party watch

Houston Rockets fan favorite launches foundation with slammin', star-studded bash

What: Celebrity Slam hosted by Clint Capela

Where: JW Marriott Houston Downtown

The scoop: More than 180 guests and Houston Rockets players gathered at The JW Marriott Houston Downtown with Rockets center Clint Capela for his CC15 Foundation’s first major event, Celebrity Slam. The NBA star and fan favorite launched his foundation with a mission to help the Houston community, and raised $215,000 to benefit low-income, single-parent families in the area.

Capela’s CC15 Foundation was founded by Capela with a mission to help provide low-income, single-parent families with the same opportunities that are available to dual-parent, middle and upper-class families. The foundation helps provide low-income, single-parent families with the same opportunities that are available to dual parent, middle, and upper-class families.

Born to a single mother in Switzerland, Capela and his brothers moved into welfare orphanages at ages six and 10, only able to visit their mother on the weekends. Thus, the foundation focuses on giving kids great experiences not typically available to them in single-parent homes.

Upon arrival, each guest was given a basketball for celebrity signage purposes and entered the cocktail reception where they enjoyed light bites and browsed silent auction items such as a Houston Texans helmet signed by JJ Watt, a Houston Rockets jersey signed by Hakeem Olajuwon, a diamond and ruby necklace from Jianna Jewelers and more.

Attendees were able to meet and talk with Capela, as well teammates James Harden, Chris Paul, Austin Rivers, and PJ Tucker. Guests then made their way to the ballroom, where Capela and his teammates kicked off the program and auctioned off signed jerseys to get the crowd excited. Houston Rockets announcer Matt Thomas served as emcee for the evening and interviewed Capela about his background and why he started the foundation.

Alexa Albrecht with DePelchin Children’s Center also gave a heartwarming speech about the impact Capela and his foundation have made on the children and how Capela is the only celebrity that has taken the time to pay a visit to the center in its almost 30 years of existence.

Afterwards, the spirited live auction was led by TV host Matt Rogers and included incredible items such as Rockets courtside seats, a private dinner with Clint Capela, a signed Michael Jordan jersey, vacation packages to locations like Napa Valley and Los Cabos, a private suite for 36 people at a Houston Astros game, and more.

Who: Clint Capela, James Harden, PJ Tucker, Chris Paul, Austin Rivers, John Lucas II, Alexa Albrecht, Ron and Julie Finck, Christian Boehm, Darlene and Steve Steen, Brenna Croom, Victoria and Nicole Fernandez, Sarah and Vim Head, Sheryl and Sidney Evans, Cathy Matusow, Jeff Balke, Matt Thomas, and Matt Rogers.

John and Mark Alexander.

Photo by Lee Beckman

John and Mark Alexander.

Country Charm

Country star Mark Chesnutt boots up big fun for Houston nonprofit's bash

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Kat Pressly, Chelsea Collmer, and Julia Morales.

The boots were polished, the bourbon was flowing, and the dance floor stayed packed as more than 250 guests gathered at The Ballroom at Bayou Place for the Eighth Annual Kick Up Your Boots for Kids benefiting Dec My Room.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Kat Pressly, Chelsea Collmer, and Julia Morales.

The bash, chaired by Chelsea Collmer, welcomed Country star Mark Chesnutt‘s twang and toe-tapping energy. He performed a lively set that had even the most reserved guests two-stepping their way across the room. Founders Kendall Plank and Susan Plank joined the crowd in celebrating the night’s success, their smiles as bright as the rhinestones scattered throughout the ballroom.

Since its founding in 2007, Dec My Room volunteers have transformed more than 10,000 hospital rooms across 180 hospitals nationwide. The effort continues to grow, with requests up 30 percent this year alone. The organization’s impact has reached celebrity supporters too. Even Taylor Swift made a surprise visit to a Dec My Room setup in Tampa earlier this year.

The evening’s emcee and auctioneer David Ackel kept guests entertained with fast-paced bidding and lighthearted banter. Western chic ruled the dress code — think suede, sequins, and plenty of cowboy hats — while guests cooled off with cocktails from two ice bars.

Community Honorees Aimee and Wynne Snoots and Corporate Honorees Jen and Matt Brice of Federal American Grill were recognized for their ongoing generosity. The live auction drew some of the night’s biggest cheers, with top items including rare Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, a private three-day management hunt at Sycamore Springs Ranch with Kendall Plank, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to throw the first pitch at a 2026 Astros game.

The celebration wrapped with tequila tastings from Loco Tequila and hand-rolled cigars courtesy of The Plank Companies, as longtime supporter Mike Plank looked on proudly from his front-row seat.

The event raised a record-breaking $400,000 to support the nonprofit’s mission of brightening hospital stays for pediatric and young adult patients.

All decked out were Stacey and Al Lindseth, Carley and Mike Stasney, Kat and Ryan Pressly, Laura Moore and Don Sanders, Laurie and Bret Sanders, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Gaye Lynn and Stuart Zarrow, Jody Merritt, Donna Lewis, Natalie and Shaun Hodge, Nina and Clint Rand, Tracy and Landon Ehlinger, Noelle and Ryan Strickland, Patrice and Robert Allinger, Lindsey Love, Brittany Tribble, Kory and Geoff Blum, George Foreman IV, Gina and Devinder Bhatia, Tom Butler, Ali and Haydeh Davoudi, Tammy and Stuart Spence, Grace and Steven Ward, Beth Rivera, Kiki Wilson, Jennifer Cope, and Brittany Tribble.

fundraisers dec my room