parties

A Night Among the Stars: St. Jude Gala Soars to $1.65 Million with Out-of-This-World Celebration

Jacob Powers and Priscilla Dickson
A Night Among the Stars: St. Jude Gala Soars to $1.65 Million with Out-of-This-World Celebration

SpaceX Crew - Scott Poteet, Sarah Gillis, Anna Memon, Jared Isaacman

STREAMERS FILLED THE air at the end of the night as 500 guests at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital gala celebrated raising a record $1.65 million.

Set against a celestial backdrop, the outer-space-themed gala launched with a cocktail reception that sparkled with star power. VIPs—including the Polaris Dawn space crew—mingled with St. Jude families and supporters while sipping the evening’s signature cocktail: the Miracle Mule, a shimmering purple twist on the classic.

After floating through a constellation of silent auction items, the crowd made their way into the ballroom at The Revaire for a program hosted by event chairs Erika and Neil Billingsley-Michaelsen. One of the night’s most moving moments came as Amal Zakhem Nassar was presented with the Mission Maker Award, lovingly introduced by her daughters, Natalia and Daniella.

Emotions continued to soar as Shane and Shari Anne took the stage to share the journey of their son, Slater, a St. Jude patient. Diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma at age 4, Slater’s odds were daunting—but thanks to therapies pioneered by St. Jude, his survival rate increased from 51% to an astounding 74%. As Slater and his brother Sawyer joined their parents on stage, the crowd was reminded exactly why they were there.

The lively auction included a Polaris Dawn jacket with St. Jude patient artwork and a space-flown flight tag selling for $30,000. A luxury watchmaking class for four, paired with an exclusive IWC timepiece, clocked in at another $30,000.

The celebration turned festive as the band Infinite Groove took the stage. The UH vs. Duke game was projected on two large screens and the second big cheers of the night erupted when the Cougars beat the Blue Devils.

George Zakhem and Amal Zakhem Nassar

Aliza Dutt, Laura Mafrige, Debbie Pakzaban

Steve Froelich

Sarah Pappas and Julia Wang

Neil & Erika Billingsley-Michaelsen

Norman Abdallah, Andy "Riggs" Riggle, Rea Foster and Joe Sauger

Dr. Tze Lyn Stephanie Tseeng & Brian Gallagher

Rea Foster, Matt & Ann McCabe

Suzy Godwin & Tamara Mannen

promoted

Thrive & Inspire: Working with Seniors — ‘America’s Best’ — a Joy for Medicare Expert Justin White

Thrive & Inspire: Working with Seniors — ‘America’s Best’ — a Joy for Medicare Expert Justin White

Justin White, Founder of Senior Health Services

WHAT IS THE secret to running a successful business? First, you have to have a mission that you care about. I absolutely love helping people understand Medicare! Secondly, I have always succeeded because the agents I work with know that I care for them and truly want them to succeed. I love developing leaders and watching them soar! If I help them get where they want to be, I will never need to worry about me! We all rise together.

Keep Reading Show less
food

Októ Joins Mi Luna and Marmo as Hot Spots at Mediterranean-Marvelous Montrose Collective

Paella Valenciana at Mi Luna

THOUGH IT'S BEEN in Houston less than a decade, Sof Hospitality has made major inroads with foodies and critics alike. Its concepts include Doris Metropolitan, Hamsa and Badolina Bakery, all of which deliver the rich flavors of Israeli cuisine in complex, photogenic and delicious dishes. Its newest, Októ, opened earlier this year, one of several energetic restaurants to bow in the Montrose Collective, just in time for the holidays.

Keep Reading Show less
Food
art

Five Fabulously Diverse Exhibits Are Arriving at Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Bill Viola’s ‘Ascension,’ on display as part of ‘Living with the Gods’ at MFAH

THE ARTIST WHO ushered in the expressionist movement in the early 20th century was not, in fact, Picasso or Matisse. It was Paul Gauguin, whose career spanned the decades just preceding the turn of the century. The French painter is the subject of the Museum of Fine Arts’ latest exhibit, Gauguin in the World, which was organized by Henri Loyrette (formerly of the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris). The show, just one of the museum’s diverse winter season shows, debuted in Australia in June and will be on display through Feb. 16, 2025, at the MFAH, the only U.S. venue for the survey.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment