Divine Food and Drink

Symphony patrons eat, drink and are very merry at black-tie wine dinner on stage

What a deliciously spoiled black-tie bunch it was that sat down for dinner on the stage of Jones Hall on Friday night. Who wouldn't be spoiled with a 90-minute cocktail hour to be followed by a lavish dinner paired with fine wines?

Such was the divine luck of Houston Symphony patrons. After the cocktail hour perusing wine lots, guest moved to the stage to be seated amid a splenderous Todd Events decor including gloriousa lilies and orchids while staff from Jackson and Co. served one of the best gala meals in recent memory. The fundraiser was titled "An Evening in the Southern Hemisphere," which inspired not only the menu but also the wines which came from Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Chile via Spec's Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods.

Applause, applause for Viviana and David Denechaud and Christie and Billy McCartney who chaired the 15th annual Wine Dinner that enjoyed a record turnout of more than 400 guests and proceeds of more than $550,000. (Previously known as the Maestro's Wine Dinner in honor of wine connoisseur and former maestro Hans Graf, the name was wisely changed with the arrival of chief conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada, who does not consume alcohol.)

The evening benefited the Symphony's education and community programming which this year will reach 65,000 students. While there was no designated honoree, praise was heaped on Cora Sue Mach, who was recognized for her efforts in growing the program. It was a nice touch for family members at the table that included her husband, Harry Mach, and their son Steve Mach, Houston Symphony Society president, and his wife, Joella.

Contributing to Symphony coffers were symphony society chairman Bobby Tudor and wife Phoebe, Houston Symphony League president Betty Tutor and Jesse Tutor, collector's auction chairman Bob Weiner, Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia, Tara and David Wuthrich, Robert Sakowitz, Franelle Rogers, Courtney and Bill Toomey, Linda and Gene Dewhurst, Elise Glattier-Hollingsworth, and Helen and Jim Shaffer.

Jim Shaffer, Jill Kirk, Helen Shaffer, Ray Kirk.

Photo by Killy

Jim Shaffer, Jill Kirk, Helen Shaffer, Ray Kirk.

fundraisers dinner galas wine

Safety First

Houston spirit shines as Crime Stoppers gala raises $2 million

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Event and strategy chairs Vanessa Ames, Kristen Collins, Dana Barton, Brooke Lee, and Jordan Seff.

Big hats met big-hearted giving at The Revaire as Crime Stoppers of Houston hosted its Second Annual “Raise ’Em Up for Texas” Gala, presented by Glenda and Russell Gordy and the C. James and Carole Walter Looke Family Fund

The evening unfolded like a Texas-sized toast guided by gala chairs Brooke Lee, Dana Barton, and Kristen Collins, and lifted further by strategic chairs Vanessa Ames and Jordan Seff.

More than 460 guests filled the sprawling venue, welcomed first by a festive happy hour and a bustling silent auction. Master of ceremonies Johnny Bravo kicked things into gear as guests settled in, followed by remarks from Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious, who championed the crowd’s shared commitment to keeping Houston safe.

Speaker Maurine Molak, co-founder of the David’s Legacy Foundation shared the story of her son, whose life was cut short at 16 after enduring relentless cyberbullying. She illuminated the gap in resources available to families at the time and the sweeping efforts that eventually led to David’s Law. Her partnership with Crime Stoppers through The John M. O’Quinn Foundation Million for Million campaign has already reached more than two million students, continuing David’s legacy by empowering young Texans to seek safety, support, and hope.

A surprise presentation of the Second McIngvale Family Humanitarian Award honored Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown of Southern Smoke Foundation for their community-wide compassion. Accepting on their behalf was Catarina Bill.

Then came a major announcement: The creation of a new Crime Stoppers Women’s Collective, a group of 50 women stepping into a leadership role for 2026, along with an ambitious push to educate 10 million Texas students and the launch of SafeSpace Student Hub, a digital platform designed to give students a confidential place to seek guidance.

Nobody’s Fool closed out the night with plenty of two-stepping as supporters lingered, celebrating a mission-driven evening that raised a record-breaking $2 million.

Showing up in full Texas spirit were Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, Hallie Vanderhider, Sippy and Ajay Khurana, Tom Ramsey, Noe Diaz, Ben Katrib, Twila Carter, Willie Davis, Fred Flickinger, Mary Nan Huffman, Julian Ramirez, Alan Rosen, Terry Allbritton, Emily DeToto, Lori DeAngelo, Peyton Peebles, Aaron Burdette, Lance Long, Dan Simons, Carolyn Dozier, Ken Wise, Tiffany Herd, Eric and Lisa Elder, Alex and Tammy Janos, Kari Lynd, Natalie and Steve Mohtashami, Kyle and Erin Cummings, Snehal Amin and Adrienne Amin, Jessica Leeke, Carla and Tony Maarraoui, Karen and Lohn Zylicz, Frank and Jill Stagg, Robert and Dana Clay, Catherine and Peter Badger, Pam Connealy, Mayes and Macy Middleton, Megan and Walker Weston, Meredith and Ben Marshall, Seth and Hannah Siegel-Gardner, Anna Reger, Sheri Zucker, Trini Mendenhall, Phillip Royalty, Jeff Nadalo, Farida Abjani, Maria Moncada Alaoui and Omar Alaoui, Susan Boggio, Deborah Duncan, and Laura Ward.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Event and strategy chairs Vanessa Ames, Kristen Collins, Dana Barton, Brooke Lee, and Jordan Seff.

fundraisers crime stoppers houston