Party sophisticates have long been intrigued by the "Becca factor" — that combo of glamour, chutzpuh and creativity that guarantees a splendid soirée at the Cason Thrash home. But Thursday night, the diva of high-style entertainment — Becca Cason Thrash — took it to another level.

With a mere 200 formally-attired guests swirling through her contemporary, art-filled home, Becca pulled in $750,000 for UNICEF. A handsome sum that topped proceeds from last year's UNICEF gala, where 680 paying guests partied in a hotel ballroom. It was a Midas touch indeed for the woman who has raised millions for charities ranging from Best Buddies International to the Louvre.

Friday morning, she e-mailed, "Over the moon . . . I am on cloud 10!" So was UNICEF board member Monsour Taghdisi, who had the inspiration to ask Becca to chair this special event and who joined her in heading up the successful gala. The duo worked in close tandem to take this event over the top.

How we love the glam factor

"An Evening With Lucy Liu," enjoyed all the requisite elements of a drop-dead fabulous fundraiser. Consider the celebrity line-up: UNICEF ambassador actress Lucy Liu, designer Naeem Khan, Town & Country magazine editor and UNICEF board member Pamela Fiori, song man Steve Tyrell and NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo.

Then, there was that tony guest list that resonated with the city's prosperity: Laura and John Arnold, Nidhika and Pershant Mehta, Courtney and Bo Hopson, Ericka and Jeff Bagwell, Toan Nguyen, Christine and Louis Messina, Kara and Aaron Howes, University of Houston president Renu Khator and husband Suresh Khator and so many more.

The collection of glamorous women in stunning designer gowns made for rich people-watching: Laura Casey in vintage Zandra Rhodes, Sima Ladjevardian in Chanel, Diane Lokey Farb in Chanel, Sabiha Rehmatulla in Marchesa, Laura Spalding in Oscar de la Renta, Donna Bruni in Reem Acra, Jana Fant in Oscar de la Renta and Karen Pulaski and Phoebe Tudor, both in Naeem Khan. For the record, Becca wore a red Victoria Beckham gown, Fiori a dazzling beaded sweater and slacks by Naeem Khan and Liu a sparkling gown by Carolina Herrera.

This amazing tableau of high-fashion, killer jewels and A-list glamour was played out against one of the prettiest party scenes created in the Cason Thrash domain. Richard Flowers of The Events Co. employed lighted Chinese umbrellas, blue and white Japanese-style porcelains, yellow orchids, roses and forsythias and loads of tropical fruits to create the Asian-inspired setting. That meshed nicely with the three-course dinner from Gigi's Asian Bistro & Dumpling House. Owner Gigi Huang was in the kitchen aiding chef Junnajet Hurapan.

Bringing in the greenbacks

The Cason Thrash parties have evolved in recent years to a higher level of sophistication. No more accidental or otherwise splashes into the swimming pool, even though Liu said that she had heard that it wasn't a party until someone fell in. That antic has been replaced by spontaneous donations of big chunks of change. Consider that Adel Chaouch, Marathon Oil's director of corporate social responsibility, pledged $50,000 on the spot after hearing of the plight of the Haitian earthquake victims. Richard Fant, CEO of New Process Steel, added another $50,000. That was, as Becca put it, $100,000 in 30 seconds.

The live auction went exceedingly well with Becca loyalists stepping generously up to the plate to aid UNICEF. Greggory and Patrick Burk bought the Elton John Oscar party item, Jaleh and Bruce Sallee the Casa Fiesta in Zihuatanejo, Rosemarie and Matt Johnson the Hong Kong trip and Elizabeth and Gary Petersen the fashion frolic in New York. (Both Petersens were looking rested and happy after the birth of their twins — Meyer and Margaux — on Dec. 30.)

On a serious note

We can only guess that the unbridled generosity, which extended also to the luxe silent auction, was inspired at least in part by the sobering comments of UNICEF CEO Caryl Stern in from New York. Her remarks on tragedies around the world from tsunamis to earthquakes to the needless deaths of children came in stark contrast to the otherwise light-hearted mood of the evening. The juxtaposition of the description of the troubled areas served by UNICEF with the lavish dinner setting, wines and champagne flowing, was, at the least, unsettling. But in the end, UNICEF coffers were enriched by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Among those kicking up their heels in what most agreed was another killer Becca party were Liz and Tom Glanville, Franco Valobra, Eileen and Kase Lawal, Ceron, John Evatz in from New York, Anita and Gerald Smith, Jag and Pinder Gill, Karen and Mike Mayell, Kimberly and Frank DeLape, Christopher Mendel, Alicia Smith, Mickey Rosmarin, Josiane and Conrad Goerl, Susan and Mike Plank and, oh, we could go on forever. John Thrash, who shares this heady world with wife Becca, missed one beautiful night. Alas, business in London kept him away.