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Shelby's Social Dairy

SportsCenter anchor helps make this Houston fundraiser unforgettable fun

Shelby Hodge
Nov 13, 2013 | 10:53 am

Fun, fun, fun! Few words better capture the relative new kid on the charity gala block — Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital's "Under the Boardwalk" fundraiser. With ESPN SportsCenter's Hannah Storm dishing from the emcee's perch, with Tony Vallone providing lobster corn dogs and with Best Entertainers creating a convincing carnival midway at the Bayou Events Center, you just couldn't lose.

And that's exactly what the father-son duo of chairs, Fred Zeidman and Jay Zeidman, had in mind when they agreed to take the helm of the evening that raised more than $460,000 and drew a lively crowd of more than 500.

Among the energized entertainments were the "carousel" bar where the wine toss alone brought in $3,000, the caricaturists, stilt walkers and the whacky IBC Bank Money Machine. Darryl & Co. created the whimsical, carnival-inspired decor while Infinite Groove provided the sounds that kept the dance floor packed until after midnight.

The enthused crowd included Lori and Dan Wolterman, Roger Clemens, David Peck, Ileana and Michael Trevino, Donna and Tony Vallone, Anat Zeidman, Kay Zeidman, Susie and Iggy Distefano, Dr. Alla Kukuyev, Dr. Beth Phillips, Clay Henley, Hetal Kumar, Dr. Kartik Kumar, Suzanne and Jordan Roberts, Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein and Martin Fein.

Roman Skoracki at Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital Gala.

Photo by © Michelle Watson CultureMapSNAP.com
Roman Skoracki at Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital Gala.
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Gallery of Wonder

Children’s Museum Houston luncheon celebrates playful learning

Joel Luks
Mar 11, 2026 | 3:30 pm
Children's Museum Houston 2026 luncheon
Photo by Wilson Parish
Jennifer Miller, Stephanie Braun, Lauren Zwart, and Lakshmi Picoli.

Cheerful energy usually reserved for playgrounds at a luncheon? Considering the cause at hand, we’d say it was quite fitting.

Children's Museum Houston 2026 luncheon

Photo by Wilson Parish

Jennifer Miller, Stephanie Braun, Lauren Zwart, and Lakshmi Picoli.

More than 400 supporters gathered at the River Oaks Country Club for Children’s Museum Houston’s 2026 Friends and Families Luncheon, a midday event celebrating curiosity and childhood. Co-chaired by Lexi Sakowitz Marek and Natasha Stolte, the affair welcomed a vibrant crowd of parents, educators, and advocates who share a belief that playful learning can shape young minds.

Guiding the afternoon’s program was emcee Katherine Whaley, who kept the room engaged as guests settled into a polished menu courtesy of River Oaks Country Club. The afternoon’s keynote speaker, Spencer Russell, founder of Toddlers Can Read, encouraged parents and caregivers to help children tackle difficult challenges by breaking them into manageable steps. Russell emphasized that perseverance builds confidence.

During the program, Children’s Museum Houston also unveiled plans for its newest addition, the Gallery of Wonder, a space designed for infants through age five. The expansive gallery will feature five interconnected exhibits scaled for little bodies and curious minds, along with early childhood educators who will guide families through nearly two dozen programs focused on early brain development, critical thinking, and cognitive growth. Once open, the gallery is expected to welcome more than 350,000 visitors annually.

The luncheon raised a record-breaking $237,000, making it the most successful Friends and Families Luncheon in the museum’s history. Proceeds support Children’s Museum Houston’s mission to improve the trajectories of children across Greater Houston through innovative, child-centered learning experiences.

Gathering in support of the mission were Katie Arnoldy, Meredith Barker, Lauren Barrett, Kathryn Boeker, Bethany Buchanan, Alex Butt, Skye Chao, Allison Chavez, Julie Chen, Lauren Cox, Adrienne Crane, Narguess Fazel, Annabel Florescu, Devorah Krieger, Whitney Kuhn Lawson, Lacey Marek, Hayden Lasher, Amanda Pickering, Kat Pressly, Monica Radoff, Ashley Sloan, and Mary Morgan Stevens, among many others.

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