Shelby's Social Diary

The Boy Scouts celebrate the Tellepsen family and raise more than $1 millionover dinner

Photo by John R. Lewis
Photo by John R. Lewis
Boy Scouts present colors at the annual award dinner.
Photo by John R. Lewis
Photo by John R. Lewis
Photo by John R. Lewis
Photo by John R. Lewis

The potent combination of the generous Tellepsen family with the venerable Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts proved to be magical Thursday night when the annual Distinguished Family Award Dinner brought in more than $1 million for Boy Scout programs.

Add the influential Mark Wallace, Texas Children's Hospital president and CEO, as dinner chair as another key element in the impressive fundraising. Wallace, a long-time friend of the family, presented the award to two generations of Tellepsens — June Tellepsen and her children Karen, Howard Jr. and Tom II.

A video tribute chronicled a century of the family's rich community service and its role in establishing one of the city's most successful construction companies. Projects have included buildings at Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston First Baptist Church, Baylor College of Medicine, Christ Church Cathedral, Houston Baptist University and scores more.

The family's commitment to the Boy Scouts covers both generations with the late Howard Tellepsen Sr. having chaired the Sam Houston Area Council board. Howard Jr., a past board chair, currently chairs the council's endowment campaign.

Among guests were Eagle Scouts, who achieved their prestigious ranking through Karen Tellepsen's mentorship. A number of young Boy Scouts traded their merit badges for black ties on this night that saw the Hilton Americas Houston ballroom fill with 900 supporters.

Saluting the Tellepsens were guests including Maria and Christopher Pappas, Emily and Holcombe Crosswell, Shannon Wallace, Janet and Ernie Cockrell, Anne Conner, Anna Babin, Christy and Webb Jennings and Linda O'Black.

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Two-Stepping Bash

Country tunes and Houston's charitable hearts rock for Dec my Room

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Jacob Mansfield, Grace Ward, and Kendyl Mansfield.

A bustling crowd kicked open the doors of the House of Blues for the Eighth Annual "Kick Up Your Boots for Kids" bash, all in support of Dec My Room. The night was set ablaze by the toe-tapping tunes of country stars Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen, transforming the venue on October 24 into a jitterbug jamboree and creating an atmosphere brimming with joy.

Event chairs Laurel Bashaw and Dodi Willingham and founders Kendall Plank and Susan Plank were thrilled about how the extra funds will turbocharge their mission. Since 2007, Dec My Room has adorned nearly 18,000 hospital rooms across 178 institutions, delivering personalized coziness like a warm blanket to pediatric and young adult patients.

Emcee and auctioneer David Ackel kept the energy high as generous Houstonians vied for coveted treasures. Standouts included rare Pappy Van Winkle bourbon bottles and a glimmering necklace from Lugano. A wine and whiskey dinner hosted by Federal Grill’s Matt Brice saw bids skyrocket, leaving winners over the moon. The grand finale was a private management hunt at Sycamore Springs Ranch in Kerrville, Texas.

With over 250 attendees two-stepping and $350,000 raised, the event proved to be a night where generosity danced hand in hand with a rockin’ good time. In the crowd were Laurie and Tracy Krohn, Stacey and Al Lindseth, Mike Plank, Rachel and Tom Regan, Ericka Bagwell, Aimee and Wynne Snoots, Carley and Mike Stasney, Grace and Steven Ward, Monica and Jed Skeet, Marie and Joseph Flanigan, Jessica and Ryan Getz, Denise and Brett Mears, Kiki Wilson, Peggie and Kyle Pentecost.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Jacob Mansfield, Grace Ward, and Kendyl Mansfield.

dec my room fundraisers