There is no questioning the Midas touch of former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, particularly when it comes to charitable fundraising. With the Bush imprimatur, the greenbacks flow generously be it for literacy or medical causes or, in the case Saturday night, the George Bush Presidential Library Center at Texas A&M University.
The dinner and wine auction at the Houstonian Hotel reaped a bountiful cache for educational activities at the library and drew 450 loyal supporters. The big names included honorary chairs Jeb Bush and wife Columba, plus former President George W. Bush's chief of staff Andrew Card, Washington D.C. attorney and Bush library foundation board member Fred McClure, Apollo astronaut Gene Cernan and Gordon England, Navy secretary under 41.
Money flowed in from ticket sales, some donors going as high as $25,000 for a table, and from high bids on auction items. In addition to an impressive offering of wines in the silent auction, a boldly patriotic oil painting by Peter Max generated serious money. The artist, in town for a show at Off the Wall Gallery in the Galleria, had personally presented the artwork to the Bushes at their home only hours before the VIP reception.
Gathering at the Houstonain's Manor House for that private meet-and-great with the Bushes were major donors including Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Astrid Van Dyke with son Tor Van Dyke, Roxann and Tim Neumann, Lester Smith and Betty and John Hrncir. The ever-gregarious Pierce Bush, son of Neil Bush, was not far from grandpa's side throughout this early part of the evening.
Serving as benefit chairs were Shahla and Hushang Ansary, Rania and Jamal Daniel, Helen and Roy Ryu and the AT&T Foundation.
