Thousands of Kids Have 'A Place to Dream' Thanks to Record-Breaking Furniture Bank Event

Thousands of Kids Have 'A Place to Dream' Thanks to Record-Breaking Furniture Bank Event

Dean Todd, Stacey Todd, Cinde Matocha, Gary Matocha

HUNDREDS OF GUESTS packed River Oaks Country Club for The Furniture Bank's annual fundraising event. They hit the ballroom floor to ensure no kid sleeps on the floor!


Emcee Linda Lorelle introduced the "A Place to Dream" video documenting the efforts of founder Oli Mohammed and city leaders to give furniture to Houston families in need. The evening's honorees included Youval Meicler of Texas Mattress Makers, and the late Ralph Marek, whose son Stan graciously accepted the award.

A live auction led by Johnny Bravo got the crowd excited, and musician Doug Montgomery kept the energy high all the way through dessert and coffee. A record-breaking $300,000 was raised for The Furniture Bank, which has since 2018 provided beds to more than 4,000 children in need.

Aaron and Jessica Glick

Syed and Kelsey Iman

Ben Marek, Neha Dubey

Stan Marek and Regina Rogers

Bob Gulitti, Lisa Gulitti

Oli Mohammed, Jeff Cummins, Harry Cummins

Kevin Gilliard and Frank Billingsley

Michele and Youval Meicler

Mike and Francie Willis

Laura Barnett, Daniel Cavazos

John Parsley, Mike Holland, Stan Marek, Brent Ballard

Parties

Oscar Wyatt and friend on the roof of his Coastal oil and gas company in Houston in 1990

ONE OF HOUSTON'S most prominent and at times controversial businessmen will turn 100 next week. Oscar Wyatt, oilman and World War II hero, will meet the century mark July 11.

Keep Reading Show less
Business+Innovation

Chocolate souffle tart at Turner's Cut (photo by Brian Kennedy)

RESTAURATEUR BEN BERG, founder of Berg Hospitality, must never sleep. Just when you think he’s introduced his final restaurant concept, here come two more newbies in one week, with another baby on the way.

Keep Reading Show less