Derby Day Bash at Polo Club Nets Big Bucks for Bo’s Place Nonprofit

Derby Day Bash at Polo Club Nets Big Bucks for Bo’s Place Nonprofit

Christie Sullivan, Millette Sherman and Alissa Maples

THE HOUSTON POLO Club was an ideal setting for the annual Hats, Hearts & Horseshoes benefiting Bo's Place over the weekend. The glam Kentucky Derby watch party, in its fifth iteration, made a mighty comeback on Saturday, after being cancelled last year due to Covid.


Some 250 supporters donned seasonal finery to sip mint juleps and watch the Run for the Roses on multiple large screens. Medina Spirit won, as did guest who bet on him on the "racing wall." The prize was a gift card to IW Marks jewelers.

Chairs of the successful event were Alissa and Kevin Maples, Millette and Haag Sherman, and Christie and Mark Sullivan. Honorary Chairs included Paige Fertitta, Megan and Luke Hotze, Hannah and Cal McNair, Hallie Vanderhider, and Kelli and John Weinzierl.

Guests included Debbie Gregg, Fady Armanious, Bill Baldwin, Stacey and Al Lindseth, Jade and David Shine, Beth Wolff, Travis Torrence, Maria and Neil Bush, Julia and Harvin Lawhon, Tonja De Sloover and Adam Hricik.

In all, the Derby event raised more than $280,000 for Bo's Place, a nonprofitbereavement center that offers grief support services for children, families, and adults who have lost loved ones, at no cost.

Andrea Rigamanti, Erika Benz, Randi Raizner

Brooks Bently Gunst and Lila Sharifian

Carolyn Faulk and Missa Sutton

Cheryl Haseeb, Denise O' Brian, James and Nicole Lasseter

Cicely Reid and Travis Torrence

David Hartland, Megan and Jason Wilkins

Debbie Bernstein, Rozlyn Bazzelle, Bailey Dalton-Binion

Kelli and John Weinzierl

Mark and Christie Sullivan, Kevin and Alissa and Maples, Millette and Haag Sherman

Paige Fertitta and Deanna Barton

Stacey and Al Lindseth

Parties
Fall Philanthropy Report: Urban Harvest Farmers Market Helps ‘Transform Food Accessibility’

What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.

Keep Reading Show less

Nancy Gonzalez, Denise Reyes, Christina Jack, Destiny Fernandisse (photo by Emily Jaschke)

WHEN THE GRANDE dame of Houston philanthropy steps up to chair the annual gala for one of Houston’s most elite cultural institutions, expect high elegance to abound and big bucks to roll in.

Keep Reading Show less

Debbie Festari, Ann Carl, Alicia Smith and Edward Sanchez (photo by Jacob Power)

A FABULOUSLY FASHIONABLE crowd of more than 650 turned up at the American Cancer Society’s annual Tickled Pink luncheon at the Post Oak Hotel. All wearing pink, because of course, they came to raise money for breast cancer research, and also to support some of Houston’s most generous and beloved ladies — chair Sippi Khurana and honorary chairs Leisa Holland-Nelson-Bowman, Donna Lewis, and Beth Wolff.

Keep Reading Show less
Wellness+Giving Back