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.
