We know that most fundraising events for non-profits are labors of love, but few could boast more heartfelt enthusiasm than Bering Omega Community Services "An Evening of Art Songs and Arias."
Since soprano Camille Zamora's founding of Songs of Hope 18 years ago, scores of talented singers from across the country have volunteered time and talent for the evening that features the beauty of professional voices as overlay to an important mission. Saturday night's event was no exception to the musically-rich tradition.
With chairs Jeff Gremillion and Jared Lang at the forefront, the evening began with a black-tie dinner at the Houston Club where the guest list was headed by Mayor Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard and honorees Kathryn and Hank Coleman. They were joined in the ballroom by more than 450 Bering Omega supporters.
For those with serious party stamina, the fun continued at the Sing for Hope after party back at the Houston Club ballroom.
The second inning of the triple-header fundraiser took place in the Cullen Theater at Wortham Theater Center — the concert of operatic arias and theater songs led by those talented professional singers. Here, Mayor Parker presented the Camille Zamora Award to the dentists of the Bering Omega Dental Clinic, celebrating its 25th anniversary. Receiving recognition were Dr. Edwin Cordray, Dr. Mark Nichols, Dr. Michael Sell, Dr. Bruce Smith and two deceased members of that early team, Dr. Sam Adams and Dr. Tim Hastings.
For those with serious party stamina, the fun continued at the Sing for Hope after party back at the Houston Club ballroom. That conclusion to the benefit was sponsored by the Bering Omega young professionals board and was chaired by Matthew Barré, Jason Leyva, Marisa Mireles, Stacy Robinson and Maneesh Singal.
The impressive turnout included a cocktail hour visit by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and wife Tricia plus Bering Omega president Dan Snare, Bering Omega board chair Michael Ruddelson, John B. Connally IV, Jenny and Carroll Price, Paul Pettie, Kimberly and Frank DeLape, Alicia Smith, Carole and Dr. Raouf Hanna, Heidi and Steven Skiff, Dr. Roland Maldonado and Joel Bickley, Gabriela and Daniel Dror, Wendy and Trey Lary and Angelica and Ed Chapman.
