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    Shelby's Social Diary

    A Mad Men worthy party shakes up the usual fundraiser scene with Martini Madness

    Shelby Hodge
    shelby hodge
    Jan 20, 2013 | 7:29 am

    Don Draper and Betty Francis would have appreciated the Mad Men vibe that pulsated through the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft as the fifth annual "Martini Madness" fundraiser celebrated a mid-century esthetic.

    No, smoking wasn't allowed but the martinis were bottomless and the 250 guests favored skinny ties, full skirts and pillbox hats.

    Marie Louise and David Kinder chaired the artful romp that found guests selecting their favorite martini glass from a slew of artist-created options, feasting on taste treats from Sorrel Urban Bistro and sipping to their heart's content on libations courtesy of Deep Eddy Vodka. Traditional martinis were served along with lemon drops, cosmopolitans and winter wonderlands (white chocolate/peppermint), a nod to the wintry decorative theme.

    Smoking wasn't allowed but the martinis were bottomless and the 250 guests favored skinny ties, full skirts and pillbox hats.

    Raising their glasses in celebration of the evening were honorary chairs Judy Nyquist, Alton LaDay and Libbie Masterson. They were among those getting a kick out of the Evan Mallett’s retro photo booth, grooving to the swinging jazz sounds of the Jeremy Dorsey Trio and bidding at the Big Board where KTRK Channel 13 news anchor Melanie Lawson conducted the lively competition.

    In mid-century mode were Jonathan Glus, Lisa and Michael Pearson, Victoria and Marshal Lightman, Minnette Boesel, Lindsey George, Heidi and George Vaughn, Jeff Shell, Jacqueline and Robert Guevara, Julie Farr and Pilar Uribe.

    10, Martini Madness, January 2013, Billy Frank, Nicci Guzman
    Photo by © Roswitha Vogler Photosbyrovo.com
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    Winter Dreamscape

    Houston nonprofit toasts 35 years with festive North Pole fundraiser

    Joel Luks
    Jan 29, 2026 | 3:30 pm
    Trees of Hope Gala 2025
    Photo by Al Torres Photography
    Anna Katherine Spencer, Holly Colon, Leah Fourmy, Kellie Brumbaugh, Talbott Shaw, Ashley Boyd, and Blaire Johnson.

    If you listened closely, you could almost hear sleigh bells at the Four Seasons Houston, where Trees of Hope transformed a classic ballroom into a wintery dreamscape for its 35th anniversary gala. Themed “Hope Guides the Way – A Journey to the North Pole,” the beloved black-tie affair blended holiday magic with philanthropy, raising $631,000 to benefit the Children’s Critical Care Fund at Star of Hope.

    The evening chaired by Lisa Battaglia and Joel Thompson, with support from a roomful of Houston’s big-hearted changemakers, doubled as a tribute to the nonprofit’s Life and Advisory Board Members, those behind-the-scenes elves who’ve powered Trees of Hope’s mission for decades.

    Emcee Logan Thomas of Money for the Cause kept the energy high as guests sipped cocktails and sized up the main attraction: A holiday auction packed with eye-catching prizes. Think twinkling Christmas trees curated like runway models, including two donated by CrafTex, alongside baubles from Diamonds Direct, exclusive getaways, and original artwork. Yes, Santa himself made an appearance, lending extra jolly to an evening already brimming with cheer.

    “We are honored to support Star of Hope’s Children’s Critical Care Fund and proud to mark 35 years of Trees of Hope making a difference,” said Lisa Barth, Trees of Hope president. That legacy is no small feat. The organization has gifted more than $11.9 million over the years, helping Houston’s most vulnerable children and families find light during dark times.

    This year’s proceeds will fund critical programs at Star of Hope, Houston’s longest-standing mission for the homeless, ensuring that kids in crisis have access to stability, support, and a better shot at the future.

    Seen on the scene were Kellie and Lee Brumbaugh, Carly West, Brooke Stuckey, Anna Katherine Spencer, Holly Colon, Leah Fourmy, Talbott Shaw, Ashley Boyd, Blaire Johnson, Trisha and Alex Figaro, Dena and Omar Musfy, April and Enrique Cruz, Carissa and Hans Barcus, Adrienne and Michael Suttle, Kory and Geoff Blum, Doug Meikle, Whitney and Andrew Touchstone, Sara Black, DeeDee Marsh, Kelly Boyd, Sara Jane Wilson, Alina Schrom, Donna Grehn, Emily Goolsby, Lesha Elsenbrook, Jo Ann Petersen, Nancy Walker, Andrea Dulany, and Kathrin Yokubaitis.

    Trees of Hope Gala 2025

    Photo by Al Torres Photography

    Anna Katherine Spencer, Holly Colon, Leah Fourmy, Kellie Brumbaugh, Talbott Shaw, Ashley Boyd, and Blaire Johnson.

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