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    Shelby's Social Diary

    Pulling at the heartstrings, the Heroes for Children luncheon celebrated fiveyears of service

    Shelby Hodge
    Apr 16, 2011 | 8:44 am
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com

    It was such a chatty, animated group of young women, all dressed in their spring best, that packed River Oaks Country Club at midday on Thursday that it might have been easy to overlook the profound work of Heroes for Children, the cause for the gathering and the luncheon beneficiary.

    But once the frenzied bidding on satchels, evening bags and hobo bags was completed in the first tier of the "Heroes and Handbags" fundraiser, the meat of the day was served.

    Heroes for Children, founded in Dallas in 2004 by the mothers of two young children who had died of cancer, has been raising funds in Houston for children and their families touched by the disease for five years. Larissa Linton and Jenny Scott understood the need for the non-profit's services at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children's Cancer Center and launched here in 2006. The duo spoke at the luncheon and presented the Spirit of Allie & Taylor Award, named after their late daughters, to Helena Papadopoulos Johnson.

    Duplicating the Dallas role, the Houston branch provides financial assistance, one-on-one volunteerism and special services for young patients and their families. Birthdays, holidays, bar mitzvahs, even end-of-life celebrations for those who can't win the battle are among the services that this youthful group of volunteers provides.

    Thursday's luncheon was chaired by Christine Hoffer and Celina Stabell with honorary chairs Sally Flores, Chay Taylor and Belinda Young.

    For the third year in a row, Alissa Maples served as auction chair. She and her team secured 215 coveted handbags, totes and carry-ons with which to tempt the sellout crowd of 500. So-called "it" bags from Fendi, YSL, Jimmy Choo and Valentino commanded the highest prices along with a Gerard Darel donated by Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria.

    Among those supporting the cause were handbag and shoe designer Elaine Turner, who contributed an entire table of products, plus Terri Havens, Virginia Steppe, Susan Plank, Christie Sullivan, Jennifer Segal, Vanessa Sanchez, Anne Hooper and Carol Turtur.

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    Medics on the Keys

    Houston doctors play a Steinway to support pediatric burn program

    Joel Luks
    Jun 16, 2025 | 6:00 pm
    Doctors in Recital 2025
    Courtesy of Doctors in Recital
    Dr. Michael Yafi and Amanda Watson.

    What happens when scalpel-wielding professionals swap the OR for a Steinway? Something pretty magical. For the third annual Doctors in Recital, Houston’s Steinway Piano Gallery orchestrated a night where medicine met music — and heartbeats gave way to half notes — all in support of the city’s only Pediatric Burn Program.

    Held at the newly renovated River Oaks Theatre, the performers welcomed a crowd of friends, family, supporters, and members of the medical community for a musicale. The program spotlighted 12 multi-talented physicians, whose day jobs span cardiology to pediatric surgery, as they played their hearts out on two exquisite Steinway grands.

    The performance piano: A gleaming Model B-Spirio in ebony, digitally recording each performance. Its show-stealing counterpart? A limited edition Steinway X Disney: Mickey Mouse piano — one of just 25 in the world — designed by Italian artist Elena Salmistraro in honor of Disney’s 100th anniversary.

    Amanda Watson, chair of the event and rep for Steinway Piano Gallery of Houston, welcomed the audience, setting the tone for an evening of artful giving. Then came Dr. Michael Yafi, co-chair and performer, who riffed on art history and the legendary Viennese surgeon-musician Billroth. A nod to the storied connection between music and medicine, his remarks underscored the tenor of the evening: Compassion, creativity, and care.

    The performances were a blend of classical favorites — think Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff — with a dash of good-humored flair. There may have been a few lighthearted shenanigans (it’s not every day you hear a doctor sneak in a playful glissando mid-Rachmaninoff), but the audience loved it. These weren’t just notes on a page — they were love letters to both music and medicine.

    Rounding out the evening was Dr. Kevin Lally, who offered insight into the cause behind the concert: The Burn Program in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. As the city’s only pediatric burn unit, it treats more than 400 children annually, provides $50,000 in free burn care supplies, and serves a community of 2.3 million.

    Among the doctor performers were Neale Clark, Ryan Dickey, Natalie Drucker, Liliane Hay, Khashayar Hematpour, Maria Matuszczak, Aki Nishikawa, Marc Rhoads, Allison Speer, Tony Tran,and Pansy Tung, joined by guest performer Chaden Yafi, who teaches five of the participating doctors.

    Doctors in Recital 2025
      

    Courtesy of Doctors in Recital

    Dr. Michael Yafi and Amanda Watson.

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