Houston Lifestyles & Homes magazine Mar 2009: Jan Carson Reviews Socials, Galas, and Parties for Houston Lifestyles Magazine

To create a successful event you not only need a terrific cause, but also the energy and dedication to make it happen. When Robin Young-Ellis decided to do something to honor our troops last year, she bought 500 tickets to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo for active duty military and reservists, and recruited her husband, Maj. Joseph Ellis USMC (retired), and a host of friends to stage a private dinner and tribute. The event was such a hit that this year the Salute to our Troops Day at the Houston Rodeo mushroomed to over 1,200 troops and family members, plus an Appreciation Ceremony with U.S. Air Force “Fly By” and a 2-hour concert, all underwritten by private donors! You can help with this wonderful effort to support our servicemen and women and their families by calling 713-621-2027.

Out and About ...

The Celebration of Families Luncheon is always a love fest and this year promises to continue the tradition. Accolades will flow for community leaders Penny and John Butler and their family at the March 3 luncheon benefiting Family Services of Greater Houston. Jill Gracely has enlisted Janice and Robert McNair as honorary chairs, so this 105th Anniversary Luncheon will be a stellar success.

And speaking of milestones, the Houston Museum of Natural Science celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and “The Wrecking Ball” Gala on March 7, chaired by Randa Duncan Williams, gives supporters a chance to dress in hardhats and “construction cool” attire and help “pave” the way for the expansion of the Museum’s facilities. This is one party that always sells out fast!

“Houston…the Legends are landing!” On March 24, Texas Children’s Cancer Center will host “An Evening with Texas Legends” honoring Apollo astronauts Capt. Alan L. Bean, Capt. Gene Cernan, Capt. James A. Lovell Jr. and Col. Buzz Aldrin. The evening celebrates The Apollo Program and the 40th anniversary of man’s landing on the moon. Laura and Rob Walls are chairing the event benefiting pediatric cancer research.

We know gals like bubbles, baubles and bites, so the Third Annual Girls’ Night Out: Champagne on the Champs d’Elysees March 26 is sure to be a smash, with Bo’s Place the lucky beneficiary. Co-chairs Leslie Hull, Laura Roberts, Sarah Snyder and Rebecca Thomas are combining their creative talents to delight guests with plenty of champagne, shopping and fun prizes …all in a Parisian setting. In that same vein… “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun…in Monte Carlo” on March 31 benefits Ronald McDonald House Houston. So grab your gal pals and make a date!

Fans of best selling novelists Christopher Buckley and Sara Gruen won’t want to miss their appearance at the April 23 Celebration of Reading. As always, former First Lady Barbara Bush will have some surprises in store for guests at the always popular 15th annual event. Proceeds benefit The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Baseball greats are lining up to take part in the Knuckle Ball – A Pitch for Life. The July 31 event for the Joe Niekro Foundation was re-scheduled because of Hurricane Ike. Hall of Famer Joe Morgan emcees and Phil Niekro, Nolan Ryan, Jeff Bagwell, Enos Cabell, Craig Biggio and Larry Dierker are among the baseball greats set to attend. For tickets, call 832-667-5856.

Congrats to Theatre Under The Stars, recognized as one of Houston’s Best Marketers by the American Marketing Association. Awards for 33 Best of Category winners will be handed out March 2 at the Alley Theatre.