400K

Evan W. Black

SALUD TO THE ladies of the Latin Women’s Initiative, whose 20th-anniversary luncheon garnered a whopping $400,000, making it the most successful ever!

Men of Distinction Lunch Marks Anniversary and Fundraising Milestone — $5.5 Mil for the Med Center!

Evan W. Black

THE SOCIAL BOOK’S 15th Men of Distinction luncheon, which raises money for pediatric research in the Texas Medical Center, added four more to its list of philanthropic gentlemen who make Houston a better place — bringing the total to 60 over the course of the event’s history.

Take It Outside! Cavnar, Top Chefs Present Chic ‘Delicious Alchemy’ Dinner on Hope Farms Grounds

Jeff Gremillion

THE INDOMITABLE GRACIE Cavnar and her Recipe for Success nonprofit hosted the annual “Delicious Alchemy” dinner on the grounds of the organization’s Hope Farms in Sunnyside. Per the custom, the meal, which followed a lively al fresco cocktail hour set to the music of an acoustic guitar, featured course after course of divine treats prepared by some of the city’s best chefs, often utilizing produced from the farm.

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.

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Glenda and Russell Gordy and Alicia and Garrett Gordy (photo by Wilson Parish)

EVEN AS RODEO season winds down, the party people at the Stage Houston theater company were still donning boots and shouting yahoo — and taking in a record haul of $1.4 million!

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Olivia Barboza, Wesley Gow and Audrey Gow

ONE OF THE lesser-known gems of Houston’s performing arts scene — the splendid, bold 4th Wall Theatre Company — threw its first-ever “Fête” gala fundraiser at the beautiful new Hotel Saint Augustine in Montrose, raking in $212,000 to support it artistic mission.

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