While many of the city's philanthropists balk at the arrival of Houston summer — because perspiration and couture don't mix well — a group of good-doers are mindful that their worries are nothing in comparison to the stress of many parents during the respite from the school year. Education materials and school uniforms don't come cheap.
SEARCH Homeless Services, with the support of chairs Lisa and Stephen Johnson, is on a mission to outfit 1,000 children and their siblings with everything they need to thrive. The Fourth Annual Back To School with SEARCH gathering at Jerry Lasco's The Tasting Room in Uptown Park on Monday launched a month-long fundraising campaign that ensures the children served by the organization have the tools to concentrate on learning — and not what they don't have.
Donations were made by purchasing $20 vouchers that underwrite the cost of one uniform and are also redeemable for food at any Tasting Room location. Some of the 200 guests opted for wine by the glass — accompanied by a lovely spread of cheese and charcuterie — with a portion of the proceeds feeding SEARCH's piggy bank.
Back To School with SEARCH, sponsored by Boyar Miller and The Tasting Room, continues through July 29.
While toasting to new beginnings in the bar's newest party room — where Lady L Boutique resided prior to merging with its Houston Galleria location — executive director Thao Costis loved that the inaugural day cashed in $6,000 of the $20,000 goal.
Sipping and mingling were BoyarMiller chairman Chris Hanslik, Jennifer and Brent Howard, Bill Boyar, Katy Mayell Ellis, Welcome Wilson, Welcome Wilson Jr., Diane Barber and Karen Niemeier, Doug Parker, Shelly Cyprus, Gary Gibson, Chaz Klaes, Karma Burford and David Arnold, Lauren Kaufman Blachman and Dolores Wilkenfeld.
Karen Niemeier, left, Doug Parker and Diane Barber at Back to School with SEARCH at The Tasting Room.
