Fall Philanthropy Report: Be An Angel Improves Quality of Life for Children with Special Needs
Oct. 8, 2024
What year was your organization launched? 1986 by a small group of committee community members that believed special needs children were not receiving basic life services.
What is your mission? It is our mission to improve the quality of life for children withs special needs by providing adaptive equipment, hearing devices, select services, and support programs.
Why did you launch the organization? We believe that children are the heart and soul of humanity, that they represent all that is good within us, and that we can help children with special needs experience life at their fullest potential.
What are you most proud of? We have immediate results for the children needing most any kind of medical adaptive equipment. No long waiting periods. Children and their families who have been waiting between 10-12 years for respite services alone from governmental services receive respite care within 30 days or less. All with a very small administrative staff and hundreds of volunteers. Additionally, we have opened offices in DFW and San Antonio.
What’s been your impact in the community? Be An Angel has provided adaptive equipment, respite care and other select services to over 9900 special needs children from birth to age 22 in just this past year alone. These children generally come from limited to low-income families.
Tell us about your big event. We are proud of the many events hosted by Be An Angel each year. Every February we host Purse Bingo with over 600 participants winning luxury end purses and prizes. Dan Pastorini hosts his Celebrity Golf Tournament which has raised more than 2 million dollars in the past years he has supported these children. Additionally, our Spring Gala, with “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” theme raises well over $700,000 per year.
How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? We currently have 5 employees in Houston, and two in DFW and San Antonio. We are thankful for over 600 volunteers assisting us each year.
What are your major challenges? Sharing our story making families know we are here to help them.
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Symphony's Sold-Out Wine Dinner Serves Up a Foodie Feast, Draws Nearly $1M for Community Programs
Priscilla Dickson
May. 20, 2025
Chairs Elia and Michael Gabbanelli
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER sold-out Wine Dinner and Collector's Auction for the Houston Symphony. This year's event was chaired by Elia and Michael Gabbanelli, and raised more than $900,000 for the Symphony's education and community programs.
An impressive 365 guests, Champagne in hand, perused the silent auction during the cocktail hour. Buzzed-about packages included a seven-night Tuscan adventure, six bottles of vintage Red Bourdeaux, and more. Once the dinner chimes rang, everyone made their way to the Jones Hall stage, which was outfitted with intricate candelabras and richly colorful blooms courtesy of The Events Company, a nod to the evening's tehem, A Bacchanal Feast.
This year's "feast" was prepared by beloved chef Danny Trace of Potente and featured wine pairings expertly chosen by John and Lindy Rydman and Lisa Rydman Lindsey of Spec's. The five-course menu was a special treat for attendees. Trace's entree, a perigeux veal with goat-cheese polenta, was truly mouthwatering. And his dessert — a decadent double chocolate cake topped with caramel crunch pearls and Chambord — ensured the evening ended on a high note!
Carey Kirkpatrick, Ken and Mady Kades
Aerin and Quentin Smith
Ann and Jonathan Ayre
Sippi and Ajay Khurana
Betty and Jesse Tutor
Robert and Joan Duff
Bob Weiner and Collector's Auction Chair Jack Matzer
Ralph Burch, Vicki West and Robert Sakowitz
Margaret Alkek Williams, Gary Ginstling
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Lindy and John Rydman
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Fried Chicken, Fancy Bubbles, and a Side of Glamour: Sundays at The Marigold Club Just Got Fun
May. 20, 2025
Chef-owner Austin Waiter of The Marigold Club, now serving fried chicken and Champagne on Sunday nights.
IF YOUR SUNDAY nights could use a little sparkle—and a lot of fried chicken—The Marigold Club has just the thing. Starting May 25 at 5pm, the Montrose hotspot known for its playful mix of Southern charm and London polish is rolling out a new weekly tradition: Fried Chicken & Champagne Sundays.
This isn’t your average comfort food situation. We're talking a shareable fried chicken dinner for two, made with farm-raised birds from Deeply Rooted Ranch, and served alongside buttery whipped potatoes, minted peas, aged cheddar scones, and some over-the-top sauces — including a foie gras sauce supreme that’s as extra as it sounds.
And the drinks? They’re going big. Champagne bottles are half-off, and if you’ve ever dreamed of sipping Krug by the glass with your fried chicken, this is your moment. Feeling fancy? Add caviar service and settle in for the kind of Sunday that’s anything but sleepy.
Set inside The Marigold Club’s moody, glam dining room — think velvet, Murano chandeliers, and hand-painted murals — this new weekly tradition is giving end-of-weekend blues a very bubbly makeover.
Reservations are highly recommended. Southern comfort never looked (or tasted) so good.
Fried chicken for two, buttery mashed potatoes and half-priced Champagne are on the new Sunday menu at The Marigold Club.
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