Celebrating Houston’s World-Class Medical Community, ‘Brave Heart’ Gala Is a Good Time After a Trying Year

Celebrating Houston’s World-Class Medical Community, ‘Brave Heart’ Gala Is a Good Time After a Trying Year

Claire Davis, Jessica Bernica, Liz Bernica and Annie Bernica

IF THERE'S A group of Houstonians worthy of being celebrated in 2021, it's our medical professionals. The Brave Heart gala, chaired by June and Kenneth Mattox, toasted the contributions of the medical community and raised funds for the Health Museum.


Held at the Four Seasons, the evening started off with a soundtrack by Divisi Strings' Amp'd Quartet. Two hundred guests were seated for dinner and a program that included a testimony from transplant surgeon Ronald Cotton, who said he was inspired to pursue med school after a visit to the Health Museum in high school.

A "gift wall," sponsored by Tenenbaum Jewelers, touted enviable party favors, and the live auction — with items like a Colorado vacation, diamond earrings and a private tour of the Michael E. DeBakey Library and Museum with Dr. Mattox — contributed to the evening's total till of $317,000.

A DJ from Divisi Strings ensured every guest got on their feet by spinning tunes from the'70s, '80s, '90s and beyond.

Kenneth and June Mattox, Greg and Liz Bernica and John Arcidiacono

Swan and Theo Franklin

Elsie Whitmire

Susan and Ward Pennebaker

Sujit Prabhu and Yvonne Kew

Ron Cotton

Russell Wellstead and Danielle Bennet Wellstead

Stacy Davis

Annette Monks

Parties
Fall Philanthropy Report: March of Dimes’ ‘Signature Chefs’ Event Coming in November

What year was your organization launched? 1938

What is your mission? March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, to combat polio. The name “March of Dimes” was suggested by entertainer Eddie Cantor as a way to encourage people to donate even a small amount, like a dime, to help fight polio.

Keep Reading Show less

Derrick Shore, Tom Mays and Owen Conflenti (photo by Daniel Ortiz)

THE ALWAYS MEMORABLE Alley Theatre ball took on special significance this year, becoming not just a sexy Post Oak Hotel soiree — with “A Buenos Aires Affair” as the theme, nodding to the company’s production of Noël Coward’s Private Lives — but also an emotional sendoff to retiring longtime Managing Director Dean Gladden. It raised $1.3 million to boot.

Keep Reading Show less
Art+Culture

RICE VILLAGE JUST got a whole lot tastier.

Keep Reading Show less
Food