Shelby's Social Diary

Safari-themed Root Ball raises a lot of green to keep Houston green

Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Not your typical Root Ball guests, this duo from First Class Models sold raffletickets.
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman

For those who didn't have their safari threads back from the cleaners in time for the Root Ball, "A Celebration of Trees from the Serengti to the City," the last resort for fashion was party frocks and sports jackets. You saw it all at the evening that annually supports Trees for Houston.

More than 400 men and women with a keen appreciation of maintaining Houston's rich canopy of green turned out for the fundraiser that was chaired by Kathy Cullen McCord, Patricia Peckinpaugh Griffith and Florence Gautier-Winther. They oversaw the genteel outdoor evening where near-life-sized topiaries of jungle animals lined the dining area.

More than $280,000 was raised for Trees for Houston's various projects that include planting, protecting and promoting trees. Since its inception in 1985, the organization has planted more than 378,000 trees.

The one quirky aspect of the evening was the sultry duo from First Class Models that worked the crowd in an effort to sell raffle tickets. Somehow their body-hugging red dresses and lightening-bright blond locks seemed strangely out of place in this most conservative environment.

Otherwise, it was an understated crowd. Book this party next year if you want to mingle with the city's true movers and shakers, many of whom prefer to fly below the social radar but all of whom are making their mark.

Included in this contingent were Sarah and Steve Pitt, Chris Knapp, Vivie O'Sullivan, Lisa and Will Mathis, Kathy and Harry Cullen, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Jerry Jeanmard and Cliff Helmcamp, Sara Dodd Spickelmier and Keith Spickelmier, Kyle and John Kirksey, Kathleen and Townes Pressler, Sarah and Duncan Underwood and Trees for Houston executive director Barry Ward.

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Interfaith hope

Tapestry gala celebrates Houston's community and compassion

Interfaith Ministries Tapestry Gala 2024

Photo by Quy Tran

The Hon. Sylvester Turner, Dr. Kathy Flanagan, Philamena Baird, and Paula Sutton.

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston once again drew a passionate and diverse crowd for its 2024 Tapestry Gala at the Hilton Americas. Themed “A Better Tomorrow Starts Today,” the October 26 gathering celebrated the organization’s half-century legacy of collaboration, civic engagement, and service.

From welcoming newcomers and bridging cultures to feeding seniors and their furry friends, its mission was front and center at the gala. Attendees were greeted by the enchanting sounds of Hindustani sitar and tabla, courtesy of Dr. Shane Monds and Prashant Kumar, setting an international tone that reminded everyone of Houston's rich multicultural fabric. An exhibit of artwork from the nonprofit’s Refugee Youth Art Program invited guests to view the creative expressions of refugees finding resilience and joy through creativity—a fitting representation of Interfaith Ministries’ commitment to fostering hope.

Emceed by Casey Curry, the night began with a warm welcome from Shell USA Inc.’s Sonya Vial, the presenting sponsor rep, who shared a heartfelt story about her son’s internship with Interfaith Ministries, noting how the experience had a lasting impact on her family. Board Dr. Kathy C. Flanagan extended her gratitude to sponsors, preceding a moving prayer led by an ensemble of spiritual leaders, including Rabbi Pam Silk, Kayvon Haghpeykar, and Rev. Dr. Tamala Wilson.

The event honored three influential leaders lost this year — Rev. William A. Lawson, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and Susan Farb Morris. Their legacies lingered in the air, grounding the evening’s spirit of service and solidarity.

Dinner brought another layer of richness to the event, with guests indulging in dishes that celebrated both local and global flavors, matched by soulful performances courtesy of Kenneth Gayle, Cecilia Duarte, and The Philip Hall Singers. In a poignant moment, a performance of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” in both English and Spanish underscored the universal longing for harmony.

President and CEO Martin B. Cominsky, joined by event co-chairs Paula Sutton and Bill Gross, and Nadia Tajalli and Dr. Shahin Tavackoli, spotlighted the gala’s honorees. Randall Evans, the 2024 Tapestry Honoree, earned a standing ovation. The award presentation culminated in a touching performance of Gershwin’s “Embraceable You,” his favorite song. The Spirit of Respect award was presented to Sushma and Devinder Majahan, founders of the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston, which promotes Gandhi's values of peace and nonviolence.

Petal Power volunteers gathered floral arrangements to brighten nursing homes and the Knowles Temenos Place Apartments, ensuring beauty extended beyond the Hilton’s doors. The gala raised close to $700,000 to drive Interfaith Ministries’ vision for the next 50 years.

Seen among the 600 attendees were Sylvester Turner, Adrian Garcia, Twila Carter and Fred Flickinger, Shirin and Saied Alavi, Susan and Dan Boggio, Murad and Sanober Ajani, Philamena and Arthur Baird, Emma Chambers, Luisa and Dr. Lucky Chopra, Wendy Cooper, Jacques D'Rovencourt, Jill and Mark Eddings, Marla and Danel Fielder, Doe and Henry Florsheim, Karen and Jay Harberg, Renu and Sanjay Jain, Ann and Ron Kaesermann, Bill King, Roberta and Eric Konicki, Atul Kothari, Edward Kuntz, Fred Marshall and Linh Nguyen, Vijay Pallod, Robert Sakowitz, Arthur and Joyce Schechter, Cheryl and Brian Wagaman, Dr. Manish Wani, and Ali Zakaria.