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.
