Like the flowers in our gardens, a bower of frothy chapeaux transformed the River Oaks Country Club ballroom into a vision of spring-like beauty as Easter Seals Greater Houston celebrated 15 women at the "Hats Off to Mothers" luncheon.
On this 15th anniversary of the fundraiser saluting outstanding mothers, Easter Seals decided that rather than the usual 10 moms honored, the luncheon would doff its hat to 15. And what a glamorous group they were from new moms to grandmothers.
We all know that today's grandmothers belie the tottering image long associated with the term. Consider the stylish grandmothers taking bows on this day — Sheridan Williams, Mary Kickerillo and Audrey Lawson.
At the opposite end of that spectrum were the fashionable new moms in the spotlight such as Kelli Kickerillo and Kristen Nix.
And the entire lot presented a lovely tableau as they assembled on stage to multiple applause — Sofia Adrogué, the Rev. Suzette Caldwell, Patricia Hamilton Dewhurst, Andi Fry, Leela Krishnamurthy, Katherine Le, Amy Pierce, Kathi Rovere, Karen Susman and Ileana Trevino.
The luncheon was chaired by two outstanding moms in their own right — Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein, mother of two, and Gina Gaston Elie, mother of triplets. Their efforts filled the ballroom with 420 guests, including a number of children celebrating their honored moms, and raised $205,000 for Easter Seals programs.
Stepping elegantly into this spring setting were Diane Lokey Farb, Phoebe Tudor, Scotty Arnoldy, Debbie Festari, Gina Bhatia, Sten Gustafson, Cynthia Allshouse, the Rev. Bill Lawson, Melanie Lawson, Bruce Padilla, Vincent Kickerillo, Todd Forrester and Lilly Andress.
Fifteen years of luncheons and 15 honorees at the Easter Seals Hats Off to Mothers luncheon.
