Shelby About Town

Ashley Judd is heading to H-Town, while Charlie Hartland & his 11 daughters takeon a mission

Ashley Judd headlines the Children's Assessment Center luncheon on April 4.
Charlie Hartland, from left, at the Mission of Yahweh kick-off with MonicaHartland, Brad Marks and Joanna Hartland.
Mary and Tony Gracely hosted the Mission of Yahweh evening.
Oscar and Lynn Wyatt, pictured here at the Opera Ball, hosted Eva Marie Saintand Ben Mankiewicz at their River Oaks home.
Photo by Gary Fountain
At Mission of Yahweh event.

They're calling it a "Charlie's Angels" event and why not. The Mission of Yahweh gala, actually dubbed "A Heavenly Evening," is being chaired by Insperity veep Charlie Hartland and his 11 daughters. One of those daughters is Hannah McNair, married to Houston Texans vice chairman Cal McNair, and that duo will serve as honorary chairs.

The family recently celebrated the upcoming gala — May 6 at River Oaks Country Club — with a little fete at the River Oaks home of Mary and Tony Gracely. No coincidence there. Mary Gracely along with Martha Turner and Rose Cullen will be honored as philanthropic angels. Foundry United Methodist Church, which has supported the homeless shelter for women and children for 25 years, will also be honored.

More than 125 guests turned out to celebrate the upcoming event including Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Pam Lockard, Glenn Bauguss, Monica Hartland and John Blaisdell, Carol and Dr. Tom Sawyer, Warner Roberts, most of the Hartland girls, Maryann and Jodie Hoffer and more.

The Hartland family was big on the scene at the Mission of Yahweh at Christmas when John Blaisdell and Monica Hartland led the charge to provide Christmas gifts and cheer to the resident families.

Star power

Only a few weeks after the premiere of her ABC series Missing, Ashley Judd will take the spotlight in Houston as guest speaker at the Children's Assessment Center's annual "Spirit of Spring" luncheon. Expect the focus to be on her humanitarian efforts when she headlines the April 4 fundraiser at the InterContinental Houston Hotel.

Diane Caplan and Nancy Golden chair the event that will feature special guest Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing and a Neiman's fashion presentation. You can reserve your seats here.

Sight 'ems

Academy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint and Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz schmoozing over cocktails with the cognoscenti at the River Oaks home of Lynn and Oscar Wyatt. The duo was in town for the free screening of On the Waterfront at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. See Joe Leydon's entertaining interview with Marie Saint here . . .

Houston Symphony "Rock Me Admadeus" ball chairs Tara and David Wuthrich lunching at La Griglia and savoring the new twist on the black-tie gala that they have in store for the March 23 fete at The Corinthian (fasten your seatbelts and get ready to rock) . . .

French Ambassador to the United States Francois Delattre front and center at The Wynden where he was guest speaker at a French American Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Key players in the room included chamber president Christian Escudié, chairman Jean-Francois Bonneté, Becca Cason Thrash (seated next to the ambassador), Byron Hood and Peter Brown. On the Ambassador's agenda while in Houston — taking his family to the rodeo.

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College Bound

A Princeton moment steals the spotlight at Houston nonprofit's luncheon

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

Ambition is contagious.

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

And that was the ethos when Emerge supporters gathered at River Oaks Country Club for the organization’s annual Build the Village Luncheon, a polished midday affair centered on a simple but powerful idea: Investing in Houston’s next generation of leaders.

More than 400 guests filled the room for the program, including Emerge scholars, for a celebration of the organization’s mission to help high-achieving students from low-income communities gain admission to and graduate from the country’s top colleges.

Serving as co-chairs were Kate Dearing Fowler and Kate Schilling Kelm, who welcomed guests to a lively gathering. The luncheon honored Mia Mends, chief executive officer of Cushman and Wakefield Services and former Emerge board chair, recognizing her years of leadership, mentorship, and steadfast commitment to expanding opportunities for the organization’s scholars.

One of the afternoon’s most electric moments arrived when Klein Collins High School senior Diana Villatoro Sorto stepped to the podium and announced that she will attend Princeton University this fall. The declaration sparked an immediate roar of applause across the ballroom, the kind that ripples through a crowd and lingers for longer than expected.

The program also spotlighted Emerge alumna Marlee Morgan, whose story of resilience and academic success is an example of the organization’s long-term commitment to supporting scholars well beyond the college admissions process. Emerge’s work doesn’t end with an acceptance letter. It extends into helping students navigate college and launch meaningful careers.

The crowd’s enthusiasm translated into tangible support. Attendees raised more than $760,000.

On the scene were Paula and Reginald DesRoches, Farid Virani, Liz DeMontrond, Jack Blanton, Ann Stern, Elisa Villanueva Beard, and Ruth Lopez Turley, and many others.

Shelby About Town

Ashley Judd is heading to H-Town, while Charlie Hartland & his 11 daughters takeon a mission

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