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    Kevin Spacey Wows Houston

    We're in love! Kevin Spacey wows black-tie crowd at spectacular Best Buddies bash

    Shelby Hodge
    Nov 8, 2015 | 11:45 am

    Delivering an F-bomb here and there along with a handful of remarkable impersonations and intriguing personal insights, Best Buddies ambassador Kevin Spacey proved on Saturday night to be as entertaining in person as on the big (or little) screen. The stage was the glam home of John and Becca Cason Thrash where he was celebrity guest at a Best Buddies black-tie dinner.

    The Academy Award winner dished with Becca and Best Buddies founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver on a number of topics, the conversation laced with Spacey's impersonations of President Bill Clinton, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jack Lemmon and his Francis Underwood character.

    As he spoke about the importance of Best Buddies, he stepped to the edge of the pool, around which the dinner was held, and quipped, "Oh baby, I'm going in and someone's going to fucking pay for it."

    As the crowd erupted in laughter, Becca, the ardent fundraiser, chimed in, "Anyone give $100,000 to see it?"

    "The notion of giving back"

    The evening was not without its meaningful tone. Spacey credited actor Jack Lemmon, whom he met at age 13, with introducing the notion of giving back and the elevator analogy. "If you've been fortunate enough to do well in the business that you wanted to do well in," Spacey said, "then it is your obligation to spend a good portion of your time, sending the elevator back down.

    "In a way, we all can send the elevator back down because it doesn't matter what floor you are on. In life there are always people just below waiting for the opportunity to be invited up and so it's our jobs to fill that elevator with as many people as we can."

    Spacey has been a Best Buddies ambassador for more than 20 years and has traveled extensively with the organization.

    On acting

    "I get this incredible opportunity to interpret what is written," Spacey said. "I've had unbelievable characters that writers have written and I've been able to work with some pretty remarkable directors."

    Noting that he has had a long career on the stage and in film, he added, "The great thing is I feel like I'm just getting started."

    Becca asked what among his many "diabolical" characters was the most challenging.

    "The building and creation of the role that I'm currently doing, of Frances Underwood, (House of Cards) has been an incredible journey . . . It's an incredible part and for me to be able to go to work every day and have Robin Wright at my side is pretty, excuse my language, fucking awesome."

    The party scene

    As is the norm at parties in the Cason Thrash home, the pool room was grandly decorated by Richard Flowers of The Events Co. Three long tables peppered with bouquets of salmon-hued roses and hundreds of candles in clear candelabra and votives lined the table. The evening began with photo opps with the amazingly patient star and cocktails that included Moet & Chandon champagne and Belvedere Vodka.

    Dinner was a multi-course feast provided by B&B Butchers and Restaurant, SaltAir, Grotto and Brasserie 19.

    The Cason Thrash dining room was laden with tempting silent auction items which helped bring the night's tally to $600,000. Thanks in part to high bidders such as Dylan and Jordan Seth who picked up the Zihuatanejo trip in the live auction.

    The glamorous crowd included Samantha Boles, Rhonda McDonald, Sue and Lester Smith, Dancie and Jim Ware, Carl Lewis, Joyce Echols and Steve Wyatt, Elizabeth Petersen, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Fay and Salim Zakhem, Diane Lokey Farb and Nancy and Marcus Hiles.

    Annie Amante, Cliffe Reckling, Kathi Koll.

    News, Shelby, Best Buddies, Kevin Spacey, Nov. 2015, Annie Amante, Cliffe Reckling, Kathi Koll
      
    © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    Annie Amante, Cliffe Reckling, Kathi Koll.
    fundraiserscelebritiesdinner
    news/society

    Blush and Bubbles

    A pink takeover brings hope and funds for American Cancer Society luncheon

    Joel Luks
    Jun 27, 2025 | 4:00 pm
    American Cancer Society Tickled Pink Luncheon 2025
    Photo by Jacob Power
    Leila Perrin, Brandi Sikes, Rick Smith, Myrtle Jones, and Gaye Lynn Zarrow.

    The Post Oak Hotel was awash in shades of blush, rose, and fuchsia as more than 650 supporters turned out for the American Cancer Society Quantum Capital Tickled Pink Luncheon presented by HEB. Chair Sippi Khurana and honorary chairs Leisa Holland-Nelson-Bowman, Donna Lewis, and Beth Wolff proudly steered the record-breaking affair, which raised an impressive $700,000 for breast cancer research, education, and patient support.

    The scene inside the ballroom was a pink dreamscape, with blooms cascading across a floral photo wall where guests lined up for snapshots. Tables dressed in soft pink linens and shimmering accents set a cheerful yet poignant mood.

    Fittingly, bottomless champagne glasses kept spirits bubbly, and a sweepstakes featuring seven enviable prizes sold out quickly, stoking the crowd's philanthropic energy.

    ABC13's Gina Gaston emceed the afternoon, guiding attendees through moments of reflection and celebration. A particularly moving segment came when everyone in the ballroom was asked to stand if they had been personally impacted by cancer, whether as a survivor, caregiver, or supporter. In a striking visual, nearly every guest rose, underscoring the luncheon’s deep personal meaning.

    Honorees Myrtle Jones, Leila Perrin, Brandi Sikes, Rick Smith, and Gaye Lynn Zarrow each had a favorite inspirational quote read aloud in their honor, while past honoree Janette Marx captivated the room with her powerful testimony of resilience during her breast cancer journey. The atmosphere shifted from misty-eyed emotion to energetic generosity during a lively paddle raise and auction, led by entertainer Johnny Bravo, where a Jared Lehr-designed jewel-studded necklace alone sparked a $36,000 bidding frenzy.

    The event closed on a high note with keynote speaker and Olympic legend Shannon Miller, who spoke candidly about overcoming her own battle with cancer, leaving the crowd uplifted and inspired.

    Among those in the crowd were Jennifer Allison, Nancy Almodovar, Ann Ayre, Alice Mao Brahms, Anna Bryant, Juliet Breeze, Sue Burnett, Cheryl Byington, Tripp Carter, Allison Lewis Cattan, Yvonne Cormier, Laura Davenport, Suzan Deison, Kathy De La Mora, Nancy Dinerstein, Lesha Elsenbrook, Donya Gardner, Gayla Gardner, Marilu Garza, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Maritza Gonzales, Lisa Graham-Garza, Sheri Gross, Winell Herron, Mady Kades, Brigitte Kalai, Mandy Kao, Evelyn Leightman, Stacey Lindseth, Julie Longoria Chen, Vicki Luna, Tama Lundquist, DeeDee Marsh, Janette Masten Gardner, Shawntell McWilliams, Jan Mendenhall, Sneha Merchant, Kim Moody, Patti Murphy, Roz Pactor, David Peck, Amy Pierce, Sandra Porter, Lauren Randle, Heidi Rockecharlie, Rosemary Schatzman, Elizabeth Stein, Marguerite Swartz, Katie Tsuru, Kim Tutcher, Phoebe Tudor, Betty Tutor, Merele Yarborough, Stuart Zarrow, and Jenny Todd. And many, many others.

    American Cancer Society Tickled Pink Luncheon 2025
      

    Photo by Jacob Power

    Leila Perrin, Brandi Sikes, Rick Smith, Myrtle Jones, and Gaye Lynn Zarrow.

    american cancer societyfundraisers
    news/society

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