photos by JULIE SOEFER
styling by KATE STUKENBERG
model MICHAELA McCLURE FOR WALLFLOWER MANAGEMENT
hair and makeup by TONYA RINER
styling assistance by GRETA CONNOLLY
Shot on location in Montrose
Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith and Deborah Duncan
There was no shortage of cowboy boots, hats or fashionable fringe at the Hilton Americas-Houston, where the fourth-floor ballroom was transformed to display the splashy, colorful "Paint the Town" theme. The event offered a chance for supporters to applaud all of the Trailblazer honorees over the years, plus the class of 2025, which included Beth Briscoe, Christy Stern, Lisa Schutzenhofer, Michelle Verbois, Rainey Janke and Teresa Jordan.
The fashion show featured spring styles from Saks Fifth Avenue, and took place against a vibrant backdrop and light tubes hanging from the ceiling. KHOU's Mia Gradney and Len Cannon emceed the program, which had Rodeo representative Pat Mann Phillips and Trailblazer honchos Wendy Lewis Armstrong and Ann Massey give remarks to the crowd.
In the past decade or so, the Trailblazer ladies have supported education and literary in Houston with two programs: Rodeo ROPES (Reading Opens the Path to Education Success) has collected and distributed 620,000 children’s books through the nonprofit Books Between Kids. The group also created SPURS (Students Pursuing Unlimited Reading and Writing Success), a program that organizes a writing competition and leads Rodeo Read Along, a weekend storytime on Rodeo grounds.
Alison Cravey, Heather Kolos, Kim Price
Vanessa Kriegel, Roxy Sanford, Heather Lebure, Amanda Baldwin
Charity Stone, Lisa Schutzenhofer, David Stone
Susannah and Edd Compton, Matt Perrien, Susan Whller Scott
Christina Greene McAllen and David McAllen
Stedman Grigsby, Breston Hall, Kirby Janke, Ryan O'Smith
Darlene Dye, Kelly Larkin, Terry Agris
Cynthia Wolff, Heidi Rockecharlie, Karen Payne, Elsie Eckert
Stacy Behringer, Christy Maloy, Allison Smolik, Jaclyn Diaz
Erin Jackson, Katie Clapp, Autumn Jackson, Stacee Howse
Sandra Crook, Jennifer Hoff, Denise Blonde, Kathleen Mach
Romeo Saenz, Chris Miller
Heidi Turney, Nicole Lasseter
Lesley Briones, Cinthya Reade, Nina Altuve
Robin Young Ellis, Tina Bradley, Dominique Bartholett
Honorees Lisa Schutzenhofer, Beth Briscoe, Christy Stern, Michelle Verbois, Teresa Jordan, Rainey Janke
Rachel Regan and Jayne Johnston
Jan Rountree, Susan Coburn, Chelsea Coburn
Jim Wynne, Pat Mann Phillips and Keith Steffek
Megan Strickland and Sheryl McAndrew
Kristina Somerville, Julia Morales and April Salazar
Kirby and David Lodholz and Ann Massey
Lisa Rich, Jessica Givens, Coco Lu
Festive balloons wrapped the store, courtesy of Topped Off, and Johnny Bravo kept the beats spinning all evening long — and emceed the fashion show! It featured community leaders and Homemade Hope supporters strutting their stuff in the latest looks from Tootsies and Festari for Men.
Following the runway presentation, Johnny Bravo announced winners of raffle prizes — tickets to see Luke Bryan at the Rodeo, a Tootsies shopping spree, and Astros' Diamond Club seats were highly coveted items! More than $75,000 was raised to further Homemade Hope's mission.
Tiffany Halik, Trent Kelley, Laurie Cacioppo
Adam Greer
Bart and Beverly Bentley
Scarlett Hankey and Brooke Bentley Gunst
Calvin Krall and Monica Patel
Oliver Stevenson and Mary Lou Pringle
Michelle Leal, Rome Street
Blair Bentley and Brooke Bentley Gunst
Chelsea Collmer and Laurie Sanders
Lisa Woods
Debbie and Rudy Festari
Brittany Owen
Linda Bischoff, Alex Heins, Ryan Thanos
Kendall Monroe, Katie Tsuru
Julie Thomas, Kathleen Graf, lila Sherifan
Ellecia Knolle
Haniyeh Mirdamadi and Young Son
Heidi Feller, Sandy Patout
Heidi Feller, Sandy Patout
Jessica Givens, Melissa McDavid, Rae Solberg