party watch

Houston society birds of a feather flock together at soaring zoo bash

What: Zoo Ball: Flights of Fancy

Where: Houston Zoo

The scoop: More than 400 Houstonians flocked to Houston Zoo for Zoo Ball: Flights of Fancy, presented by Phillips 66, the annual gala which raises vital funds for the Houston Zoo. The black-tie event celebrated the "wondrous" world of birds and raised nearly $800,000 to support the zoo. This year’s event, hosted by chairs Demi and Ron Rand, was themed to highlight the zoo’sefforts to care for and protect birds around the world.

The party-goers turned up the volume on gowns and glamour, and the zoo transformed its tented event space, Masihara Pavilion, into a colorful ballroom. City Kitchen served a multi-course dinner beginning with a spring medley panzanella, followed by savory prime aged filet of beef in pinot noir wine reduction over saffron orzo pilaf with sweet peppers and broccolini, and macerated peaches with blueberry sorbet, candied orange rind and almond cookie for dessert.

Lee Ehmke, zoo president and CEO, shared the zoo’s plan for a new Avian Conservation Center opening in 2021. The center will enhance the zoo’s efforts to breed endangered birds like the Colombia’s blue-billed curassow. This plan will also revitalize the zoo’s bird garden to better showcase the many birds in beautiful new aviaries.

Guests bid on silent auction items during cocktail hour with the highest bid going for a Tenenbaum Jewelers bangle bracelet for $5,000. After dinner, a spirited live auction called by auctioneer Mark Thomas, highlighted three very competitive items. Week-long stays in private homes in Big Sky, Montana, and Cabo San Lucas went for $10,000 and $12,000, respectively. Beverly and Jim Postl won the chance to name the three alligators that will live in the new Texas Wetlands exhibit for $13,000.

This year, Flock members Sam Cole and Jacki Levett-Prinsep hosted the Zoo Ball After Party. Audio House kept revelers dancing until midnight.

Who: Demi and Ron Rand (Zoo Ball chairs), Kelley Lubanko, Kelli and John Weinzierl, Sam Cole and Jacki Levett-Prinsep, Amber Akers, Lee Ehmke (Houston Zoo president and CEO) and Sue Chin; Beverly and Jim Postl, Bob Edwards, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Peggy Kostial, and Macey Reasoner Stokes and Bob Stokes.

Jacki Levett-Prinsep and Sam Cole.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Jacki Levett-Prinsep and Sam Cole.

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