While Cinco de Mayo morphed Houston into a citywide debauchery bacchanal, others used their fondness for margaritas to raise funds for the Harris County Hospital District Foundation (HCHD).
Scrubs, the foundation's young supporters arm, hosted its first fundraising social affair at Last Concert Café Thursday. Cinco de Bingo, a South of the border laid-back fiesta mingling the joys of fajitas, burro piñatas and themed libations, brought out a 200-plus-strong crowd of the who's who of Houston's young generation social scene, including birthday boys Andrew Hoyt and Mike Brewer.
With a warm gentle breeze settling over the sandy setting, the sound of tropical waters was all that was missing to compliment the fete's colorful beachy flavor. Instead, daubers were flying as partygoers were busy practicing bingo speak and paying close attention to the professional bingo ball caller in hopes of taking home one of the fabulous prizes.
Ties were fought off in competitive displays of rock-paper-scissors and those who triumphed, Darwinian style over their weaker opponents, proudly displayed winnings ranging from wine packages, a cornucopia of sports tickets, foodie fun and a downtown getaway.
Co-chairs Molly Johnson and Kendall Buckalew planned a successful event, doubling the expected number of guests and raising $16,000 to support the foundation's efforts to advocate for health programs and services for the uninsured and underinsured.
Sight 'ems at the fete included HCHD Foundation board members Denis DeBakey and Dr. Susan Cooley King, Mary and John Craddock, Allie Fields, Rebecca Tallerine, Cabell Walker, David Nachtigall, Jenni Rebecca Stephenson, Colin Dabbs and Jamie Glover-Dabbs, Jay McMurrey, Nic Phillips, Nicole Laurent and Joey Romano, Louise Turner, Alex Stillwell and Laura Fraser.
Bingo lingo learned? "Dancing queen" is 17, "duck and dive" is 25 and "down on your knees" is 43. Happiness is yelling Bingo!
