We love it when those hulking pro athletes trade in their uniforms and helmets for serving trays and dainty aprons in the name of a worthy cause. So we applaud Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels and his teammates for stepping up to the plate earlier this week to raise funds for Daniel's Catch a Dream Foundation.

They took over Morton's The Steakhouse for a celebrity server night in the Galleria location. With 200 guests sitting down to a four-course dinner, the event raised $80,000 for programs that enrich the lives of critically ill children.

Among the Texans teammates joining in were Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Eric Winston, Steve Slaton, Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans, David Anderson and Shaun Cody.

The fundraiser crowd included Nandita and Michael Berry, Liz and Eddie Martiny, Marsha and David Solomon, Rick Stein, Aurora Garling, Rod Ryan and John Lopez.

Ladies lunching

Fashion guru Roz Pactor launched her Chic Sheet Speaker Series over lunch in the San Remo at Tony's with a presentation by public speaker and author Karen McCullough. She regaled the gathering of 90 (including a sprinkling of men) with the challenges of living and working today with four generations.

There were plenty nodding their heads over the multi-generational challenges including Frann Lichtenstein, Steve Tyrell and Karen Pulaski, Jill Deutser, Cindy Soefer, Betty Newton, Ellie Francisco, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Terrie Turner, Cindy Garbs and Debbie Greenbaum.

Getting a head start

Supporters of the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (MOCAH) kicked off plans for their Oct. 30 Masquerade Ball with a fete at Tony Vallone's new venture Caffe Bello. The conduit between the gala and the restaurant was artist John Ross Palmer, whose works fill the walls of the new Montrose eatery.

MOCAH president and co-founder Reginald Adams spread the word on the event, to be held at the original Americas on Post Oak Boulevard, which will celebrate Palmer as artist of the year and will feature a fashion show by designer Toni Whitaker. Lucia and Michael Cordua chair the Cirque de MOCAH Masquerade Ball.

Sight 'ems

United Way campaign chair Bobby Tudor and wife Phoebe on the field at Reliant Stadium at halftime during the Texans-Tampa Bay preseason battle. They were there to accept the $609,000 check from the Houston Texans for the United Way campaign. The Texans family (players and staff) makes the highest per capita donations of any organization in the city. Thank you, Texans owner Bob McNair and Texans president Jamey Rootes, who were on the field with the Tudors . . .

Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, after cruising the Italian Riviera on their mega-yacht The Lady Sheridan, getting their Tex-Mex fix at Spanish Village with cruising companions Karen and Mike Mayell . . .

Discovery Green honcho Barry Mandel lunching at La Griglia with Nancy Pittman and Pam Brasseux at one table and Realtor Walter Aymen of Keller Williams lunching with clients at another.