Party Watch

Welcome to the jungle: Partygoers have a wild time at glow-in-the-dark gala for literacy

A sold-out crowd of 250 took a walk on the wild side at the third annual Jungle Book Gala, held in the lush setting of glass-enclosed event space, The Dunlavy at Buffalo Bayou Park.

Along with dancing late into the night to tunes spun by DJ Ivan, guests mingled with a stilt walker clad in a zebra costume while sipping cocktails and enjoying light bites.

The fun-filled evening, presented by Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s Young Professionals Group along with co-chairs Alexa Bode and William Finnorn and honorary chair Houston Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus, was all for a good cause: The event raised more than $80,000 for the purchase of new home libraries for children affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Guests at the black tie affair added a pop of vibrant color thanks to glow-in-the-dark necklaces handed out, each representing a home library purchased on the night.

Proceeds from a silent auction with items ranging from an exotic seven-day trip to Costa Rica to footballs signed by Texans Whitney Mercilus and J.J. Watt, contributed to the total amount raised.

The focus of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is to improve the quality of life for Houston residents through the power of literacy, and the organization’s Young Professionals Group goal is to engage the next generation of Houston’s leaders in the literacy cause.

Spotted at the soiree were: Maria Bush, Wilner and Yvrose Mercilus, Wade Smith, Lucas Somoza, Nick Lovitt, Matt Vandever, Michael Mandola, Brittany Guarglia, Lauren and Roy Sweeney, Courtney Blackburn, Sally and Ed Thayer, Fidel Garza, Madeline Matthews, and Kimberly Lombardino.

Nick Lovitt, Fidel Garza, Madeline Matthews, Michael Mandola.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Nick Lovitt, Fidel Garza, Madeline Matthews, Michael Mandola.

fundraisers

RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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