Shelby About Town

Signature Chef scoops, a dentist office that looks like a salon and a funeralreunion party shake the social scene

Laura Davenport, left, and Stephanie Cockrell will chair the March of DimesSignature Chefs event this fall.
Photo by Laura Davenport
Don Weissman, from left, Rosemary Schatzman and Katy Holt at the Signature Chefsgathering.
Photo by Laura Davenport
This duo is all smiles due to the national honor for Jackson and Company.
Fulton Davenport
Kenneth Tjoa and Dr. Melicia Tjoa
Photo by Karen Dressel/Kazza Photography
Cliff Helmcamp and Shirley Dozier Cassias at the Lutheran High School 50threunion.
Courtesy Photo
Laura Davenport, left, and Stephanie Cockrell
Photo by Laura Davenport
Debbie Festari, left, and Elizabeth Petersen at the Signature Chefs gathering.
Photo by Laura Davenport

Things were sizzling at Americas restaurant the other night when the March of Dimes Signature Chefs team gathered around the table for early planning of the Oct. 18 dining extravaganza at the Hilton-Americas Houston. Event chairs Stephanie Cockrell and Laura Davenport and auction chair Rosemarie Johnson had two impressive scoops.

Already $450,000 in table sponsorships have been sold and the "Spice It Up" evening will honor Michael Cordua as culinary honoree. With that honor, Cordua has come onboard to provide the platinum dining experience as Tony Vallone did last year. This means special excitement for Signature Chef guests as Cordua and son David Cordua just completed their dinner presentation at the James Beard House in New York. Culinary chair Vanessa Sendukas could not be happier.

Joining the gathering were Elizabeth Petersen, Luba Bigman, Joann Crassas, Rosemary Schatzman, Tama Klosek, Don Weissman and Debbie Festari.

National honors for Jackson Hicks

Applause, applause for Jackson Hicks and his venerable catering business, Jackson and Company, which has been named one of the 2012 Top Ten Companies in America by Americans for the Arts and the Business Committee for the Arts. That prestigious honor is bestowed on companies for their support of the arts and Jackson and Company was nominated by Houston Grand Opera.

Our hometown team is in good company, the award previously having gone to Aetna, 3M, Conoco Phillips, Macy's and Time Warner. In an email that Hicks sent out to friends on Thursday, he said, "Since we are a small firm by comparison, we are especially pleased to be included in such distinguished company."

As Jackson and Company founder and CEO, Hicks will be in New York this fall to accept the award at a special ceremony. With offices in New York and Washington D.C., Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading advocate for the arts and arts education.

Big smiles for this dental office

More swank spa salon than clinical dentist headquarters, the BRSH Dental digs in West Ave have fans of Dr. Melicia Tjoa offering tons of congratulations. She and hubby Gilbert Chin welcomed several hundred fans to the office grand opening Wednesday night. Think marble entry, ornate chandelier and French style furnishings done in a palette of whites.

For this swell gathering, Tjoa and her associate, Dr. Jean Morency, pulled out the stops with servings of sangria and mojitos, small bites from neighbor Katsuya and mini-cupcakes from Sprinkles. DJ Trey Smith spun the tunes while makeup artist Anthony Garcia of West Ave neighbor Cameo provided last-minute makeup touch-ups and skin consultations.

Joining this festive scene were Lisa and Kevin Maples, Dr. Phil Iero, Monica Ho, Dr. Roberto Porras, Nancy Mathe, Issac Preminger (who designed the space) and Cynthia Davis, Kristen Cannon, Michael Yafi, Amir Davoody, Dr. Cecil Yung and Weilie and Kenneth Tjoa.

Golden oldies

For the Lutheran High School recent 50th class reunion, organizer Cliff Helmcamp had a surprise up his sleeve. He gave the Montrose address of the party place, but failed to mention that it was the swanky Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home. The swell historic house is available for entertaining, but it's doubtful that such a milestone high school celebration has been celebrated there before.

Helmcamp covered the funeral home sign out front with a reunion banner. So none of the partygoers (about half of the graduating class of 56 seniors) was aware until it was formally revealed. They all had a good laugh as tunes from the '50s and '60s played and Goode Co. barbecue was served.

Making it for the class photo were Bill Kooi, Linda Lottman, Pat Holley Arnold, Alan Bauch, Richard Boyer, Cheryl Fritsche, Mark Kollmorgan and Shirley Dozier Cassias.

