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Former president George W. Bush honored with prestigious LBJ award in Houston

Holocaust Museum Houston celebrated its 23rd Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner by honoring former president George W. Bush. One of Houston’s largest philanthropic events boasting 1,150 guests at Hilton Americas-Houston, the annual dinner chaired by Lester and Sue Smith, Shelly and Brian Hendry and Limor and Stuart Smith raised a record-breaking $4.2 million to support the worldwide educational programs of the museum. (The prior record was $2.1 million raised at the 2005 dinner.)

Holocaust Museum Houston presents the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award to individuals who have taken a stand against injustice, hatred and prejudice, and used their skills and influence to make a better world for all people. During his tenure, President Bush provided leadership to keep Americans safe after the September 11 attacks. Additionally, he used this same resolve to launch humanitarian initiatives to provide more than $3.3 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Today, President Bush’s attention is on the Bush Institute, the nonpartisan, public policy arm of the Bush Center, which engages communities in the United States and around the world by developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s pressing challenges. President Bush’s focus on our military servicemen and women, veterans, and their families was most notably recognized in his recent book New York Times bestseller, Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.

The evening was chaired by Lester and Sue Smith and Lester’s children and their spouses, Shelly and Brian Hendry and Limor and Stuart Smith. Honorary chairs included The Bush Family, Senator Joe Lieberman, Margaret Alkek Williams, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Mady and Ken Kades served as host committee chairs.

In lieu of a keynote speech, The Honorable Fred Zeidman, chairman emeritus of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, facilitated an engaging conversation with President Bush discussing key events during his time as President and his life since leaving office.

The kosher menu included a salad of baby lettuces, poached red and yellow beets with sweet grape tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and balsamic vinaigrette. The entrée was a scrumptious seared filet of Scottish salmon with ancient grain pilaf, dried cranberries, sautéed kale, asparagus tips and sweet potato puree. Guests enjoyed swapping desserts of flourless chocolate cake with mascarpone cream and strawberries, and lemon trifle garnished with blueberries.

The decorations and flowers were managed by The Events Company. Flowers were repurposed via Flower Power to nursing homes and shelters, while Second Helpings utilized additional meals for people in need. Dinner Chairs Lester and Sue Smith hosted President George W. Bush at their table along with Shelly and Brian Hendry, Limor and Stuart Smith, Holocaust Museum Houston CEO Dr. Kelly J. Zúñiga and Luis Zúñiga, Mayor Sylvester Turner, and The Honorable Fred Zeidman and Kay Zeidman.

VIPs seen in the crowd included County Attorney Vince Ryan, Houston City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen, Harris Texas State Judge Ken Wise, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China Qiangmin Li, Consul General of Israel Gilad Katz, Honorary Consul General of Denmark Anna Holliday, Honorary Consul General to Thailand and vice dean of the Consular Corps of Houston Charles Foster, Deputy Consul General of Israel Omer ChechekKatz, and Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission members Peter Berkowitz and Martin Fein.

Also on hand were Ginger Blanton, Laurie and Milton Boniuk, Polly and Murry Bowden, Bruce and Rhona Caress, Twila Carter, Becca Cason Thrash and Dr. John Thrash, Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein and Martin Fein, Dr. Riva Collins and Ira Mitzner, Julie Baker Finck and Ron Finck, Heidi Gerger, Lainie Gordon and David Mincberg, Barbara and Charles Hurwitz, Jerry Martin, Katherine McGovern, Martha and Peter Mims, Trish and Rock Morille, Jeri and Marc Shapiro, Marcia and David Solomon, Nancy Li-Tarim, Benjamin Warren, Beth Wolff, and Anat and Jay Zeidman.

Dinner chairs Sue and Lester Smith, President George W. Bush, and HMH chairman Gary Markowitz.

Holocaust Museum LBJ award Dinner chairs Dinner Chairs Sue and Lester Smith_President George W. Bush_HMH Chairman Gary Markowitz

Photo by Wilson Parish

Dinner chairs Sue and Lester Smith, President George W. Bush, and HMH chairman Gary Markowitz.

fundraisers galas

Curtain Call

Porgy and Bess revival leads stunning launch of HGO’s new season

Photo by Emily Jäschke

The cast of Porgy and Bess with conductor James Gaffigan.

