Country-Music Stars Shine at Holiday Fundraiser in River Oaks

Wilson Parish
Country-Music Stars Shine at Holiday Fundraiser in River Oaks

Michael Humphries, Cameron Patterson, John Patterson and Jarrod Brown

A MUSICAL EVENING at River Oaks Country Club raised $600,000 for Nashville-based nonprofit Mission Lazarus, which funds transformational development work in Honduras and Haiti.


The “Songs on a Mission” gala, an annual event since 2017, kicked off with cocktails in the foyer, where guests browsed a selection of silent auction items before heading into the ballroom for dinner. Emcee Bryan Simpson, a singer-songwriter, introduced himself along with the other musical guests, Zach Crowell and Ben Johnson, who together have written hits sung by Dierks Bentley, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and many others. They performed their chart-toppers for the enthralled crowd of 200.

After the jam sesh, the live auction kept the energy high, with prizes like a Caribbean yacht trip and a resort weekend at Horseshoe Bay; the raffle and door prizes contributed greatly to the evening’s total till as well.

Zach Crowell, Bryan Simpson and Ben Johnson

Andi and Chad St. Jean

Traci Morrow, Tiffany Morrow and Kim Jenkins

Bret and Angela Strong

Shari and Ed Wood

Bryan Simpson, Zach Crowell and Ben Johnson on stage

Robert and Stacy Beasley

Gabi and Jarrod Brown

Herb and Alice Burtrum

Rex and Pam Lindberg

Justin and Casey Pollard

Niki Smith and Terri Tarwater

Mia and Jeff Calvert

Lindsey and Carson Tomalin

Mercedes and Ben Ahiabor

Mark and Rhonda Norville, Jeanae King and Mike Aldridge

Parties
Leadership in Action: ‘Setting Clear Goals’ Among Secrets of Success for Attorney Jess Bailey

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places

Gayla Gardner, Jacquie Baly and Julie Baker Finck

THE DOCTOR IS in! One of Houston’s most engaged civic leaders, Jacquie Baly, has a new title after earning her Doctorate in Education and Organizational Change & Leadership from USC. And some of the city’s heavy hitters turned up for a swanky reception at Tony’s to congratulate her. “Education and community leadership go hand in hand,” said Dr. Baly. “This honor fuels my continued mission to create meaningful change.”

And they weren’t alone in their admiration. Both the City of Houston and the State of Texas declared the day of the to-do “Dr. Jacquie Baly Day,” complete with official proclamations.

Keep Reading Show less
Style+Culture

Houston Arboretum

WE ALL LOVE a Rodeo, but sometimes we need options for events that have a different energy, speed — and crowd size. Check out some artsy, unique happenings around Houston in March!

Keep Reading Show less