What: Children at Risk Spring Party.
Where: Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH).
The scoop: Many of the 250 guests donned their best pirate costumes and “walked the plank” to raise money for the nonprofit that works to improve the quality of life for children. The MATCH breezeway was transformed into a magical pirate-themed world, with red and white flags, a 6-foot ship's wheel and a 5-foot cannon for the organization's first-ever spring fundraiser.
Main Street Theater, which partnered with Children at Risk for the party, created a exclusive pirate-centered play starring former Mayor Annise Parker, H-E-B Houston president Scott McClelland, KPRC-2 reporter Chip Brewster, and image consultant Andrea Bonner for the occasion.
Notable Houston chefs David Cordúa (Américas), Jean-Philippe Gaston (Izakaya), Teddy Lopez (Killen’s STQ), Alex Padilla (the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation), and Danny Trace (Brennan’s) engaged in a friendly culinary competition. Guests voted Cordúa the Surf & Turf award as the evening's winner.
Former judge Eric Andell kept the bidding going during a live auction, while a photo safari to Zulu Nyala in South Africa was such a big hit that it sold seven times.
Who: Party chairs Heidi Dugan, Jennifer and Lance Gilliam, Kara Greenberg Gross and Adam Gross, Karen and Bill Shields, Suzanne Starley, Rowena and Buddy Steves, and Dr. Hilary Suzawa and Dr. Daniel Lemke were elated that the event brought in more than $225,000.
Also spotted in the crowd were Laura and Steve Jones, Soraya McClelland, Children at Risk CEO Bob Sanborn and Ellen Sanborn, Michelle and Joe Kelly, Tracy Maddox, Crystal and Justin O’Brien, Sara Padua, Houston City Council member Karla Cisneros and Tim Cisneros, Jean Raphael and Bindi Mathuria, Larry Payne, Terrence O'Rourke, and Susan Schneider.
Pirate-themed attire was the order of the evening at the Children at Risk Spring Party. Pictured here, Ellen Sanborn, Bob Sanborn.
