Children’s Museum Celebrates Reopening, Raises $155,000 at Lavish Luncheon

Children’s Museum Celebrates Reopening, Raises $155,000 at Lavish Luncheon

Milessa Lowrie, Jackie Effenson, Leigh McFarlane, Susan Barrett

MORE THAN 200 supporters of the Children's Museum Houston gathered inside Lott Hall at the McGovern Centennial Gardens for the annual Friends and Families luncheon.


Chairs Maris Castro and Milessa Lowrie welcomed guests, clad in beautiful and seasonal floral attire, to the event, which was initially to take place outdoors in the blooming gardens but was moved inside due to weather. The afternoon's featured speaker was best-selling author Julie Lythcott-Haims, who joined virtually to share personal accounts of "overparenting." Attendees also enjoyed a tasty lunch courtesy of Jackson & Co. and partook in a raffle that included items like suites at Astros and Dynamo games, and a "dine around town" package of restaurant gift cards.

The luncheon raised $155,000 that will go toward early childhood and parenting programs at the Children's Museum, which just reopened this week after a year-long Covid-related closure.

Kate Stukenberg, Stefani Mayberry

Abbie Giraud, Allison O'Neill, Alison Powell, Kelly Scofield

Dr. Amina Malik, Maris Castro, Dr. Emily Mintz

Julia Morales, Jason Castro, Maris Castro

Kate and Baron Doke

Katie Arnoldy, Kristy Bradshaw

Maris Castro, Elaine Balagia Croucher

Masha Lyons and Jodi Rubenstein

Megan Vondra, Jessica Leeke, Jordan Seff

Parties
Alira Med Spa's Escarle Silva Travels World ‘Searching for the Best Tricks to Help Others’

Alira Med Spa Owner, World Travel Blogger, Influencer, Philanthropist

Med Spa Owner

As a small business owner, I get to wear many hats. I became an Aesthetician to gain more knowledge about the services my business was going to provide, thinking that I will only focus on the administrative side of the business. Soon I became the business administrator and the lead Aesthetician. Currently, I am hands-on with our social media and marketing promotions, in addition to my regular facial clients. As time has passed, I realized I needed it to ramp up my services and technology to keep up with our competitors and now we offer a wide variety of Medical Spa services such as injectables and laser treatments. Visit aliramedspa.com to book an appointment today!

Keep Reading Show less

Christine Johnson and Jody Merritt

A LOVELY AND truly heart-felt tradition continued, when Saks Fifth Avenue and its 5115 restaurant hosted the 14th annual Houston Sweethearts tea.

Keep Reading Show less
Party People

ON JAN. 3, 2025, I observed a big personal anniversary. As of that day, it’d been 20 years since I first moved to Houston — from the Big Apple media circus, by way of my home state of Louisiana — and began working as an editor in the lifestyle-magazine biz here. It’s been two full decades, which is hard to believe! I like to joke that I’m far too young and good-looking to have done anything for two decades. But here we are.

Keep Reading Show less