• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Million Dollar Success

    A $1.4 million debut: Hot TV star & Tracy McGrady help a first-time Houston fundraiser for vets pull in big bucks

    Shelby Hodge
    Apr 7, 2015 | 3:48 pm

    Founded by graduates of West Point in honor of Col. John “Johnny Mac” McHugh, killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010, the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund made its first foray into Houston and hit a virtual gold mine, earning $1.4 million, funds earmarked for education programs and assistance to veterans.

     

    A sell-out crowd of more than 450 gathered at Hotel ZaZa, where Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land was the event's presenting sponsor.

     

    While Black-ish star Anthony Anderson served as master of ceremonies, it was Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, who delivered the compelling message of the importance of providing meaningful assistance to soldiers and their families. McHugh's daughter, Kelly McHugh, gave a moving presentation on her father who served as an Army aviator for 24 years.

     

    Additional important military figures in the house were Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gary L. Littrell, retired Army Command Sergeant Major; Folds of Honor founder Maj. Dan Rooney; Marcus Luttrell, retired Navy Seal and subject of Lone Survivor and retired Col. Miguel Howe, director of Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute.

     

    Among corporate leaders helping raise the significant sum were Mercedes-Benz USA president and CEO Stephen Cannon, president and CEO of EMCOR Group Inc. Anthony Guzzi, president and CEO of 7-Eleven Joseph DePinto, owner and president of Mercedes-Benz Sugar Land Ken Enders and chairman of the Dallas-based Park Place Dealerships Ken Schnitzer.

     

    Rounding out the impressive turnout were MaryEllen Picciuto, president of the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund; retired Houston Rocket Tracy McGrady; University of St. Thomas president Bob Ivany; former Major League pitcher Kevin Coffman and Cynthia and David Kim, founders of the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.

     

    Ted Hoyt, left, and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gary Littrell.

    Ted Hoyt, left, and Gary Littrell at the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund Inaugural Houston Gala April 2015
      
    Photo by © Dave Rossman
    Ted Hoyt, left, and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gary Littrell.
    unspecified
    news/society
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.

    Party Watch

    Bayou a Drink? Cocktails in Bloom draws a colorful crowd of Houstonians

    Joel Luks
    Jul 15, 2025 | 3:00 pm
    Buffalo Bayou Partnership Cocktails in Bloom 2025
    Courtesy of Buffalo Bayou Partnership
    Laura Massad, Cynthia Dehlavi, and Meredith Kruz.

    What: 2025 Cocktails in Bloom benefiting Buffalo Bayou Partnership

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership Cocktails in Bloom 2025
      

    Courtesy of Buffalo Bayou Partnership

    Laura Massad, Cynthia Dehlavi, and Meredith Kruz.

    Where: Lost Lake in Buffalo Bayou Park

    The Scoop: A vibrant swirl of color, cocktails, and community took over Lost Lake as nearly 200 supporters gathered for the fourth annual Cocktails in Bloom. This breezy outdoor affair — one of Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s signature spring events — celebrated the organization’s work to transform Houston’s historic waterway into a destination of trails, parks, and unforgettable spaces.

    As golden hour lit up the lush landscape, guests dressed in garden-party glam strolled the lakeside scene, drink in hand. Flora and Giant Texas Distillers kept spirits high with fresh, seasonal pours, while Chef Christian Hernandez and a who’s-who of local food favorites — Barbacana, Burger Bodega, Kin Dee, and more — offered bites that felt picnic-perfect but plated with flair.

    A lively soundtrack from Lou Alejandre and Houston Groove Society gave the evening a cool, jazzy edge, and the Quick Draw Photobooth had attendees lining up for playful sketches and snaps. Nature met nightlife in the most Houston way possible. Under the stars, with a cocktail in hand and a cause in mind.

    Who: Judy Nyquist, Jennifer and Tadd Tellepsen, Josep Prats, Sarah Newbery, Bryce Hairston Kennard, Stacy and Scott Humphries, Matt Assiff, Zion Escobar, Mark Conely, Maggie Tsang and Isaac Stein, and Sallie and Bob Wright.

    buffalo bayou partnershipparksfundraisers
    news/society

    most read posts

    Houston is one of America's most overpriced cities, study finds

    Shaq surprises Houston restaurant with $1,000 tip and more top stories

    Two week dining event celebrates Houston's Latin-owned restaurants

    Loading...