Center for Pursuit Raises Nearly a Quarter-Mil at ‘Spirited’ Lunch

Daniel Ortiz
Center for Pursuit Raises Nearly a Quarter-Mil at ‘Spirited’ Lunch

Vicki Luna, Melissa Gonzalez & Gloria Zenteno

SUPPORTERS OF ANOTHER Houston org enthusiastically raised a glass to the return of in-person fundraising. The Center for Pursuit's "Renew Our Spirit" lunch, held at River Oaks Country Club on Tuesday, raised $230,000 to further the nonprofit's mission to serving the needs of Houston-area adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.


The 250 guests braved yet another day of downpours to enjoy the program, which featured Baylor College of Medicine President Paul Klotman — introduced by Mayor Sylvester Turner — and offered a preview of Center's forthcoming new campus, slated to open in the East End in July.

Center's Charles C. Canton also announced the addition of a partnership between the organization and Social Motion Skills, whose Aspire Accessories program employs adults with autism and other special needs to create beautiful, unique products like jewelry and custom gifts.

Allison and Tommy Edwards

Barbara and Ronald Cuenod

Robert Gallegos and Gracie Saenz

David and Lisa Handal

David Baldwin, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Charles Canton and Dr. Paul Klotman

Donna and Chris Gaut

Doug Orr, Stephanie Page and Marie Baldwin

Jane Cummings and Marilu Garza

Leila Perrin, Charity Yarborough and Steve Winter

Leisa Holland Nelson and Bob Bowmna

Mike Smith, Angelique Law and Tyler Karr

Related Articles Around the Web
Parties

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less