The call to make a difference, even one person at a time, resonated throughout the Omni Houston Hotel ballroom where Big Brothers Big Sisters gathered a black-tie crowd of 400 in support of the non-profit's one-on-one mentoring program.
While honoring long-time supporters Julia and Bruce Vincent with the Frank Bracken Vision Leadership Award, the evening also celebrated the Points of Light Big Brothers and Big Sisters who volunteer for the program.
"One person can make a difference and everyone should try."
With 809 youngsters on the waiting list for a Big Brother or Big Sister, Pierce Bush, Houston market leader for BBBS, noted, "As an organization we must do more . . . All of the money raised through our Points of Light Night will help in our efforts to affect transformational change in the youth we serve and the communities they live in.”
Contributing mightily to the fundraising effort (close to $378,000 raised in total) was Bob Hogan, top live auction bidder on the Ultimate Ralph Lauren Fashion Week Experience. (ogan and Carrie Colbert were high bidders on the Ralph Lauren package last year as well. And he made the winning donation to have the John F. Kennedy quote, "One person can make a difference and everyone should try," displayed at the agency's new home on Washington Avenue near downtown.
Stepping out for the black-tie evening were Rachel McNeill, who served as emcee, plus Valerie and Tracy Dieterich, Maria and Neil Bush, Steve McDaniel, Judy Allen, Jasmine Taillon and Michael Collins, Manon and Matthew Kebodeaux, Pat and Kathleen Wood, Angie Gildea, Juli and Rich Eichler and Jean-Francois Poupeau.
Bruce Vincent, from left, Khambrel Marshall, Rachel McNeill and Pierce Bush.