Houston Grand Opera launched its 2025-26 season with a soul-stirring statement — one that blended history, harmony, and high jazzy American style — at the season-opening performance of Porgy and Bess, followed by a celebration dinner that felt more like an all-cast reunion than a buttoned-up black-tie din din.

Photo by Emily Jäschke

The cast of Porgy and Bess with conductor James Gaffigan.

Under the direction of Francesca Zambello, the Gershwin classic unfolded on the Wortham Theater Center’s stage in a performance that was both nostalgic and unflinchingly honest. The lush, jazz-meets-classical score had audiences leaning in, and many found themselves marveling at how many of the opera’s melodies live rent-free in cultural memory.

But it wasn’t just the music that captivated. The emotional weight of the story and the conversations it inspired lingered long after the curtain dropped.

HGO general director and CEO Khori Dastoor opened the evening by reflecting on the company’s legacy with Porgy and Bess, which stretches back to a 1976 production that earned both a Tony and a Grammy. This 2025 revival, nearly 50 years later, brought that legacy full circle, honoring the past while setting a tone for the season’s theme: The light we hold.

The production, which runs through November 15, features a powerhouse cast that includes bass-baritone Michael Sumuel as Porgy and soprano Angel Blue as Bess. Soprano Latonia Moore, making her HGO mainstage debut, appears as Serena. Baritone Blake Denson takes on the role of Crown, and tenor Demetrious Sampson Jr. brings charisma to Sportin’ Life. A poignant full-circle moment came with baritone Donnie Ray Albert, who portrayed Porgy in HGO’s 1976 production, returning to the stage as Lawyer Frazier. Opening night was conducted by James Gaffigan, with Richard Bado leading later performances.

The post-performance celebration on Fish Plaza, chaired by Dina Alsowayel and Tony Chase, transformed the space into an elegant nod to Charleston charm. Creams and greens, soft candlelight, and natural textures made for a timeless scene, but it was the congenial vibe that truly stole the show. The mood was chatty, the energy high, and the mission clear: Reconnect, rejoice, and rally behind the power of opera.

During the dinner, Dastoor and artistic and music director Patrick Summers acknowledged the many supporters who brought this night to life. Dastoor offered a poignant nod to Summers as he begins his final season in his current role, transitioning to music director emeritus next year. She also welcomed Astley Blair as HGO’s newly elected board chair, signaling an exciting chapter ahead.

Weeks later, HGO announced Gaffigan’s appointment as the company’s fifth music director — a major milestone in its 70-year history. Gaffigan, a rising star in European opera houses and orchestras, made his American operatic debut at HGO in 2011 and returned this fall to conduct Porgy and Bess. His connection to Houston runs deep, as an alumnus of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

As the night wound down, the cast and creative team received a standing ovation again. And rightly so. The event drew 450 guests and raised $690,000, the second-highest total in HGO Opening Night history.

CultureMap seen were Margaret Alkek Williams, Jana and Scotty Arnoldy, Sylvia Barnes and Jim Trimble, Vivianna Jolie, Elizabeth and Neil Chapman, Rebekka and Damon Chargois, Jane Cizik, Molly Crownover, Misook Doolittle, Marty Dudley, Elaine Finger, Marianne and Joe Geagea, Claire Liu and Joe Greenberg, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, Alecia Harris, Matt Healey and Denise Reyes, Chris and Morgan Hollins, Elizabeth and Richard Husseini, Teresa and José Ivo, Monica Karuturi and Kumaran Sathyamoorthy, Sarah and Bryant Lee, Karen and Ramon Manning, Nancy McGregor and Neal Manne, Terrylin Neale, Franci Neely, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Rebecca Rabinow and Matt Ringel, Jill and Allyn Risley, Cora and Judson Robinson, Kelly and David Rose, Anita Smith, Dian and Harlan Stai, Ellen Susman, Marguerite Swartz, Charlene Tombar, Nestor Topchy, Jesse, Brooks, and Sherida Tutor, Marcia and Alfredo Vilas, Donna Sims and Frank Wilson, Gretchen Watkins, Mary-Olga and John Warren, Yuichi and Uny Watanabe, Geraldina and Scott Wise, and Kristina and Enoch Woodhouse.

fundraisers houston grand opera