Watt Praised At Gala

Berry siblings praise Texans star J.J. Watt for special friendship at gala

The Beth Yeshurun Day School's "A Night Under the Stars" gala was a hot ticket, thanks to J.J. Watt. The annual event, chaired by Courtney Zubowski Haas and Dr. Eric Haas, along with Amy and Segev Zadok and BYDS development chair Amy Grinstein, sold a record 600 tickets in support of education and the volunteer efforts of the Houston Texans star.

Watt was the recipient of the Robin and Josh Berry Volunteer Award, which holds special meaning for him. It's named for the late parents of Willa, Aaron and Peter Berry, who attend BYDS. Watt has formed a close bond with the children, who were orphaned in 2011 when a head-on collision took the lives of Robin and Josh Berry, and left Aaron and Peter paralyzed from the waist down.

"He has sort of nurtured us in the same way that I've been nurtured before," Peter Berry told the audience as he and his siblings talked about their friendship with Watt. "He was looking to make an impact in our lives — and he succeeded."

“J.J. came to us in the hospital," Aaron Berry said. "He's coming over to our house, and he means it when he comes over. He actually tries to help us. He doesn't just come to look good," Peter Berry added.

Watt also supports after-school sports programs for middle school kids both in Texas and in Wisconsin, his home state, through his Justin J. Watt Foundation.

Watt couldn’t be in attendance, so his parents John and Connie Watt accepted the award on his behalf. “"It's awesome," John Watt said. "I know when J.J. first met them after the accident, he created an instant bond with them. He called us after that first meeting and just said what special kids they were. It's something that just really touched his heart."

Also honored at the gala were Diane and Alan Levin for their commitment to the BYDS mission.

Decorations by Bergner Johnson that included blue twinkling lights from the ceiling of the school auditorium and dimly lit lamps on the tables were elegantly subdued. But the atmosphere was fully charged, thanks to the Bellaire High School marching band, which took a turn around the auditorium playing rousing tunes.

Also amping up the energy were ABC 13 Eyewitness News This Morning anchor Tom Koch, who served as the evening’s emcee, and KHOU 11 News This Morning meteorologist Chita Johnson, who hosted the silent auction and big board.

Among those enjoying the evening's festivities were Dror and Helen Zadok, Katie McCall and David Noll, Rabbi Brian and Lisa Strauss, Dr. Mindy Fein, Michelle and Jonathan Zadok, Amy Zadok and Segev Zadok, Paul and Randi Zubowski, Suzy Simons, Simone and Matt Berry, Monsour Taghdisi and Henry Richardson, Lane Craft, Reid and Anissa Friedman and Dean Zubowski.

A different kind of uniform: John Watt was presented with two Houston Texans kippahs, one for him and the other for his son, J.J. Wattt.

Houston, Beth Yeshurun Day School gala, December 2015, John Watt

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

A different kind of uniform: John Watt was presented with two Houston Texans kippahs, one for him and the other for his son, J.J. Wattt.

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Country Charm

Country star Mark Chesnutt boots up big fun for Houston nonprofit's bash

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Kat Pressly, Chelsea Collmer, and Julia Morales.

The boots were polished, the bourbon was flowing, and the dance floor stayed packed as more than 250 guests gathered at The Ballroom at Bayou Place for the Eighth Annual Kick Up Your Boots for Kids benefiting Dec My Room.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Kat Pressly, Chelsea Collmer, and Julia Morales.

The bash, chaired by Chelsea Collmer, welcomed Country star Mark Chesnutt‘s twang and toe-tapping energy. He performed a lively set that had even the most reserved guests two-stepping their way across the room. Founders Kendall Plank and Susan Plank joined the crowd in celebrating the night’s success, their smiles as bright as the rhinestones scattered throughout the ballroom.

Since its founding in 2007, Dec My Room volunteers have transformed more than 10,000 hospital rooms across 180 hospitals nationwide. The effort continues to grow, with requests up 30 percent this year alone. The organization’s impact has reached celebrity supporters too. Even Taylor Swift made a surprise visit to a Dec My Room setup in Tampa earlier this year.

The evening’s emcee and auctioneer David Ackel kept guests entertained with fast-paced bidding and lighthearted banter. Western chic ruled the dress code — think suede, sequins, and plenty of cowboy hats — while guests cooled off with cocktails from two ice bars.

Community Honorees Aimee and Wynne Snoots and Corporate Honorees Jen and Matt Brice of Federal American Grill were recognized for their ongoing generosity. The live auction drew some of the night’s biggest cheers, with top items including rare Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, a private three-day management hunt at Sycamore Springs Ranch with Kendall Plank, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to throw the first pitch at a 2026 Astros game.

The celebration wrapped with tequila tastings from Loco Tequila and hand-rolled cigars courtesy of The Plank Companies, as longtime supporter Mike Plank looked on proudly from his front-row seat.

The event raised a record-breaking $400,000 to support the nonprofit’s mission of brightening hospital stays for pediatric and young adult patients.

All decked out were Stacey and Al Lindseth, Carley and Mike Stasney, Kat and Ryan Pressly, Laura Moore and Don Sanders, Laurie and Bret Sanders, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Gaye Lynn and Stuart Zarrow, Jody Merritt, Donna Lewis, Natalie and Shaun Hodge, Nina and Clint Rand, Tracy and Landon Ehlinger, Noelle and Ryan Strickland, Patrice and Robert Allinger, Lindsey Love, Brittany Tribble, Kory and Geoff Blum, George Foreman IV, Gina and Devinder Bhatia, Tom Butler, Ali and Haydeh Davoudi, Tammy and Stuart Spence, Grace and Steven Ward, Beth Rivera, Kiki Wilson, Jennifer Cope, and Brittany Tribble.

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