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Houstonians celebrate the gift of time at $2.3 million Heart Ball

What: Houston Heart Ball 2020

Where: Hilton Americas-Houston

The scoop: Houston’s community leaders, medical heroes, titans of industry, and social stars recently celebrated the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association at the 2020 Houston Heart Ball. The well-attended event, chaired by local philanthropists Beverly and Jim Postl, raised a massive $2.3 million to fund research and education programs that will ultimately save lives from heart disease and stroke.

This year’s theme, “The Gift of Time,” highlighted the importance of time, and how we all want more time to laugh, love, and make a difference, according to the AHA’s Houston chapter. Guests perused auction items and sipped on cocktails before making their way to the ballroom to feast on a gourmet dinner of Texas peach-glazed beef short rib and Gulf Coast crab-stuffed prawn with cauliflower puree. Dessert featured gold-dusted Bailey’s chocolate ganache pate cocoa streusel.

Emcee Melanie Lawson introduced a video featuring heart survivor and heart transplant recipient, Meghan Stapleton. The story highlighted the evening’s focus on Cardiovascular Disease and Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), a rare condition that occurs when a tear forms in an artery in the heart. Stapleton received a heart transplant just five days after being placed on the transplant list.

The evening also included a surprise performance by students from the TUTS Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, highlighting the “Gift of Time” theme. Rounding out the program, attendees participated in a record-breaking live auction with luxury packages ranging from private jet escapes to a New York Fashion Week VIP experience, and a one-of-a-kind painting by artist Ashley Longshore.

After the live auction, the 2021 Heart Ball chairs, Lisa and Jerry Simon, were revealed. The evening was capped off by the always popular Young at Heart After Party, hosted by AHA’s young professionals’ group and chaired by Rachel Dash. The party kept pumping, courtesy of the band, Manhattan, and a pulsing dance floor.

Who: Beverly and Jim Postl, Debbie and Jack Moore, Lisa and Jerry Simon, Lacey and Matthew Goossen, Hallie Vanderhider, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Ann and Peter Fluor, Margaret Alkek Williams, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Tim Singletary and Joanne Houck, Vincent and Mary Kickerillo, Oscar Brown and Sarah Morgan, Jim and Molly Crownover, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Scott Fletcher, Ali and David Pruner, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell and Derrick Mitchell, Jared Lehr, Rachel and Tim Dash, Kelly Von Gonten, John and Vicki Crum, Deb and Ed Koehler, Suzie Kupiec and James Dyer, Julie Oliver and Jim Stein, Robby and Katie Zorich, Stephen Lasher and Janiece Longoria, Jenny and Todd Abbott, Bret and Kathy Aldridge, Anne Neeson, Tony Bradfield, Cindy Yeilding and Art Donovan, Brett Clanton and Beth Lousteau, Evan and Christine Ray, Catherine and JF Poupeau, Melanie Lawson, Randy Walker, Vicky and Anthony Estrera, Jane and Larry Wagner, and Kristin and Jay Waring.

Roslyn Bazzell Mitchell and Derrick Mitchell.

Photos by Priscilla Dickson and Wilson Parrish

Roslyn Bazzell Mitchell and Derrick Mitchell.

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Party Watch

Contemporary Western art shines at Galveston museum fundraiser

Photo by Jacob McCready

Ryan Horton, Meredith Peebles, Taylor Crowder, Kara Przybyl McIver, and David McIver.

What: Art Untamed, A Night of Contemporary Western Art

Photo by Jacob McCready

Ryan Horton, Meredith Peebles, Taylor Crowder, Kara Przybyl McIver, and David McIver.

Where: The Lancaster Hotel

The Scoop: With cowboy boots traded for cocktail attire, more than 115 artists and art lovers moseyed into downtown for Art Untamed, an evening that lassoed the spirit of the West with a modern twist.

Now in its fourth year, the fundraiser benefiting The Bryan Museum was steered by a dedicated committee including Christine Glover, Linda and Bill Reeves, and Guylene and Jay Lendrum. The event spotlighted 32 Southwestern artists featured in the Visions of the West exhibit.

Guests sipped and mingled during cocktail hour, sizing up 73 pieces ranging from luminous landscapes to storytelling textiles. The live auction, led by crowd-favorite auctioneer Randolph Holford, delivered a flurry of paddles in the air, especially for Bob Stuth-Wade’s radiant Santiago Peak from Chalk Draw, Nathaniel Garza’s moody Three Reasons, and Echo Ukrainetz’s intricate batik honoring cowgirl trailblazer Lucy Mulhall.

The weekend kicked off at The Lancaster Hotel, where partner Jay Shinn hosted artists and VIPs at a reception in the historic property set to celebrate its centennial next year. During the festivities, museum founder JP Bryan captured the mood best.

“A collection is an expression of a soul; it speaks to where our heart is,” he said. “That is why the museum was founded, to share the important story of Texas and the American West through a world-class collection, outstanding exhibitions, and educational programming.”

The evening raised nearly $100,000 to support educational programming and outreach at The Bryan Museum.

Who: Lori Leal Wedemeyer and Barkley Wedemeyer, Sassy Stanton, Bill Pinckard, Mike Glover, Shara Fryer, Barry Silverman, Frank Rynd, Deborah and Monte Stavis, Kelly and Luis Zúñiga, Kara Przybyl McIver and David McIver, Dianne Reynolds, Stephanie and Brent Kindle, Penny and Townes Pressler, Linda and Jerry Dickson, Bob Leibrock, Paulina Padilla, Nocona Burgess, Vickie McMillan-Hayes, Ricardo Robles, and Bob Stuth-Wade.

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