With only one year under its belt, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School just threw the most successful fundraising gala to date for 2011 — 1,200 guests raised close to $1.8 million.
That is no small change for the school that is educating 160 freshmen and sophomores from some of the city's most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
No one could be kicking up his heels any higher than the school president, the much-beloved Rev. T.J. Martinez. Well, maybe gala chairs Carol and Paul Beck and Penny and Drew Grams are also up there in the stratosphere of giddiness.
"Defying Gravity" was the theme of the evening held at Enterprise Jet Center, the 44,000-square-foot private jet hangar adjacent to Hobby Airport. As Martinez told the crowd, "The impossible is happening here tonight. But I think that's what we're doing every day at Cristo Rey Jesuit."
With most of the luxury Citations and Challengers moved aside for the gala, the sell-out crowd partied the night away with Skyrocket keeping the dance floor packed. The get-down partying began with a "flash mob" routine to the tune of Katy Perry's "Fireworks," featuring 50 gala guests and dancers from Hope Stone Dance and Kids' Play Ensemble. Joining the pros were Mary Tere Perusquia, Anthony De Toto, Joy Posoli, Michele Bailey, Doug Bland and Bobby Courtney, Enterprise Jet Center president.
Three cheers for gala advisors Mindy and Jeff Hildebrand, Vivie and Chris O'Sullivan and Raye White.
The impressive turnout included Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa, Cathy and Giorgio Borlenghi, Patty and Craig Biggio, Lucinda and Javier Loya, Melissa and Bill King and Soraya and Scott McClelland.
