MANY HOUSTON ORGANIZATIONS have had to rethink their in-person fundraisers over the past year, including Asia Society, which moved its annual glam gala to June.

A more intimate cocktail kickoff last week, channeling the main event's Incredible India theme, eased supporters back into the idea of group gatherings and celebrated a timely mission of strengthening relationships and encouraging engagement among the people of Asia, AustralAsia and America.

Dozens of patrons gathered at Steak 48 in River Oaks District, greeted by event chairs Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Claudia and Roberto Contreras, and Eileen and Kase Lawal in an upstairs private-event space. Trays of delicious bites — truffled-topped New York strip, crispy shrimp deviled eggs — were passed around as guests enjoyed catching up face-to-face, chatting about June's Tiger Ball and also about how Asia Society plans to support Covid-relief efforts in India, the beautiful country and culture that inspired this year's gala.

Ann and Jay Cuclis

Brenda and Marc Watts

David Leebron, Y Ping Sun

David Webster, Rose Chen

Moez and Sultana Magalij

Mustafa Tameez, Eileen Lawal

Steve Alvis, Cecilia Brown

Sultana, Mimi Levine, Kathy Goosen

Sylvia Quan, Lily Foster