¡Viva la Fiesta! Houston's Hispanic Icons Honored at Glam Gala

Daniel Ortiz and Quy Tran
¡Viva la Fiesta! Houston's Hispanic Icons Honored at Glam Gala

Marcelo Saenz, Silvia Salle and Adrian Duenas

AROUND 400 HOUSTONIANS dressed up to party down at the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston's annual scholarship fundraiser. As with many of the city's best parties, the black-tie to-do was held in the ballroom of the Hilton Americas.


Chaired by Marcelo Saenz, Adrian Duenas and Silvia Salle, the evening raised $300,000 for the nonprofit's mission of promoting inclusive and diverse programming and providing scholarships to exemplary students of Hispanic descent. Some students were presented with their merit-based scholarships at the gala.

The "Viva" event also honored heroes among the Hispanic community: German and Micheline Newall, Ricky Flores and Monica Medina, Jose and Giannina Altuve, Isabel and Ignacio Torras, Mari Carmen Ramirez, Rosalinda Martinez, Silvia Graves, Laura and Rick Jaramillo, and Tony Bonilla Sr.

Emcees Deborah Duncan and Ron Trevino, with the help of energetic ballroom-dance performances, kept the crowd lively — and at the end of the night, the Calle Swing band had everyone on their feet. What a fiesta!

Yordan and Monica Alvarez

Micheline and German Newall

China Contreras, Adrian Duenas, Amanda Edwards, Roberto Contreras IV and Marcelo Saenz

Nina Altuve

Milka Waterland, Rania Edlebi and Elia Gabbanneli

Yordan Alvarez and Mayte Weitzman

Carmen Herrada

Parties
Thrive & Inspire: Michelle Reyna Wymes Stresses Importance of ‘Continuing to Learn’

Michelle Reyna Wymes, Co-Owner of The Reyna Group

WHAT'S THE SECRET to running a successful business? It is so important to stay present every day. With the fast-paced patterns of today’s society and ever-evolving technologies, I stress to our agents how important it is to continue to learn. If one reaches a point at which the ego takes over or burnout sets in and progress takes a back seat, things will get stuck. Regardless of what field you are in, I believe in starting with the basics to set and strengthen your foundation. I treat everyone we work with from our contractors, clients, to our inspectors with respect, patience and care.

Keep ReadingShow less

Tim & Martha Pandajis

ONE OF HOUSTON'S most beloved music organizations — Mercury, whose mission is to serve the community by celebrating the power of music, teaching, sharing and performing with passion, intimacy and excellence — raised a quarter-million bucks at its recent annual gala, which had a fun “Carnival of the Animals” theme.

Keep ReadingShow less
Parties

Alley resident actors (photo by Lynn Lane)

OKAY, THAT COUCH is comfy, and streaming is convenient, but nothing compares to the experience of live, in-the-flesh theater, especially as it is staged and performed at Houston’s Alley Theatre and its resident company of supremely talented actors.

Keep ReadingShow less
Art + Entertainment