parties

Day Out with JVN Headlines HSPVA’s Record-Breaking Lunch and Auction

Day Out with JVN Headlines HSPVA’s Record-Breaking Lunch and Auction

Bob Eury, Deborah Keyser & James Stafford

HSPVA CELEBRATED FIVE years at its Downtown campus with a 1920s-jazz-club-inspired luncheon for 300 supporters. Guests were transported to the days of swing dancing as a student-conducted band played music by Duke Ellington, while performers, donning showgirl and flapper costumes from the high school’s performance of After Midnight, danced along.

Lunch was served onstage in the school’s Denney Theatre. The meal was unusually decadent for a luncheon, as chef Michelle Morris of Southern Cadence Cuisine served chicken scarpariello with pickled sweet peppers, a white wine Calabrian chili, crispy potatoes — and finished off with a chocolate pot de crème for dessert.

A toast was given by HISD Superintendent Mike Miles who spoke of his personal appreciation for arts education. A live auction followed, and the package featuring a day out with Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness — including a hair and skincare consultation — went for $6,000.

The afternoon raised a record-breaking $306,700 for Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. These funds will provide arts supplies, adjunct faculty, specialized equipment and technology, and other essential building blocks of Kinder HSPVA’s nationally acclaimed, tuition-free arts curriculum.

Kinder HSPVA students welcome guests

Duke & C.C. Ensell

Jo Furr, Leslie Wade, Shawn Stephens, and Kelley Lubanko

Mike Miles

Kinder HSPVA Jazz Director Warren Sneed and 2024 Distinguished Alumna Helen Sung

Kerry Walker and Victoria Lazar

Kennard & Dawn McGuire

HSPVA Friends Executive Director Alene Coggin and Philip Edmundson

Frank Angelle, Patricia Bonner, Algenita Scott Davis, and Zakiya Thomas

Chairs Tissy & Rusty Hardin and Bob Eury

Parties
promoted

Exclusive Furniture’s Sam Zavary Credits Luck, Hard Work and ‘Mom’s Prayers’ for His Success

Exclusive Furniture’s Sam Zavary Credits Luck, Hard Work and ‘Mom’s Prayers’ for His Success

How did you get to where you are today? I am a firm believer that hard work and having dreams that you strive to achieve will motivate and inspire people to achieve their potential. Working hard, dreaming, and making sure to take advantage of every opportunity is something I learned at a young age. I credit God and God’s grace firstly, but I know that success is a direct result of hard work. I tell my podcast subscribers and followers to continue setting goals, evolving, improving, and planning, and I practice what I preach. I am proud to have started my business in the fastest growing major city in the United States, and I attribute a lot of the success of Exclusive Furniture to the family culture we create in the best city — Houston’s diversity, philanthropy, and innovation have helped me achieve a lot of the milestones in the furniture business (and the “low prices”) you see today!

Keep Reading Show less
parties

Children’s Museum Supporters Go Goth-Glam at Million-Dollar Gala

Alexander's Fine Portraits

THE CORINTHIAN WAS the scene for a haunted happening benefiting Children’s Museum Houston. The decidedly adult bash was filled with dark allure, gothic glamour, and generosity to the tune of $1.14 million, the second-highest total in the event’s history.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties
parties

‘You’re the Inspiration’: Generous Donors Give $6.2 Mil to Kids’ Charity as Famous Band Takes Stage

Michelle Watson/Catchlight Group

Morris Smith, Tilman Fertitta and Toni Smith

THE HOUSTON CHILDREN'S Charity gala is always anticipated, thanks to the big-deal musical acts brought in to entertain; this year it was Chicago. But the headliners this year were the generous donors, who seemed to surprise even event organizer with their largesse, with a total till of $6.2 million, a record.

Keep Reading Show less
Party People