Shelby's Social Diary

Birth of a new era: Partygoers get first peek at Texas Children's Pavilion forWomen

Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital
Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital
Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital
Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital
Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital
Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital
Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital
Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital
Photo by Allen Kramer/Texas Children’s Hospital

Lab coats and dark suits — that was the party attire for hosts welcoming more than 300 guests for a preview of Texas Children's Hospital's spanking new Pavilion for Women.

Standing like proud mamas and pappas TCH CEO Mark Wallace, chief of naonatology Dr. Stephen Welty, obstetrician/gynecologist-in-chief Dr. Michael Belfort and Dr. Huda Zoghbi, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, greeted the retinue of heavy-hitters and supporters. It was after all the birth of a new era at Texas Children's and celebration was in order.

Visitors were in awe of the state-of-the-art 15-story building that will open to out-patients later this year. And when the in-patient labor and delivery services begin next spring, expectations are that those checking in will be as impressed with the facility and its oversized rooms as were those visiting on this night.

Visitors were in awe of the state-of-the-art 15-story building that will open to out-patients later this year.

The Pavilion will house three ob/gyn practies — Baylor College of Medicine OB/GYN Physicians, The Women's Specialists of Houston at Texas Children's Hospital and Partners in OB/BYN Care. While offering a full continuum of family-centered maternity care, the Pavilion for Women will have a special focus on high-risk births and multiple births.

For this special evening and two more that followed introducing the 1.3 million square-foot building, the public spaces were bedecked with flowers and dinner was served.

Medically-minded supporters included Kelli Blanton, Laura Robertson, Anooshea and Alan Taghdisi, Roya and Massoud Taghdisi, Vanessa and Tony Sanchez, Stephanie Hertzog, Elizabeth and Peter Wareing, Barbara Robertson, Cari and John Griggs and Katie Mattingly.

Also representing TCH were Chanda Cashen and Cris Daskevich. Add Baylor College of Medicine CEO Dr. Paul Klotman to the mix.

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Strike a Pose

Performance nonprofit's party sparks a who’s who of Houston dance

Dance Source Houston Spark fundraiser 2026

Photo by Rachel Redding Photography

Jasmine Burns, Persi Mey, Mayra Bullock, and Tosin Akande.

If anyone knows how to throw a dance party, it’s Dance Source Houston.

The nonprofit’s fundraiser, Spark, lit up Midtown Arts & Theater Center with a crowd that understood one simple truth: The best way to celebrate a dance community is to actually dance.

The evening honored Harrison Guy, recipient of the Dance Source Houston Artistic Honor, and Nancy Henderek, who received the 2026 Giannelli Service Award. Presenters Walter Hull and Maggie Foyer delivered remarks before the honorees took the mic themselves. The night opened with a performance by Urban Souls Dance Company artist Aniya Wingate, setting a kinetic tone that carried through to the final pose.

Floral, festive attire was encouraged, and guests obliged. Think bold prints, comfortable shoes, and a readiness to move. The décor leaned into a cobalt blue and orange palette, accented with fresh florals and community-made paper flowers that gave the gallery a handmade, heart-forward feel. Light bites and beverages kept things lively as roughly 85 guests — a mix of artists, enthusiasts, supporters, and devoted fans of Nancy and Harrison — mingled and mingled some more.

All current and past awardees were present, forming what could only be described as a Houston dance hall of fame in one room.

And when the formalities wrapped, the floor filled. Dance artists and dance supporters alike gave the space a proper workout. After all, Spark is about fueling the very community those initiatives support. Funds raised support Dance Source Houston programs including Artists In Residence, Dancer Fund, Day of Dancer Health, Mind The Gap and others.

Taking their turn center stage were Andrew Smith, Adele Nickel, Lorena Solorzano, Karmetra Shy, Violet Moon, Lori Yuill, Maxine Silberstein, Kari Stokes, Jane Weiner, Lori Amare, Bujung Rathna Kumar, Christina Giannelli, C.C. Conner, Jasmine Burns, Persi Mey, Mayra Bullock, Tosin Akande, Jhon Stronks, Mollie Haven Miller, Brittany Bass, Jim Dougherty, Judy Dougherty, LaRodney Freeman, Tobaric Atkins Montana, Michael Borque, Marta Borque, Teresa Chapman, Karen Stokes, Toni Valle, and Nicole McNeil.

Photo by Rachel Redding Photography

Jasmine Burns, Persi Mey, Mayra Bullock, and Tosin Akande.

fundraisers performing-arts