The Women's Home had no idea just how valuable it would be to have philanthropist /oilman Lester Smith as guest speaker at the partnership luncheon on Friday at The Houstonian. After his talk, Smith and his wife, Sue, gifted the non-profit with a windfall $250,000.

No surprise then that his remarks focused on his life of overcoming personal challenges and on giving back to the community. Smith's witticisms and wisdom evolved from his soon-to-be-published book, You Gotta Dance Like No One's Watching, which he co-wrote with Trish Morille.

Grateful for the Smiths' generosity, The Women's Home is renaming its luncheon series after Sue and Lester. And beginning with the series next year, a Women's Home grad will be presented the Lester and Sue Smith Whole Life Award for peer mentorship.

Applauding the Smiths for their generosity were Danielle Ellis, J'Anne Smith Rawson, Cora Sue Mach, Sidney Faust, Sue Trammel Whitfield, Judy McGee, Mary Ann McKeithan, Adele Pieper, Franelle Rogers, Diane Gendel and Carol Simmons.

Food for thought

Nothing makes a special event really special like a unique setting. So Recipe for Success' benefit kick-off at Highland Tower's fifth floor terrace on Monday night was a slam dunk from the start.

Welcoming the 200 guests, who gathered beneath the towering palm trees and ooohed and ahhhed over the skyline view was Recipe for Success founder Gracie Cavnar and Derek Darnell, vice president of Pelican Builders which developed Highland Tower.

In addition to hearing more about the Recipe for Success "Blue Plate Special Cafe Harvest Lunch & Market" on Nov. 10, supporters sampled tasty bites from four members of the non-profit's chef advisory board: Scott Castell of Brenner's Steakhouse on the Bayou, David Grossman of Branch Water Tavern, Ruffy Sulaiman of the Hilton Americas-Houston and L.J. Wiley of Yelapa Playa Mexicana. Luncheon chairs Karen and Frank Steininger were among those sampling the yummy fare.

Joining the party were Sultana Mangalji, Anne Mendelsohn, Cathy Brock, Phyllis Childress, Ed McMahon, Steph Walker, Karen Garcia, Claire Cormier Thielke, Valerie Palmquist, Lori Freese, Sylvia Forsythe, Terry Zmyslo, Edith Personette and Pelican Builders founder Robert Bland.

Helping others

Riches of the good life surrounded the women in Keva Horry's home Saturday afternoon. But the wealth of designer shoes from Neiman Marcus, Gregory's and Saks Fifth Avenue, jewelry from Valobra and Steven Lagos and other designer items served a purpose beyond satisfying a lust for luxe.

Funds raised from these auction items offered at the third annual Ready Women Inc. "Dreams Realized" scholarship tea are earmarked for educational aid for those living in the Young Mother's Residential Program at Project Row Houses.

Project Row Houses founder Rick Lowe joined the ladies in an afternoon that saluted six residents in the program including Yvette Chapman, who, thanks to a Ready Women scholarship, is enrolled in a master's program in sociology and boasts a 3.0 GPA.

Headliners on this day included Ready Women founder Jacqueline Kinloch, board members Keryl Douglas and Deidre Boone and event chairs Phyllis Williams, Merele Yarborough, Harriet Gertner and Kesa West.

Also in the mix were Judge Clarease Rankin Yates (who won a bottle of vintage champagne for wearing the best hat), Dr. Camille Cash, Dr. Janice Crowder, Karen Briscoe, Leelou Mayo, Cynthia Spooner and a host of others.

United Way under way

Get your checkbooks and pledge cards ready, the United Way of Greater Houston has launched is 2010-11 campaign and the organization is hoping to raise $74 million, approximately $500,000 more than last year.

With the persuasive and popular Bobby Tudor as campaign chair and with more than 1,200 supporters turning out at the Hobby Center for the launch, things appear to be promising.

KPRC news anchor Jerome Gray, United Way CEO Anna Babin and United Way VP of donor relations Anne Neeson were at the forefront of the program that emphasized the importance of this year's campaign considering the community's ever-growing needs.

Rockin' at the Decorative Center

Oscar Aguilar and Alex Garcia and friends had the time of their lives Friday night when the duo threw open the doors for a sneak peek at their new eatery Decco Cafe, located in Decorative Center Houston.

Almost 500 friends turned out to sample the Mexican party fare offered by chef Emilio Chacon — everything from tasty appetizers to breakfast tacos which were served at the close of the party. Such a really good time was had by all that Augilar and Garcia had to practically escort folks out of the place at 2:30 Saturday morning. Even after the DJ shut down at 2 a.m.

Among those getting the first look-see at the atrium design restaurant by Area Architecture were Debra Duncan, Priscilla Larson, Sylvia Forsythe, Terry Zmyslo, Kendra and John Broderick, Martha Lurie, Kim Moody, Ann Carl and Warner Roberts.

The eatery is set to serve breakfast and lunch with emphasis on fresh-baked goods, sandwiches, salads and desserts. It will open later this month.

Sight 'ems

A host of VIPs headhuddling over dinner at Tony's to discuss the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Cornerstone Dinner set for Feb. 5. The group included alliance exec Ramona Davis, Nancy Ames, Danny Ward, Susan and Gene Vaughan, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor and Charlotte and Larry Wahley. The Tudors and Vaughans chair the dinner . . .

A room full of notables at La Griglia including former Mayor Bob Lanier, political powerhouse Ned Holmes, Metro's government affairs director Tom Jasien, City Councilman C.O. Bradford, attorney Robert Miller, political consultant Sue Walden, University of Houston regent Nelda Blair and Jim Blair, TXU's government affairs director Gerard Torres and marketing whiz Cindy Clifford . . .

Tara Wuthrich celebrating her birthday with Veuve Cliquot and girlfriends at Tony's where they had lunch and dessert soufflés. Raising their glasses to the birthday girl were Jan Carson, Rosemary Schatzman, Kari Parsons, Joann Crassas, Julie Brown, Denise Bahr, Cathy Cagle, Vanessa Sendukas and Ellie Francisco . . .

Roger Clemens' defense attorney Rusty Hardin lunching at Damian's.