Western Union
Hip new runway looks mix with sexy streetwear and vintage finds for a fresh take on cowboy cool — just in time for Rodeo.
Feb. 12, 2018

Describe the mission of Make-A-Wish. Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana grants life-changing wishes for local children battling critical illnesses, serving 47 counties in Texas (from Lufkin to Corpus Christi) and the entire state of Louisiana. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child’s wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey.
How do you view your role in Make-A-Wish? I truly believe I have the greatest job in the entire world! Every day, I see the strength and bravery of the wish kids we serve and the power their wishes have to transform not only their own lives, but those of entire communities. I work with the most hard-working and dedicated staff imaginable. It’s my responsibility to ensure that they have the foundational support to effectively do their jobs and fulfill our mission at a level of excellence. I’m here to work alongside our team and Board of Directors to guide our organization daily and propel our future with limitless possibilities.
What’s unique about your approach? We are building a team based on a sincere belief in having the best and most capable staff executing our mission and serving our wish families. A key component of fulfilling this vision each day is empowerment of my team to embody a service-focused culture of achievement. My motto is, “We always find a way to make a wish happen!” We’re here for the sole purpose of making magic happen for our wish kids — it’s that simple!
What factors motivated you to choose a career in non-profit leadership? Growing up, I was fortunate to have role models who constantly showed me what true community stewardship looks like. Studying Journalism at Mizzou, I felt a strong desire to bring stories to life. Then, I saw the need for people to actively contribute to making their community stronger. It is an ongoing, rewarding and humbling journey to work with a team who shares that mindset and to bring hope to those that need it.
What are the key lessons you’ve learned? By far, the most important lesson is that we must be 100 percent kid-focused with every decision we make. There is no higher priority than our wish kids. We must act with honesty, integrity and compassion. The commitment to serve is one not to be made lightly, and we hold ourselves to standards higher than those set by anyone outside Make-A-Wish.
What’s most exciting about the future of Make-A-Wish? This summer we will grant the 10,000th wish to a local kid since our organization’s inception in 1984. This represents a very special and key milestone as Make-A-Wish is building toward our impact goal to double the number of local wishes granted annually by 2025. Get involved at http://wish.org/texgulf
THE STANDARD BEARER FOR LUXURY
We built The Village communities to exemplify sophisticated retirement living in Houston, surrounded by the heritage neighborhood of River Oaks, Tanglewood and Southampton. Each offers impeccable designer finishes and Aspenwood service detail with dining and resortstyle amenities making them premier locations for discerning Houstonians and their families. Impressive, spacious residential floor plans, generous natural light, and expansive terraces allow a new level of indoor-outdoor living. Beautiful spaces are designed for entertaining, fitness, and relaxation with a dedicated team to provide a secure lock and leave lifestyle for our members.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
We feel that our locations are ideally positioned so that residents can take advantage of familiar retail and restaurants, healthcare providers, private clubs, cultural activities, places of worship and the many walking trails, parks and green spaces that make our city so vibrant. Footsteps from the newly renovated River Oaks Theatre, elevated dining at Autry Park and minutes from downtown and the Theatre District and the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park at The Village of River Oaks. Nestled in gracious, shaded tree-lined residential neighborhoods close to Uptown and Memorial Park and popular shopping and dining at The Village of Tanglewood. To sweeping views across the treetops towards Rice University to the Museum District and the Medical Center at The Village of Southampton.
WELLNESS & CARE
All of our communities provide access to outdoor activities and connectivity to the area. So vital for wellness. We also offer a wide variety of group exercise and fitness activities daily from Tai Chi, Aerobics and Water Aquatics. Activities are plentiful – and you can take in as many or few as you wish. Including speaker events, book club, card games, Mahjong and lively happy hours. The Village communities have partnered with a premier home health company to provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, and palliative care, onsite in the building. Members whether Independent Living, Assisted Living or Memory Care are welcome to use their services for as little or as much as they may require. The Village of River Oaks is also unique in providing Optimized Care, our focused, extra needs Assisted Living which enables our members to recover onsite or receive care that might otherwise require a hospital-like setting. Our Memory Care program, SOAR® by Aspenwood, was developed in consultation with industry experts and neuroscientists at Rice University to ensure our residents live purposefully while still retaining activities of comfort and stimulation in a safe and secure environment. The SOAR® program is offered at River Oaks and Southampton.
DINE IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND ENJOY CHEF-INSPIRED MEALS. FROM FRESH SALADS, FISH, PASTA, COMFORT FOOD TO SEASONAL SPECIALS AND HEALTHY OPTIONS – YOU WILL FIND AN ABUNDANCE OF CHOICES DAILY.
NATURAL GAS GENERATORS – Uninterrupted Power
A unique feature of The Village communities is our Enchanted Rock Natural Gas Generators that provide full, uninterrupted electrical service to the building during a power outage. All building electrical systems including lights, air conditioning, elevators, communications, and the kitchen are served by the generators.
THE VILLAGE LIFE
When you visit our communities, you will see first-hand what makes them so appealing. From locations that allow you to live in the most desirable neighborhoods in the area to services and well-planned social activities – there is much to contribute to your way of living.
Explore The Village of River Oaks here or call 713-952-7600.
Valentino, Debbie and Rudy Festari
A STYLISH CROWD of more than 350 gathered at a River Oaks Country Club luncheon to celebrate Italian culture in Houston and take in a bright fall fashion show from Saks Fifth avenue.
The event, dubbed “Bella Roma” and chaired by Karen Remington and Saula Centa Valente, raised more than $200,000 — a record! — for the Italian Cultural & Community Center. Honorees for the day were longtime Houston clothiers Debbie and Rudy Festari. Debbie teared up discussing her husband’s journey from a childhood in Rome to becoming one of H-Town’s most iconic fashion merchants; Astros royalty Jeff Bagwell also honored Rudy with remarks.
“Speaking in his native Italian, Rudy spoke of his love of fashion and family, thanking his many friends and supporters,” said a rep for organizers of the event. “Rudy and Debbie’s proud son Valentino was there and shared in the applause and standing ovation for him.”
A lunch of caprese salad and stuff chicken — with a splash of Pinot Grigio, naturally — provided fuel for a fun afternoon. Guests not only enjoyed the sophisticated ladies’ styles on the runway but also perused an extensive silent auction and wine pull.
VIPs in the crowd included emcee Owen Conflenti, Nicole Lassiter, Brigitte Kalai, Sippi Khurana, Lesha Elsenbrook and Donna Lewis, Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton, Melissa Juneau, Ally Shell, Courtney Hopson, Melissa Mithoff, Mauney Mafrige, Roland Maldonado, Jessica Rossman, Kristen Cannon, Jessica Meyer, Debbie Clemens, Rachel Bagwell, Gary Petersen, Victor Costa, Roz Pactor, Brian Ching and Lindsay Yates.
Brian Ching and Lindsey Yates
Courtney Hopson and Melissa Mithoff
Sippi Khurana and Felicia Stone
Roz Pactor and Victor Costa
Ally Shell and Michelle Reyna
Marla Hurley and Jennifer Grigsby
Farida Abjani, Brigitte Kalai and Alex Blair
Lorena Gomez and Jessica Gomez
Mauney Mafridge and Travis Torrence
Kristy Phillips and Jennifer Pinkerton
Kirk Kventon, Debbie and Rudy Festari and Daniel Iron
Karen Remington, Saula Valente, Roberta Bentley and Holly Dean
Jody Merritt, Edna Meyer Nelson and Christine Johnson
Jessica Rossman and Ronald Maldonado
Gary Petersen and Rachel and Jeff Bagwell