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    Night Of Fun

    Fun on the runway: Houston Texans and the Nae Nae add panache to Una Notte in Italia gala

    Clifford Pugh
    Nov 9, 2015 | 2:02 pm

    What: Una Notte in Italia.

    Where: Royal Sonesta Hotel.

    The 411: More than 600 guests packed the large Galleria-area hotel ballroom for the annual gala that features food and wine with an Italian theme and highlights businessmen, attorneys and athletes in custom-made attire from Festari for Men. As usual, there was also ample opportunity for great people watching, as female attendees pulled out all the stops with body-hugging dresses — the invitation suggested "Elegante" cocktail attire — and killer shoes.

    More than 25 male models rocked the runway to loud applause and bursts of confetti. Friends and family of Martijn Van Koolwijk waved cut-outs of his chiseled face while, on the runway, Charles Clark and Ben Dugger donned sunglasses and Travis Torrence, Chad Zamarin and Chad Pinkerton busted some fine dance moves. Torrence brought down the house with his rendition of the Nae Nae.

    Houston Texans Kareem Jackson, Alfred Blue, Garrett Graham and Andre Hal, along with Houston Dynamo Chandler Hoffman, represented the sports contingent.

    Among others earning big applause on the runway were Anatol Feygin, James Lassiter, Ajay Khurana, Rocky Mafrige, Bill Toomey, Jonathan Farb, Jeff Abel, Astley Blair, Dr. William Guerra, Richard Hancock, Jack Merriman and Ulises Vidal.

    Debbie Festari, the longtime guiding spirit behind the fundraiser, and Channel 2 anchor Dominque Sachse kept a lively running commentary as the men took the runway, while Rudy Festari took a special bow for outfitting each dapper dude.

    Channel 2's Andy Cerota led a spirited live auction for packages that included a private dinner with the Houston Texans, a trip to the Napa Valley and a tour of Italy that raised an additional $26,500 for the evening's beneficiary, Bo's Place.

    Much of the crowd remained for the after-party in a lounge setting with specialty drinks from Circulo Tequila and non-stop dance music from DJ Senega.

    Who: Gala Chairman Eloise Frischkorn Bauer, who was thrilled that the evening took in $350,000 for the non-profit that offers grief support services to children and their families, Joella and Steve Mach, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Brady and Alexandra Knight, Luba and Alan Bigman, Tiffany and Randall Wong, Susan and Charlie Neuhaus, Claudine and David Hartland, Megan Sutton Reed and Chris Reed, Jill and Calvin Schlenker, Kara Vidal, and Bobby and Lil Newman.

    Houston Texan Kareem Jackson, Rudy Festari, Houston Texan Andre Hal.

    Una Notte in Italia Houston Texan Kareem Jackson, Rudy Festari, Houston Texan Andre Hal
      
    Photo by Emile Brown
    Houston Texan Kareem Jackson, Rudy Festari, Houston Texan Andre Hal.
    galasfundraisers
    news/society

    Dignity Delivered

    Houston Furniture Bank turns compassion into comfort for kids

    Joel Luks
    May 30, 2025 | 11:00 am
    Houston Furniture Bank gala 2025
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Dean Todd, Stacey Todd, Cinde Matocha, and Gary Matocha.

    A child sleeping on the floor isn’t just a statistic — it’s a crisis. And on May 8, more than 400 guests packed River Oaks Country Club to do something about it.

    The Furniture Bank’s No Kids on the Floor gala, chaired by advocates and board members Francie and Mike Willis, raised more than $300,000, a record-breaking figure for the organization. The funds support its mission to provide beds to the estimated 300,000 children in Houston without one, a mission that has already placed more than 4,000 beds since the program launched in 2018.

    The evening, emceed by Linda Lorelle, featured the moving video highlighting founder Oli Mohammed and the organization’s impact. Ralph Marek was posthumously honored as the night’s Legacy Honoree, with his son Stan Marek accepting on behalf of the family. The inaugural Jodie Hoffer Community Service Award — named for the late Furniture Bank champion — was presented to Youval Meicler of Texas Mattress Makers, whose support has been both generous and hands-on.

    A heartfelt speech from the eldest child of a family served by the organization reminded the crowd what this night was really about: Dignity, safety, and the power of something as simple as a bed.

    Pianist Doug Montgomery provided the soundtrack for the evening, while Johnny Bravo rallied the room for a spirited live auction and appeal. Elegant florals by H-E-B, a sold-out Giving Tree, and a silent auction featuring rare wine lots rounded out the festivities.

    In attendance were Ben Marek, Roz and Alan Pactor, Scott and Samantha Hoffer, Karen and Larry Cress, Michele Meicler, Jody Merritt, Christine Johnson, Janice Hall, Hershey Grace and Ed McMahon, Cinde and Gary Matocha, Edna Meyer Nelson, Jeff and Harry Cummins, Lisa and Bob Gulitti, Regina Rogers, Steve Finger, Frank Monacelli and Gloria Nino-Monacelli, Danna and Hal Lynde, Allison and Stuart Peterson, Jill and John Parsley, Molly and Miles Marks, Kip Altstaetter, Frank Billingsley and Kevin Gilliard, Audrey and Phillip Davis, Michael Galloway, Laura Ward, Cathy and Bud Geisinger.

    Houston Furniture Bank gala 2025
      

    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Dean Todd, Stacey Todd, Cinde Matocha, and Gary Matocha.

    fundraisershouston furniture bank
    news/society
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