a bite for crime stoppers

Houstonians who make the city safer honored at annual awards ceremony

Donae Charmosta.

Photo by Gregg Harrison

What: Crime Stoppers Heroes Awards Luncheon

Where: Royal Sonesta Hotel

The scoop: More than 430 guests joined Crime Stoppers of Houston at the Royal Sonesta Hotel for their annual Houston’s Heroes Awards Luncheon. The event honored and celebrated community members who have made Houston and surrounding counties a safer place to live, work, learn, and play.

The gathering, which serves as a vital fundraiser for Crime Stoppers, raised more than $145,000 to directly fund the critical crime prevention programs and public safety initiatives delivered by the non-profit in our communities and schools.

Dana Tyson, host of Sunny 99.1 Morning Show lent her support as the mistress of ceremonies and led the festivities, which included opening remarks from Houston media icon Dave Ward, a blessing from Sister Jane Meyer with St. Agnes Academy, followed by remarks from Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious.

The luncheon presented distinguished awards to Constable Ted Heap, Harris County Precinct 5, Senator Joan Huffman, Former Crime Stoppers Chairman Fenner Weller, Senator John Whitmire, Representative John Zerwas, M.D., Alan Helfman of the Helfman dealerships, Scott Aronstein, president of Connectivity Source, and Donae Cangelosi Chramosta, The Vintage Contessa.

Alan Helfman announced that he was gifting Crime Stoppers a brand new 2018 Dodge Ram. This gift will allow their ‘Safe School Institute’ team to continue to grow and serve many more children.

Civic and law enforcement officials in attendance included Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston Director of Homeland Security George Buenik, Commissioner Jack Cagle, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye Turner, Harris County Constable Precinct One Alan Rosen, Pasadena Police Assistant Chief K. Wingerson, Houston Police Department Lieutenant Tiffany Jefferson, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief Tim Navarre, Harris County Fire Marshall Laurie Christensen, Council members Jack Christie, Michael Kubosh, Mike Knox and Brenda Stardig, and Senator John Whitmire.

Also seen were Russell Gordy, Fred Zeidman, Dave and Laura Ward, Crime Stoppers chairman Hazem Ahmed, Lauren and Reese Weller, Hillary and Blake Helfman, Steve Mach, Jerri Duddlesten Moore, Charlene Slack, Vicki Rizzo, Brigitte Kalai, Sippi Khurana, Maha Rasheed, Susan Boggio, Tama Lundquist, Tena Faust, Mandy Kao, Joy Sewing, Ugo Tombolini, Twila Carter, Jeff Vaden, BJ and Joe Hudson, Sherri Zucker and Brittany Zucker, Melissa Davis, John Crapitto, Yvette Webb, Linda Adkins, Austin Arceneaux and Jacquie Baly.

Sippi Khurana, Brigitte Kalai, Rania Mankarious, and Yasmine Haddad.

Crime Stoppers Sippi Khurana, Brigitte Kalai, Rania Mankarious, Yasmine Haddad

Photo by Gregg Harrison

Sippi Khurana, Brigitte Kalai, Rania Mankarious, and Yasmine Haddad.

fundraisers

Party Watch

Food-focused Houston nonprofit rounds up top chefs for Sunday Supper

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Natalie Vaclavik, Ben Ackerley, Will Hoke, and Anthony Greene.

What: Urban Harvest Sunday Supper

Where: J-Bar-M Barbecue

The scoop: More than 200 Houston food lovers donned their finest Western wear for Urban Harvest’s 31st annual Sunday Supper. The annual event always features some of the city’s finest chefs showcasing ingredients from local farms, fisherman, and ranchers, and this year was no exception.

Led by Felipe Riccio of one-star Michelin March and Bryan Caswell, whose Memorial eatery Latuli has quickly established itself as one of the year’s most promising newcomers, the lineup also included Micheal O’Connor (Doris Metropolitan), Jane Wild (Jane and the Lion Bakehouse), Marco Incerti (Tavola), Hilario Zamora (Zanti Cucina Italia), and host chef Arash Kharat, whose smoked lamb t-bone had the crowd asking for seconds. Pre-dinner snacks were provided by chefs Holly Hearn (Game Girl Gourmet) and Josh Sutcliff (55 Seventy Houston).

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Natalie Vaclavik, Ben Ackerley, Will Hoke, and Anthony Greene.

Before supper, guests sipped a signature vodka cocktail from Camellia Monday Hospitality, beers from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, and zero proof cocktails from Cut Above Zero Proof Spirits. Dionysus Imports provided wines to pair with the meal.

A lively auction that included trips, VIP treatment at top Houston restaurants, luxurious at home dinners, and other splurges contributed over $46,000 to the evening’s $165,000 total. That money will help Urban Harvest fulfill its missions of community gardens, farmers markets, gardening classes, and other endeavors to support a more sustainable, healthier food system.

Who: Maria Rene Parada, Connie Sue Ellis, Roy Clark, Anne Lewis, Beth Clark, David Morris, Mark Marmon, Terry Garner, Geraldine Barrett, Ana and Steve Roberson, Diana and Alejandro Madero, Matt and Natalie Vaclavik, Rachel and Blair Kern, Father James Murphy, Russell and Mary Beth Hillenburg, Martin and Elizabeth Coleman, Bailey Dalton, Ellen Weitz, Kevin Lofton, David Young, Kirsten Chong, Ana Beaven and Charlie McDaniel, Ben Ackerley, Judge Beau Miller, Sammy Ford, Kevin Naderi, Mary Clarkson, Howard Stone, Tom Howell, Ashley and Tyler Horne, Dan Lindner, Charlie Talisman, Mary Beth Hillenburg, Alefiya Suby, Caroline Sievers, and Paige Hawley.