Doing Good

Bob Allen and sports celebs pull off the ultimate fantasy football draft party — with a cause

Fans of Boys & Girls Harbor traded cocktail gowns for sports jerseys at the Fantasy Football Draft Night party at NRG Stadium’s Club level on Wednesday.

As the Luv Ya Blue colored sunset faded behind him, Bob Allen, the event’s official football commissioner, shared how the Boys & Girls Harbor helps kids.

The National Football League was well-represented with local figures like Ray Childress, Chester Pitts, Doug Dawson and Jacob Green, who served as celebrity coaches to the sold-out crowd of more than 420 people eager to build a winning fantasy team.

As the Luv Ya Blue colored sunset faded behind him, KHOU Channel 11 sports anchor Bob Allen, the event’s official football commissioner, shared how Boys & Girls Harbor provides healthy, comprehensive residential care for children who are victims of abuse, neglect, abandonment or family hardship.

The crowd responded to the needs of the charity with a raucous live auction that included an ultimate Kentucky Derby experience and dinner with a favorite Texan at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House. The silent auction included signed jerseys by J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney and Houston Texans artwork painted on the spot by artist Taft McWhorter.

Before getting down to the serious business of drafting, guests took to the tailgate-worthy buffet loaded with sliders, fresh fruit and custom made cookies.

The winner of the fantasy football team receives two tickets to the 2015 Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. It was just one of the exciting prizes garnered by event chairmen Diane Englet and Fred Newhouse.

Those showing their support for Boys & Girls Harbor included auction co-chairs Lisa Caruso, Randall McCoy and Rachel Price, plus Cyndy and Thomas Roberts, Gretchen and John Hodge, Melinda and Keith Landsness, Kerry McDonough, Mia and Gardner Parker, Susan and Gary Hanna, Laura and Wayne Kinningham, Janet and Fred Wahrlich, Ken Womack, Rhonda Newhouse, Harbor CEO Don Sweat and wife Diane, Sam and Denise Malone, Barry Warner, Arthur Mooradian, Ashley and Christopher Petersen, Tina and John Simon, Winell and Doug Herron, MaryEllen and Rob Kimbrough, Elizabeth and Grant Harvey, Claudia and Darayus Pardivala and Gladney Darroh.

Houston Texans Cheerleaders and artist Taft McWhorter star at Boys & Girls Harbor draft party.

Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

Houston Texans Cheerleaders and artist Taft McWhorter star at Boys & Girls Harbor draft party.

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Raising Expectations

3 nights of Michelin-starred cuisine fuel Houston nonprofit’s mission

Genuine Cup Hope and Opportunity Dinners 2026

Photo by Jenny Antill

This team came together to execute the Hope and Opportunity dinners.

Fine dining dished with purpose? We’ll have seconds, please.

The Genuine Cup’s second annual Hope and Opportunity Dinner Series brought three evenings of Spanish-inspired hospitality to Soleil June 11-13, raising $665,350 to expand employment pathways and opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Co-founders Ignacio Torras and Lorna Ortiz welcomed approximately 300 guests across three sold-out dinners for a culinary collaboration featuring Spain’s celebrated Roca Brothers of El Celler de Can Roca alongside Houston chefs who lead four of the city’s six Michelin-starred restaurants — Felipe Botero (Le Jardinier), Felipe Riccio (March), Mayank Istwal (Musaafer), and Luis Roger (BCN).

Attendees began with Spanish-inspired bites and wine pairings before settling in for a multi-course tasting menu accompanied by Edward Grigassy’s live Spanish guitar performance, creating an evening that felt more Barcelona than Boulevard.

“This event is about more than raising funds — it’s about raising expectations,” said Torras. “Every individual deserves the opportunity to contribute, succeed, and be recognized for their talents. Through hospitality, sport, and community, we are creating pathways that help make that possible.”

The program spotlighted the Genuine Cup’s mission through remarks from Senator Ted Cruz, Commissioner Lesley Briones, and Robert Rule, whose story as a Genuine Cup athlete and Rocambolesc employee reinforced the importance of meaningful employment opportunities for neurodiverse individuals.

Throughout the dinners, members of the Genuine Cup community played active roles in the guest experience.

Funds will benefit the Genuine Cup, an international soccer tournament that will bring together athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Houston from July 27 - August 1. In total, teams from 50 countries will participate in the event, which is being held at Rice Stadium.

On the scene were Anne and Karl Stern, Ivan Perez, Kathleen Sledge, Tony and Francis Buzbee, Daniel Briones, Albert and Anne Chao, Sammi and Mithu Malick, Michael and Megan Bartz, David and Laura Piccione, William and Constanza Restrepo, Neil and Elizabeth Chapman, Kyle and Erin Cummings, and Heidi and Senator Ted Cruz.

Photo by Jenny Antill

This team came together to execute the Hope and Opportunity dinners.

chefs fundraisers