Sight 'ems

Bobbie and John Nau in the private room at La Griglia where they hosted a fundraiser for former Virginia Gov. George Allen in his campaign for U.S. Senate . . . Spotted around the restaurant at various lunch tables were Mike Plank, Janet Gurwitch, Sharon Adams, Bob Livermore, Rachel Bristow, Mike Turner . . .

Judy Maynard front and center at Abrahams Oriental Rugs retail shop on Westheimer, where she showed a selection of her paintings. Proud husband Bill Maynard welcomed guests to the fete where songbird Kristine Mills performed, Grotto 610 provided hors d'oeuvres and uniformed waiters keep the libations flowing . . .

Lauren Clark feted at Tony's in advance of her upcoming wedding to Worth Snyder. Shower hostesses for the gathering of more than 40 were Karen Mayell, Marsha Braniff, Donna Vallone and Laura Ward. After noshing on ladylike taste treats from Tony's menu (bite-sized meatballs, tortellini, etc.), guest left with special party favors — stationery created by Houston artist John Palmer . . .

Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu, Susan Plank, George Lancaster, Ileana Trevino, Debbie Festari, Tracy Krohn, Tena Lundquist Faust, Tama Lundquist and loads more making the dinner scene at Brasserie 19.

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Buckle Up

Houstonians go all-in at fall Derby gala supporting seat belt awareness

Kailee Mills Foundation Kentucky Derby fundraiser

Photo by Jacob Power

Kristen Yoho, Deidre Mannion, Edith Fisher, Kristi Campbell, and Dana Koger.

Isn’t the Derby in May?

Photo by Jacob Power

Kristen Yoho, Deidre Mannion, Edith Fisher, Kristi Campbell, and Dana Koger.

That was the initial thought floating through David Mills’ mind when planning this Kailee Mills Foundation (KMF) fall fundraiser. But as the evening unfolded at The Revaire, the theme hit its stride. Just like the Kentucky Derby, the race to save lives isn’t about who finishes fastest.

It’s about staying the course. Agree?

Almost 400 guests dressed in colorful blazers, floral dresses, wide-brimmed hats, and feathered fascinators flocked to the venue for the “Buckle Up Gala: Derby Race to Save Lives,” raising more than $360,000 for seat belt education programs, family assistance, and scholarships. The event honors the legacy of 16-year-old Kailee Mills, who was ejected from a car in 2017 after momentarily unbuckling her seat belt.

Attendees arrived to photo ops with Bubba and Bruce, two very patient horses who posed with revelers. Signature cocktails flowed as guests placed their bets on big board auction items, including a George Rodrigue Blue Dog painting, a 1970 Château Lafite Rothschild, and an over-the-top private dinner by A Fare Extraordinaire.

Co-chairs Christine Johnson and Jody Merritt welcomed the crowd, reiterating the foundation’s mission to turn personal tragedy into purpose. Emcees Caroline Collins of FOX26 and Johnny “Bravo” Holloway kept the pace brisk, as Christian Collins delivered the invocation and a video message from Mayor John Whitmire praised the group’s impact.

Dustin Creager, KMF board chair and first responder to Kailee’s crash, reminded the room why they were gathered. Honorees April Roberts and Lucretia and Kris Jones were recognized, with Roberts sharing how a seat belt saved her husband’s life 27 years ago while on duty in his police car. Matt O’Neill was named Volunteer of the Year, and Impact Speaker Sabrina Runyan recounted the foundation’s role in supporting her family after a devastating crash left her and her young daughters with serious injuries.

But the emotional peak came when Mills asked guests to lift a rose in honor of Kailee’s Angels—victims of fatal car crashes ranging in age from infants to adults in their 40s. Each name was printed on a sheet at every place setting. The silent tribute was a visual reminder of the stakes at hand.

The night wrapped with dancing, more bids, and renewed commitment to the foundation’s life-saving work.

On the scene were David and Wendy Mills, Rebecca Creager, Steve Johnson, Steve Spencer, Edna Meyer-Nelson, Dr. Jacquie Baly and James Craig, Odilia and Owen Conflenti, Angela Hernandez, Ghada Ali, Saula and Paolo Valente, Hershey Grace, Scott Evans, Linda Lorelle and Lou Gregory, Ken Webster Jr., Matt and Theresa May, Brandi and Charles Muras, Tanya and Steven Tondre, Tina and Ed Michael, Jess and Travis Dean, Marie and Rico Cano, Deidre and Brian Mannion, Dana and Jeremy Koger, Kristi and Michael Campbell, Dana and Michael Spencer, Stephanie and Nick Walker, Heather and Dale Shelton, Edith and Adam Fisher, Abby Jones, and Austin Grammer.

fundraisers kailee mills foundation