fun two-night

Junior League's boot-scootin', 2-night Texas-themed balls raise $900,000

2022 Junior League Ball The Road Home Alexandra Yates, Whitney Walsh, Amy Comiskey, Mitra Woody

Alexandra Yates, Whitney Walsh, Amy Comiskey, and Mitra Woody.

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Call it a comeback. After a pivot to a virtual gala in 2021, the Junior League of Houston returned to in-person festivities in not one, but two, charity balls.

Junior League of Houston president Jennifer Scheifley Roberts and charity ball chairperson Lauren Rae Brown welcomed more than 600 members, patrons, and donors to the League building for the 2022 Friday and Saturday night charity balls. The League’s 74th annual charity ball, The Road Home, raised over $900,000 for the League’s community initiatives.

As guests arrived, they were greeted by the Charity Ball committee in the classic receiving line, and took in the stunning, Texas-inspired décor and florals created by Decorations chair Anaam Zamorano, while they sipped on specialty cocktails and perused silent auction items. Guests then made their way to the ballroom to enjoy a three-course dinner from the renowned Tea Room.

Saturday evening continued with the traditional music performances by talented League members, a raffle with prizes as the coveted premium Junior League parking space, a bottle of Blanton’s bourbon, and wine magnums. There were whiskey tastings from Giant Distillery, and a live auction led by Johnny Bravo Entertainment with live paintings by Taft McWhorter, trips to Belize, Costa Rica and Mexico, and many more luxurious items.

The evening ended with guests getting their boot-scootin’ boogie on and two-stepped the night away to live music from The Grooves on Friday evening and the Honky Tonk Revivalists on Saturday evening.

From addressing critical issues such as children’s health and education and abuse of women and children, to enhancing the community through cultural enrichment, The Junior League of Houston trains volunteers to be effective leaders in the community well beyond their active membership requirements.

With close to 5,000 members, the League encourages mentorship and development, cultivating a lifetime of civic service for thousands of women. The League is able to triple the value of each donation received by pairing it with trained volunteers.

Seen in the crowd: Jennifer Roberts, Rachel Regan, Ruchi Mukherjee, Megan and Luke Hotze, Madison and Faisal Tai, Amy Comiskey, Avery and Kadriye Alcorn, Holly and Ryan Henry, Emily and Kolby Wahl, Jayne Johnston, and many more.

Guests in the ballroom.

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Guests in the ballroom.

galas

Shopping Fantasia

Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker preview party sets new donation record

Houston Nutcracker Market Preview Party 2025

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Houston Ballet Academy Dancers.

The Houston holiday season doesn’t officially begin until the Nutcracker Market throws open its doors, and this year’s Wells Fargo Preview Party felt like stepping into a snow globe set on extra. Like more is more.

Somewhere between the cheeky stocking stuffers and the Dior-kissed repurposed couture, guests needed an actual map to conquer the sprawling shopping fantasia.

Held November 12 at NRG Center, the 45th anniversary celebration of the Houston Ballet shopping fête welcomed more than 5,000 eager shoppers, all ready to sprint through aisles lined with more than 280 merchants. Helmed by chairs Susan Binney and Jennifer Kushner, along with preview party chairs Leslie Alston, Kaylon Phillips, and Casey Rowe, the evening shimmered with nostalgia. Guests showed up in themed attire ranging from glittery holiday chic to coordinated squads that looked like flash mobs armed with credit cards and a mission.

Houston Ballet’s new executive director Sonja Kostich arrived for her very first Nutcracker Market, greeting supporters and soaking in the community’s devotion to a beloved tradition that fuels the Ballet’s mission and scholarship programs. Houston Ballet Academy students glided through the party in costumes from Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, creating photo ops. Principal dancer Harper Watters and Houston Ballet icon Lauren Anderson also made appearances.

Festive cocktails, champagne flutes, and a parade of hors d’oeuvre and desserts satisfied while the David Caceres Band kept the energy high. By the end of the night, the Preview Party had raised nearly $1.5 million in ticket sales and commissions — a record for the Market.

Moreover, more than 104,000 shoppers showed up during the November 13-16 festivities. All in, ticket sales surpassed $24 million and raised more than $6 million to directly support Houston Ballet, its Academy and scholarship program.

Showing their holiday spirit were Kristy Bradshaw, Ann Bean, Wendy Burks, Anne Chao, Gay Currie, Tom DeBesse, Arcy Muñoz Marshall, Sharon Erskine, Ann Graham, Twana Griffith Faykus, Michelle Iversen Jeffery, Jay Jones, Julie Kent, Deborah and Edward Koehler, Chad Libertus, Desrye Morgan, Beth Muecke, Patti Murphy, Jennifer Sommers, S. Shawn Stephens, Allison Thacker, Cynthia Wolff, Deborah Duncan, Ghada Ali, Carolina Oliveira, Catarina R. Gonzales, and Miya Shay.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Houston Ballet Academy Dancers.

fundraisers houston ballet shopping nutcracker market