Strength in Numbers

The opportunities for giving back in our post-Harvey city are great, and Houstonians have been turning up in droves for unique philanthropic events. The Run Houston Strong 5K and 10K, which took place the morning after the Astros clenched the World Series, raised more than $10,000 for Homemade Hope, which supports children and families affected by Harvey. ... Hermann Park’s Urban Green young professional group also celebrated the Astros’ win at its H-Town Throw Down. ... And the annual Backpack Blast sporting clays tournament raised nearly $310,000 for the Houston Food Bank’s Backpack Buddy program, which facilitates weekend meals for underprivileged kids.


Cyndi Robbins and Ryan Demkovich at ‘Urban’
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Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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A BIG CROWD turned up at the Post Oak Hotel for the Children at Risk gala, raising some $360,000 focused on “understanding and addressing the root causes of child poverty and inequality,” per its mission statement.

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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.

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