It seemed to have been written in the stars Saturday night that the Memorial Hermann Foundation gala, "Reach for the Stars," would once again be a blockbuster with mega proceeds topping the mega fun that annually makes this one of the biggest and best fundraisers on the calendar.
Thanks to a generous commitment of $1 million by gala chairs Alice and Keith Mosing, the night's proceeds reached the $3.5 million mark, a milestone in Memorial Hermann gala annals. The applause was appropriately generous in return when Memorial Herman Health System CEO Dan Wolterman announced the gift. That seven-figure commitment was in keeping with a similar donation made previously by the evening's honorees Elizabeth and Gary Petersen, chairman of the Memorial Hermann Foundation board.
Proceeds will benefit Memorial Hermann's Revolutionizing Neuroscience Initiative.
The 1,700 guests partied amid an out-of-this-world decor created by Darryl Murchison, who crafted nine planets to rise from tables on each side of the ballroom and scores of floral solar systems topping other tables. In addition, hundreds of phalaenopsis orchid plants in white and purple soared upward from tabletops.
Honorary chairs Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly were unable to join the party, although Kelly did offer video greetings.
From the moment the doors opened on the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom the Wayne Foster of Beverly Hills troupe began ratcheting up the energy with its high-powered entertainers. By the time dessert was served and the music pulsating, the dance floor quickly filled. The dancing duos included Sue and Lester Smith, Diane Lokey Farb and Mark Sullivan, Cathy and Dr. Gary Brock, Mary and John Eads, Bill King and Bridgette Bottone, Kathy and John Orton and Beverly and Jim Postl.
Among those contributing to the night's success were Memorial Hermann Foundation CEO Ileana Trevino and husband Michael Trevino, State Rep. Sarah Davis, Lori Wolterman, Sherry and Jim Smith, Lilly and Thurmon Andress, JoLynn and Gregg Falgout, Sandy and Dr. Barney Barrett, Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Anne Brent, Brenda Love and Ed Jones and Philamena and Arthur Baird.
Keith and Alice Mosing, left, with Elizabeth and Gary Petersen at the Memorial Hermann Circle of Life gala.
