Scores of fans squeezed into a small reception area at the Houston Country Club for a special Tuesday meet-and-great with Private Practice star Kate Walsh, who traveled from Los Angeles to Houston for a fundraising event on behalf of The Center for Success and Independence (TCSI).
In between posing for pictures and signing autographs, Walsh spoke with CultureMap about how she became involved with the Houston-based youth treatment facility as well as her new fragrance Billionaire Boyfriend.
"These days, I've been working on my fragrance company, which has turned out to be a wonderful creative endeavor," Walsh told CultureMap.
"I came down and toured the center a year ago and was really blown away by what they're doing there," Walsh said about a 2011 trip to Houston to visit TCSI's innovative rehabilitation program for adolecents suffering from psychological, emotional or substance abuse disorders. "It was such an amazing place that I said I'd do whatever I could to help. So, here we are today."
Known for her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on the ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy and its popular spin-off Private Practice, Walsh was the center of attention at a luncheon to raise funds to operate a 44-bed, 24-hour residential facility using the organization's multidisciplinary approach to adolescent mental health.
The 2012 Celebrating Triumph Luncheon, which was organized by Katherine Phelps and Luvi Wheelock and drew more than 250 guests, also honored stylist Michael Kemper for his commitment to the Houston community. Walsh spoke about the organization before Kemper ceremoniously drew the winners for a raffle.
"I'm so glad to have a chance to help The Center and my experience in Houston has been absolutely wonderful this week," the actress told CultureMap before the conversation shifted to her recent foray into the business world.
"These days, I've been working on my fragrance company, which has turned out to be a wonderful creative endeavor," she said. "I had the idea to do this years ago, but felt the fragrance market was a little over-saturated — perfume pun not intended. After researching how to do it, I found I wasn't interested in doing a licensing deal so I started my own company."
With the fifth season of Private Practice on hiatus until filming resumes in July, Walsh noted that she's attempting to relax a bit throughout the early summer. The rest of 2012, she added, will be busy with more work for her company and press tours surrounding the fall release of her new film The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Kate Walsh was the guest of honor at the 2012 Celebrating Triumph Luncheon for the Center for Success and Independence.
