Dominique Sachse, Debbie Festari, Brigitte Kalai and Nicole Lassiter
Before dining on grilled radicchio Caesar salads and Airline chicken chasseur —chocolate mousse cake for dessert — this year’s honorees were presented to a crowd of nearly 450. The 2023 Women of Substance included Gina Bhatia, Laura Davenport, Elsie Eckert, Debbie Festari, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Kathy Givens, April McGee, Jordan Seff, Elizabeth Stein, Paula Sutton, Stephanie Tsuru and Rini Ziegler.
“All honorees had their fan base in the audience, but no one did it better than those supporting April McGee,” noted a rep for the event’s organizers. “They raised cut out images of her beautiful face as she was announced and erupted in cheers of joyous praise and adoration! Disruptive and delicious!”
Another highlight was a surprise musical performance. St. Francis student and son of co-chair Sippi, Shaan Khurana, 14, moved through the crowd Oprah-style singing “You Raise Me Up,” before joining his backup singers on stages for a rousing crescendo. Richard Brown musicians provided accompaniment.
Half a million bucks was raised — thanks in part to a successful auction and three surprise last-minute gifts of $20,000 each — for reVision, whose mission is to provide “a community of kinship, connecting caring adult volunteers, case managers, mental health professionals, and faith communities with disconnected youth,” the organization says.
Boldface names filled the hotel ballroom, including Jeff and Rachel Bagwell, Kelly Anzilotti, Philamena Baird, Devinder Bhatia, Bill and Cheryl King, Susan Boggio, Donae Chramosta, Andrew Cordes, Yvonne Cormier, Bobby Dees, Sidney Faust, Tena Faust, Elaine Finger, Gregg Harrison, Brigitte Kalai, Ajay Khurana, Nicole Lassiter, Tama Lundquist, Carmen and Butch Mach, Joella and Steve Mach, Lenny Matazewski, Melissa Mithoff, Bobbie Nau, Bruce Padilla and Shelby Kibodeaux, David Peck, Dominique Sachse, Laura Stein, Stacey Swift, Ileana Trevino, Elaine Turner, Betty Tutor, Astrid Van Dyke, Barbara Van Postman, Hallie Vanderhider, Beth Wolff, Cynthia Wolff and Sherri Zucker.
Andrew Cordes and Tena Faust
Sippi Khurana and Ajay Khurana
Deborah Duncan and Ernie Manouse
Cynthia Wolff and Beth Wolff
Dr. Devinder Bhatia and Gina Bhatia
Duke and CC Ensell
Kathy Givens
Stephanie Tsuru and Betty Hrncir
Jacob Stein, Elizabeth Stein and Laura Stein
Kelly Anzilotti, Susan Boggio, Sherri Zucker and Perri Palermo
Suzan Deison and Fran Litchenstein
Regina Rogers, Franelle Rogers, Reverend Carrie Leader, Warner Roberts and Dr. Yvonne Cormier
Brigitte Kalai, Casey Curry, Susan Boggio
Featuring and multi-faith invocation, including uplifting words from leaders in the city’s Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities and others, the annual event raised nearly $750,000 to support the organization’s various services. These include Meals on Wheels and an “Animeals” program that feeds pets for in-need shut-ins.
The event began with jazz band “Brass Animals” making a lively second line through the “mocktail” hour at the Hilton Americas in Downtown. “During the reception, guests were treated to live art demonstrations including Sana Mirza creating Thuluth style calligraphy, illuminating the arabesque in gold,” added a rep for the event’s organizers. “Nazli Cizmeci presented the art of Ebru, the Turkish practice of paper marbling.” A dinner of chicken marsala and seared seabass followed, with a vegetarian option of portobello mushroom with saag paneer.
Honorees for the evening — Pastors Juanita and Rudy Rasmus of St. John’s United Methodist Church, and dedicated philanthropists and volunteers Susan and Dan Boggio — were lavished with well-deserved praise.
Co-chairs for the evening included Karen and Jay Harberg, and Tehmina and Faisal Masud; Brigitte and Bashar Kalai served as honorary chairs. VIP guests included Kathy Flanagan, David Leebron, Y. Ping Sun, Beth Wolff, Casey Curry, Paul-David Van Atta, Gregg Harrison, Tama Lundquist, Tena Lundquist Faust, Amy Pierce, Robert Sakowitz, Philamena and Arthur Baird, and Karen Labat of Shell USA.
Christina Jones and Dr Kathy Flanagan
Dr. Faisal and Tehmina Masud with Karen and Jay Harberg
Jill and Mark Eddings
Rudy and Juanita Rasmus with Christina and Stacy Jones
Vican and Stephanie Sun
Nihala Zakaria and Mandy Kao
Susanne and Randall Evans