Huge Crowd — Including Roller-Skating Divas — Brings Down the 'House' for Ronald McDonald

Daniel Ortiz and Jacob Power
Huge Crowd — Including Roller-Skating Divas — Brings Down the 'House' for Ronald McDonald

AJ and Siobhan Gracely

GALA SEASON IS now in its prime, and Houston socialites are as busy as they've been in years! More than 700 gathered at the Hilton Americas hotel to toast 40 years of the city's Ronald McDonald House at a gala chaired by Allison and Dan Connally.


Founded by Liz Kelley, the organization provides care and long-term support for families going through treatment in the Med Center. Her son, Sean Kelley, who suffered from childhood cancer, was her inspiration, and made an appearance at the big event. Longtime patrons, including Emily and Holcombe Crosswell, Peggy and Dick East, Flo McGee, Marilyn and Louis Mogas, and Diane and John Riley, were presented with an award thanking them for their decades of support.

The party had all the usual activities, including silent and live auctions — the latter of which gave away an impossibly cute Australian Labradoodle to the highest bidder.

Before the Dry Water Band took to the stage, Board President Larry Hanrahan had everyone raise a glass to the occasion — and then confetti canons shot into the air and roller-skating dancers appeared, gliding around the room to the tune of "Dancing Queen."

The evening raised a million dollars to further Ronald McDonald House's mission to provide families a home away from home during trying times.

Tara and William Nieves

Allen Crosswell and Amy Rozell

Ritu and Kunal Nadkarhi

Alvin Abraham and Beth Wolff

Cookie and Larry Hanrahan

Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook

Cristina Vetrano and Allison and Dan Connally

John and Diane Riley with the auction-prize pup

'Dancing Queen'

John and Bridget Brennan

Wells and April McGee

Peggy and Dick East

Parties
The Latest in Anti-Aging Tech Now Available in River Oaks

Dr. Edward Lee and Nuveau

DR. EDWARD LEE believes in bringing the most advance treatment options to his patients at Nuveau. At the River Oaks practice, he performs the latest nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures, such as BOTOX and fillers, various laser treatments, and other nonsurgical treatmetns such as CoolSculpting and EmSculpt. He also does facelifts, upper and lower blepharoplasty, brow lift, and rhinoplasty for facial rejuvenation. Plus, he can achieve natural results with breast augmentation and breast lift surgery, as well as body contouring, such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, Brazilian butt lift and mommy makeovers.

Keep ReadingShow less

Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

ONE OF THE most elegant and anticipated galas of the year — Asia Society Texas’ Tiger Ball — drew some of the society set’s heaviest hitters. And it scored a new personal best in terms of dollars, raking in a whopping $1.73 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Art + Entertainment

The patio at Heights & Co.

IT'S ALMOST TIME for summer vacations, but Heights & Co. is offering escapes on its newly redecorated patio in the form of wine and movie nights — no passport needed! Visit France, Italy, Greece, Spain, and more through wine pairings and tasting menus, all complemented by movies set in each location.

Keep ReadingShow less
Food