Having chaired an astounding SEVEN Friends Galas, the dynamic trio of Donna Lewis, Lin Mills Smolensky, and Nancy White now deserve to be known collectively as “Stehlin’s Angels.” Thanks to the Angels, the 31st annual event was a smashing success!
The evening kicked off with fast and furious bidding on a huge assortment of gift, entertainment, and travel items in the Silent Auction. In the expert hands of Auction Chair Anna Williams-Parker, both the silent and live auctions raised significant funds in support of the Foundation’s new prostate cancer research project.
Diners were entertained by two spectacular professional dancers, and then everyone had a chance to “show their stuff” when the guitars and fiddles of Back at the Ranch began. People had to look twice to see if Bob Wills had taken the stage, because the group featured the classic Western Swing tunes familiar to every card-carrying Texas cowboy and girl. Grammy Award-winning headliner Lee Ann Womack followed. As expected, Lee Ann lit up the room. When she began her chart-topping hit ”I Hope You Dance,” there wasn’t room for another pair of boots on the dance floor.
If party goers thought they could rest when Lee Ann left the stage, they were in for a surprise. Doppelganger cranked up the energy for the next three hours, combining classic rock, R&B, and even disco. Everyone’s favorites were represented, and we suspect many pairs of dancing shoes (and dancers) were worn out.
An event of the size and complexity of the Friends Gala takes the hard work of MANY dedicated volunteers.
Dozens of Friends members donated countless hours before, during, and after the event. Special thanks must go to Nancy Ames and Danny Ward for their tireless efforts to plan, produce, and support the event. Nancy and Danny teamed with legendary designer Bill Stubbs to donate a spectacular catered dinner for eight guests to the live auction! Nancy and Danny are doing the cooking, with Bill hosting the event in his fabulous Houston home. Finally, the wonderful wines served at the event were hand selected and generously donated by Olivia and Robert Pacini.
Major Benefactor
Mrs. Charline Dauphin
Benefactor
The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Houston
Shall We Dance
Lucy Bonneau Striking Against Breast Cancer
Just Dance
The Ellwood Foundation
Mrs. Annette Scranton
Burn The Floor
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
CHRISTUS Foundation for Healthcare
CHRISTUS Health
Abraham D. Garza, Jr. in honor of Conception Garza Montez
Insperity
Lisa and John Lents
Ginger and Terry Rathert
Mrs. Denise Rosenfeld
Dance Fever
Andrea Montgomery Designs
Cinco Energy Services
GE Oil & Gas, Drilling and Surface
Wendy and Beppino Giovanella
Houston Contract Interiors
Donna and Norman Lewis
The Marek Family
Riviana Foods, Inc.
FlashDance
Nathalie and Bastiaan de Zeeuw
Jeanette and Jim Woods
Boot Scootin’
Alief Feed Store, Inc.
Jacki and Brian Evans
Five Star Metals, Inc.
Sally and David Harvin
Janet and Elton Lipnick in honor of Dr. Peter de Ipolyi
Michelle and Constantine Markides
Masraff’s Restaurant
Cathey and Michael Meagher
Jan and Tom Phipps
Sport Court of Texas
Last Tango
Eva Wolski and Donald Black
Colliers International
Edge Creative Strategies, LLC
Arlene and Alan Gerger
Veronica and Dana Gompers
Mr. Thomas Jackson
Wanda S. Kimbrell, CPA
Teresa and John Langston
Kim and Jeff Little
Danna and Hal Lynde
Marla’s Gem Creations
Martha Turner Properties
Marilyn and John McGill
Bud and Karen Najvar
Dr. Ethan and Kathy Natelson
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Sara Reddy, MD
Sheila and Jim Rickert
William Sarosky
Jenny and Sam Tavor
Jerri and David Trigg
Karen and Charlie Walker
Barbara and Steve Wirick
Adrienne and David Zugheri
You also may wish to visit the Friends Facebook page for additional photos and comments.
2013
Denise and Philip Bahr, Cora Sue and Harry Mach, Beth Madison, Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa
2012
Gabrielle Patout, Lory Tauber
2011
Donna Lewis, Lin Mills Smolensky, Nancy White
2010
Tamara and Harrison Bibb, Becca and Philip Weigand
2009
Ashley Anderson, Sara Beck
2008
Andrea and Paul Stewart
2007
Dianne and Ken Anderson
2006
Amy Donovan, Emily Adams
2005
Sally and Bobby Anderson
2004
Nancy and Tim White, Erin Fowler, Ashley Morgan, Catie Pagel
2003
Donna and Norman Lewis
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