What: Kick-off party for ESCAPE's 36th annual Celebrity Serve Benefit dinner.
Where: Saks Fifth Avenue.
The scoop: Former Houston sports anchor Bob Allen, who passed away last October after a battle with cancer, was honored by local nonprofit ESCAPE Family Resource Center at a kickoff party for the organization’s annual fundraiser dinner, Celebrity Serve Benefit. Escape chief executive officer Lidya Osadchey gave a heartfelt speech, noting Allen’s dedication, including numerous volunteer hours, to the nonprofit and its mission to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing education, intervention and support services to families in crisis.
Members of Allen’s family in attendance were presented with a glass memento as a token of gratitude. As well, the creation of the Bob Allen Memorial Scholarship was announced, allowing supporters to dedicate donations to ESCAPE in the late anchor’s name.
Kick-off chairs Varda Dror Fields and Christine Johnson welcomed guests, who enjoyed light bites and refreshments courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue’s in-house restaurant, 51fifteen.
The 2017 Celebrity Serve Benefit, themed “Champions for Children,” is slated for April 23 at Tony’s Restaurant. The evening will feature dinner served by several celebrity and media personalities. Actress Stefanie Powers will serve as national celebrity host and Joan Schnitzer Levy and Gerald Franklin will return as as co-chairs of the event.
Who: Seen in the crowd were Scott Talley, Fritz Guthrie, Mariah Talley, Marjorie Evans, Cynthia Durmas, Dorothy Nall, Susan Schwartz, Felicia and John Crowley, Bruce Padilla, Shelby Kibodeaux, Mahzad Mohajer, Dr. Parissa Mohajer, and Cheryl Byington.
Megan Cardet, Christine Johnson.
