The 2019 Guardian of the Human Spirit Award

Houston Astros score prestigious Holocaust Museum Houston award

What: The 2019 Guardian of the Human Spirit Award luncheon

Where: Hilton-Americas Houston

The scoop: Some 850 attendees were on-hand as Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH) honored The Astros Foundation with the 2019 Guardian of the Human Spirit Award for their commitment to service and building an open-minded society.

Held at the Hilton Americas-Houston, the luncheon raised $615,000 to fund general operations and educational and outreach programs that raise awareness of the dangers of prejudice, hatred, and apathy using the lessons of the Holocaust. The 2019 award was accepted by Twila Carter, executive director of The Astros Foundation.

H-E-B president, Scott McClelland, kicked off the entertainment by engaging guests in the 7th-Inning Stretch and a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” He then moderated an informational conversation with Houston Astros executive advisor, Reid Ryan, and Astros legend and baseball Hall-of-Famer, Jeff Bagwell.

The Kosher menu included an entrée salad of blackened salmon on a bed of mixed greens, baby spinach, allspice macerated apricots, and candied walnuts with Israeli cous cous topped with a honey cider vinaigrette. Guests enjoyed swapping desserts of passion fruit white chocolate cake and chocolate pecan tart. Decorations and flowers were managed by Aztec and River Oaks Plant House, respectively. Flowers were repurposed via Flower Power to nursing homes and shelters, while Second Helpings utilized additional meals for people in need.

This year’s honorary chairs were Art Acevedo, Houston Police Chief; The Honorable Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Judge; and The Honorable Sylvester Turner, Mayor of the City of Houston. Luncheon chairs included prominent Houstonians Barbara and Michael Gamson, Patti and Mike Morgan, and Marcie and Bob Zlotnik. The host committee was chaired by Renee and Alan Helfman.

The Museum established the Guardian of the Human Spirit award in 1997 as a platform for acknowledging dedicated institutions and leaders who have worked to enhance the lives of others and to better humankind.

The Astros Foundation seeks to harness the passion of baseball fans to support youth baseball and softball programs, to recognize and honor our nation's military, promote childhood cancer awareness and efforts to reduce homelessness.

Who: Ginger Blanton; Tali and Eric Blumrosen; Laurie and Dr. Milton Boniuk; Nancy and Arthur Brand; Maria and Neil Bush; Pierce Bush; Rhona and Bruce Caress; Jose Cruz; Brad Deutser; Nancy and Jack Dinerstein; Denise and Steve Estrin; Kelly Cohen Fein and Martin Fein; Heidi and David Gerger; Sam and Barney Gershen; Paula Goldstein; Cheryl and Stephen Golub; Kathy and Marty Goossen; Walter Hecht; Shelly Hendry; Winell and Doug Herron; BJ and Buddy Herz; Barbara Hines; Laura Jaramillo; Carl Josehart and Sam Jacobson; Mady and Ken Kades; Gail and Dr. Milton Klein; Connie Kwan-Wong; Nicole and Glenn Lowenstein; Sunni and Gary Markowitz; Edith Mincberg; Trish Morille; Judy and Mark Mucasey; Carmen Ng; Regina Rogers; Jeri and Marc Shapiro; Joel Spira; HMH board chair, Benjamin Warren and Joy Warren; Flori and Guillermo Guefen; Jay Zeidman; and HMH CEO, Dr. Kelly J. Zúñiga, and Luis Zúñiga.

Jay Zeidman, Neil Bush, Rabbi Brian Strauss, and Pierce Bush.

Holocaust Museum of Houston Astros Foundation Human Spirit Award Jay Zeidman, Neil Bush, Rabbi Brian Strauss, Pierce Bush

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

Jay Zeidman, Neil Bush, Rabbi Brian Strauss, and Pierce Bush.

luncheons fundraisers charity

A New World

Czech classics and gilded glam steal the spotlight at Symphony gala

Photo by Thomas Campbell

Lydia and Karen Gold.

The air buzzed with anticipation as elegantly dressed socialites, champagne and caviar in hand, mingled at Jones Hall. The Houston Symphony’s 2024–25 classical season’s downbeat arrived in grand style on Friday, October 4, a counterpoint of world-class tunes with a classy repast.

Photo by Thomas Campbell

Lydia and Karen Gold.

The Opening Night Concert and Gala was a musicale of unforgettable orchestral works and an homage to Czech music smiths. Led by music director Juraj Valčuha— whose Slovak roots shaped the playbill — the performance featured Dvořák’s darling New World Symphony. The colorful score is a poignant reflection of the composer’s time in America, made all the more stirring by the bucolic, nostalgia-evoking English horn solo courtesy of Adam Dinitz. Valčuha’s love of opera was on display, as melodies flowed like a vocal line, rich and vibrant. Another reason to lean in were the newly completed $60 million in renovations that made every note reverberate with crystal-clear transparency.

The program also included a piece rarely heard, Martinů’s Czech Rhapsody. The joyous and powerful composition celebrates Czechoslovakia’s 1918 independence. This performance was a Houston Symphony debut and included the full might of the Houston Symphony Chorus and the deep, resonant baritone of Svatopluk Sem. Board of Trustees president Barbara Burger welcomed all concert-goers, further adding to the evening’s warm ambiance.

After the chords of Dvořák’s coda reverberated through the hall that was packed with an enthusiastic and diverse audience including a group of high school students, gala guests were whisked away to the Corinthian for a post-concert gala inspired by New York’s Gilded Age.

The space, decorated by The Events Co., was bathed in the glow of elaborate chandeliers and adorned with antique blue hydrangeas, golden cymbidium orchids, and more, evoking the grandeur of the theme. The dinner was introduced with meaningful remarks by chair Mary Lynn Marks, who contextualized the evening’s music. The menu by City Kitchen was paired with wines selected by Lindy, John, and Lisa Rydman Lindsey of Spec’s Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods.

Julie Johnson’s musical stylings rounded out the night, giving guests one more reason to revel. The Symphony’s Opening Night Gala, drawing more than 300 black-tie-clad patrons, raised more than $550,000 to support the nonprofit’s education and community engagement initiatives.

Spotted were Elizabeth and Sam Condic, Margaret Alkek Williams, Bill and Sharon Bullock, Barbara and Pat McCelvey, Mariglyn and Stephen Glenn, Janet Clark, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Sippi and Ajay Khurana, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Marguerite Swartz, Betsy and Fredric Weber, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, Carey Kirkpatrick, Megan and Jason Ryan, Joan and Bob Duff, David Peavy and Stephen McCauley, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Maria and Omar Alaoui, Tammie and Charles Johnson, Justice Brett and Aron Busby, Mary Fusillo, Leslie Siller, Farida Abjani, and Rini and Edward Ziegler.