Houston Lifestyles and Homes magazine Jun 2009: Jan Carson Reviews Socials, Galas, and Parties

Houston Lifestyles & Homes June 2009

ince we’re entering the dog days of summer, why not take it directly to the pooches? Mr. Magoo ’s Paws for Style Fashion Show returns June 6 with the theme “Co-Paw-Cabana! A Night in Rio.” This is one event that’s always over the top in fun and frivolity! Chairs Shannon Hall and Marcus Sloan and co-chairs Bruce Padilla and Kim Moody are planning a knock-your-socks-off canine fashion extravaganza and a lively competition for “Best in Show”—all benefiting Citizens for Animal Protection. CAP needs our help to care for an increased number of pets from owners who simply can ’t afford to take care of them in these tough times. For tickets, call 281-497-9055.

Please e-mail your event news and photos to jan@jancarson.com. Or mail to Jan Carson: 109 North Post Oak Lane, Ste. 422, Houston, TX 77024.l

June 4: 2009 Tapestry Gala honoring E. William Barnett and benefiting InterFaith Ministries. 832-247-8455.

June 4: Shades of Roses benefit for the Rose Ribbon Foundation, honoring Maeve Pesquera. 713-259-9952.

June 6: “Co-PAW-Cabana” A Night in Rio. Mr. Magoo’s Paws for Style Fashion Show for Citizens for Animal Protection. 281-497-9055.

June 6: Latin American Gala for the Latin American Art Dept at MFA. 713-639-7523.

June 14: Classy Chassis Concours D’Elegance for UCP. 713-838-9050, ext. 304.

June 15: Cabaret, a dress rehearsal performance benefiting the Palmer Drug Abuse Program. 281-589-4833.

July 31: The Knuckle Ball – A Pitch for Life at Minute Ball Park for the Joe Niekro Foundation. 832-667-5856.

It has all the elements of a TV reality show—great suspense, plenty of emotion and a big payoff! It’s a terrific evening known as the Houston Benefits Grant Celebration. Pattie Dale Tye, president of Humana – Houston, told the crowd at Hotel Zaza that 65 nonprofit organizations applied for the one-time major grant of $100,000, and had to demonstrate how their programs could be truly transformative. Twenty local judges narrowed that list to three top contenders —the Star of Hope Mission, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, and the Memorial Hermann Foundation. On hand for the big news…Philamena and Arthur Baird, Carol and Tom Sawyer, Lori and Dan Wolterman, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Lou deLone (one of the judges) and Roseann Rogers and Aashish Shah. The winner? The Star of Hope Mission and its program to help more than 500 homeless teenagers. The runners up did not leave empty handed …Humana Houston gave each of the other nonprofits $10,000.

Spunky actress Rita Moreno doesn’t share Hollywood’s fear of “telling your age.” The Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar winning performer hopped on stage at the Go Red for Women Luncheon and proudly shared with more than 500 new “galpals” that she is 77 years young! Her message of heart health is a personal and powerful one …her longtime husband and many in his family have suffered from heart disease and stroke. She inspired the audience with her witty and heartwarming story of how she overcame the odds of being a poor girl from Puerto Rico who worked hard, and sang and danced her way into the hearts of Americans as Anita in West Side Story. Ms. Moreno got a standing ovation from the admiring crowd, which helped raise more than $300,000 for the American Heart Association. Chair Ilene Allen was all smiles as the Open Your Heart appeal raised 17 percent more than last year …quite a feat in this economic climate. By the way, Moreno told me she is hard at work on a memoir that she hopes to bring to Broadway.

Talk about a dedicated volunteer… Randy de La Garza has spent every Tuesday morning for the past 10 years reading The Wall Street Journal at Taping for the Blind. She was honored for her commitment to “Turning Sight into Sound” at the 4th annual fashion presentation and lunch at Neiman Marcus, chaired by Karan Robinson and Sue Schechter. In the crowd, Mayoral candidate Gene Locke, Barbara and Ulyesse LeGrange, Andy Delery, Kathi Rovere and emcee Lisa Malosky.

You can’t have a Picnic in the Park with soggy, muddy grounds, so SEARCH has re-scheduled its rained out April party for Friday, Sept. 25, at Discovery Green. The 800 guests who RSVP ’d will find their tickets waiting for them. That same rainy weather forced Boys & Girls Country to cancel their Spring Festival. B&GC had hoped to raise $200,000 to continue to care for the kids they house. Executive Director Shirley Wright is asking big hearted Houstonians to call 281-351-4976, ext. 225, and make a donation.

One Proud Grandmother

(1) One Proud Grandmother! Imagine the surprise when all 13 of her grandchildren showed up at A Celebration of Reading to honor their beloved “Ganny.” Mrs. Bush was rendered misty eyed and momentarily speechless by this grand finale to an evening that raised $1.8 million for reading programs.

(2) DiverseWorks Fire Sale Gala Yes…they were as HOT as they looked! Co-chairs Chuy Terrazas, Christine Johnson, Sarah Walters and Fernando Aramburo dressed the part at the DiverseWorks Fire Sale Gala, which supports contemporary art and education programs.

DiverseWorks Fire Sale Gala

(3) Stiletto Strut More than 100 women donned their best stilettos for a sassy walk to raise more than $270,000 for research at the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine. From left, Dr. Kent Osborne, Sue Smith, Neiman Marcus GM Bob Devlin and Judy Smith.

(4) Rock the Casbah

The scene was a Moroccan marketplace, complete with belly dancing, snake charming and exotic animals. Kathryn Smith, Edward Sanchez and Julie Shannon led the SPA Gala to a $400,000 haul, while having great fun.

(5) Candy Lane for Kids As she always does, Joan Schnitzer Levy pulled in Hollywood heavyweights to help her raise more than $300,000 for Escape Family Resource Center. From left, actress and Dancing with the Stars contestant Lisa Rinna and her handsome actor husband, Harry Hamlin.

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