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    Spellbound Soiree

    Local word nerds battle at buzzy Houston spelling bee

    Heather Staible
    Heather Staible
    Feb 19, 2018 | 4:42 pm

    Who: Houston Center for Literacy

    What: 26thAnnual Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee

    Where:White Oak Music Hall

    The Scoop: How does the Houston Center Literacy Spell s-u-c-c-e-s-s? By gathering some of Houston’s most savvy word nerds for a grown-up spelling bee. The event raised close to $200,000 to support adult education and skills development programs in Greater Houston and gave locals an opportunity to flex their spelling skills over dinner by Cordua Catering and Sprinkles cupcakes for dessert.

    Black, white and pops of yellow were the perfect colors for those buzzing around the fundraiser chaired by John and Brigid Fitzpatrick and Honorary Chairs Annie and Campbell Eifler.

    Teams came with their game faces on and plenty of clever names such as The Stingettes, Sorry/Autocorrect, V & Bees and Buzz Words. The groups followed many of the National Spelling Bee rules, and utilizing words from the national competition lists. Teams could earn “saves” to stay in the competition and raise additional funds for HCL at the same time.

    The Stingettes, Selene Escalare and Karina Zemel, represented The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services for the win, besting the others with the correct spelling of “ogee” which means "a curve resembling the shape of an elongated S,” in case you were wondering. The Spell-tastics, sponsored by Stephanie and Frank Tsuru took home best team name honors.

    H-E-B returned again as presenting sponsor of this unique evening. Over a dozen teams of twocompeted in the Bee. Lisa Malosky was “Head Mistress” for the evening and encouraged audience participation to assist the spelling teams, with such clever names such. Logophile Linda Marshall was the“Spell Master,” Ruben Dominguez, morning anchor of FOX 26 was the “Dean of Spelling,” Ashley Turner, the First Daughter of Houston and a health care executive as “Dean of Grammar,” and Ernie Manouse, host and content producer on KUHT TV PBS Channel 8, was the “Dean of Phonetics”.

    Those spotted buzzing about in the crowd included: Elaine and Marvy Finger, Diane Englet, Stephanie Tsuru, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Julie Baker-Fink, Kelley Lubanko, Sarah and Brad Bracewell, Sydney and Robert Eifler, Jenni and Nick Swyka, Peyton and Alex Popp, Coble and Jeff Jorgensen, Mary and David Klein, Molly and Matt LaFauci, Martha and Aris Macris, David Joost, Charles Litton, Mark Sullivan, and Susie Criner.

    Ernie Manouse, Ashley Turner, Leisa Holland Nelson, Ruben Dominguez.

    Ernie Manouse,Ashley Turner, Leisa Holland Nelson, Ruben Dominguez
      
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Ernie Manouse, Ashley Turner, Leisa Holland Nelson, Ruben Dominguez.
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    Blush and Bubbles

    A pink takeover brings hope and funds for American Cancer Society luncheon

    Joel Luks
    Jun 27, 2025 | 4:00 pm
    American Cancer Society Tickled Pink Luncheon 2025
    Photo by Jacob Power
    Leila Perrin, Brandi Sikes, Rick Smith, Myrtle Jones, and Gaye Lynn Zarrow.

    The Post Oak Hotel was awash in shades of blush, rose, and fuchsia as more than 650 supporters turned out for the American Cancer Society Quantum Capital Tickled Pink Luncheon presented by HEB. Chair Sippi Khurana and honorary chairs Leisa Holland-Nelson-Bowman, Donna Lewis, and Beth Wolff proudly steered the record-breaking affair, which raised an impressive $700,000 for breast cancer research, education, and patient support.

    The scene inside the ballroom was a pink dreamscape, with blooms cascading across a floral photo wall where guests lined up for snapshots. Tables dressed in soft pink linens and shimmering accents set a cheerful yet poignant mood.

    Fittingly, bottomless champagne glasses kept spirits bubbly, and a sweepstakes featuring seven enviable prizes sold out quickly, stoking the crowd's philanthropic energy.

    ABC13's Gina Gaston emceed the afternoon, guiding attendees through moments of reflection and celebration. A particularly moving segment came when everyone in the ballroom was asked to stand if they had been personally impacted by cancer, whether as a survivor, caregiver, or supporter. In a striking visual, nearly every guest rose, underscoring the luncheon’s deep personal meaning.

    Honorees Myrtle Jones, Leila Perrin, Brandi Sikes, Rick Smith, and Gaye Lynn Zarrow each had a favorite inspirational quote read aloud in their honor, while past honoree Janette Marx captivated the room with her powerful testimony of resilience during her breast cancer journey. The atmosphere shifted from misty-eyed emotion to energetic generosity during a lively paddle raise and auction, led by entertainer Johnny Bravo, where a Jared Lehr-designed jewel-studded necklace alone sparked a $36,000 bidding frenzy.

    The event closed on a high note with keynote speaker and Olympic legend Shannon Miller, who spoke candidly about overcoming her own battle with cancer, leaving the crowd uplifted and inspired.

    Among those in the crowd were Jennifer Allison, Nancy Almodovar, Ann Ayre, Alice Mao Brahms, Anna Bryant, Juliet Breeze, Sue Burnett, Cheryl Byington, Tripp Carter, Allison Lewis Cattan, Yvonne Cormier, Laura Davenport, Suzan Deison, Kathy De La Mora, Nancy Dinerstein, Lesha Elsenbrook, Donya Gardner, Gayla Gardner, Marilu Garza, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Maritza Gonzales, Lisa Graham-Garza, Sheri Gross, Winell Herron, Mady Kades, Brigitte Kalai, Mandy Kao, Evelyn Leightman, Stacey Lindseth, Julie Longoria Chen, Vicki Luna, Tama Lundquist, DeeDee Marsh, Janette Masten Gardner, Shawntell McWilliams, Jan Mendenhall, Sneha Merchant, Kim Moody, Patti Murphy, Roz Pactor, David Peck, Amy Pierce, Sandra Porter, Lauren Randle, Heidi Rockecharlie, Rosemary Schatzman, Elizabeth Stein, Marguerite Swartz, Katie Tsuru, Kim Tutcher, Phoebe Tudor, Betty Tutor, Merele Yarborough, Stuart Zarrow, and Jenny Todd. And many, many others.

    American Cancer Society Tickled Pink Luncheon 2025
      

    Photo by Jacob Power

    Leila Perrin, Brandi Sikes, Rick Smith, Myrtle Jones, and Gaye Lynn Zarrow.

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