In The Pink

Big-time actors bring laughter and tears to a $500,000 Woodlands charity event

What started as a small fundraising event in a private home 13 years ago has become one of The Woodlands' largest and most popular charity events. The Memorial Hermann In the Pink of Health luncheon once again drew a sold-out crowd Friday, raising more than $500,000 for the Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Breast and Bone Health Center Fund at the Memorial Hermann Foundation.

The luncheon balanced humor and emotion and featured actors Henry Winkler and Marlee Matlin, who shared their stories — with liberal doses of laughter throughout their talk — of triumph over difficulty. The unlikely duo is more family than friends and through her longtime interpreter, Jack Jason, Matlin and Winkler joked, playfully interrupted each other and told their stories.

“Her soul jumped into my heart,” Winkler said after seeing Matlin perform for the first time as a kid. “I knew she just had it.”

As a deaf actress, Matlin talked about the naysayers who didn’t believe she would ever accomplish mainstream roles.

“My deafness would not define me. My dream was to act, so that’s what I did,” Matlin said.

The duo focused on maintaining a positive attitude, regardless of the situation.

“Don’t put a period on the end of a negative thought,” Winkler said to the crowd which nodded in agreement.

Sunny 99.1 DJ Dana Tyson served at the mistress of ceremonies and Carrie Hyman and Melissa Preston chaired the event that included a champagne reception and silent auction featuring travel, shopping and sporting experiences.

Designer Elaine Turner donated $10,000 worth of shoes, bags and apparel from her fall 2013 collection for a raffle, with proceeds benefiting the Memorial Hermann Breast and Bone Center in The Woodlands. Her mother, Marlaine White, is currently battling breast cancer for the second time and breast cancer awareness is a cause near Turner’s heart.

The sell-out crowd of perfectly pink 1,256 guests included Shirley Lent, Marian Spence, Debbie Ratcliff, Keith and Megan Alexander, Michele Martere, Cindy Burgos, Jodi Powell, Lori Freese, Elaine Turner, Marlaine White and Kristy and John Sexton.

Elaine Turner and Marlaine White at the In the Pink luncheon in The Woodlands.

Photo by John Lynch

Elaine Turner and Marlaine White at the In the Pink luncheon in The Woodlands.

unspecified

shock and awe

Dark elegance and spooky splendor raise $1.1M for Children’s Museum Houston

When the Children’s Museum Houston threw its annual adult fête on October 26, the Corinthian wasn’t just an event space, it was a full-on haunted playground for the city’s imaginative souls. Nearly 500 attendees — clad in mysterious black lace, horns, feathers, and flowing capes — stepped into a realm where goth and childhood wonder collided with spectacular results.

This year’s “Noir Ball: A Celebration of Haunted Elegance,” chaired by Whitney and Ryan Burns and Allison and Iván Chávez, made no bones about its moody vibe. From the moment partygoers floated in, the eerie ambiance—think chandeliers dripping in ghostly light and roses under glass cages—set the stage.

The masterminds at Bergner and Johnson Design turned the room into a scene from a spellbinding fairytale, where fog floated ominously across a grand fountain, dotted with rose petals and flickering candles. One could practically hear the spirits whisper.

And as any child knows, no Halloween is complete without a little shock and awe. At one point, lightning cracked and thunder rolled through the room. Even the sweet tooth found its haunting hour with Jackson and Co.’s darkly decadent desserts, including cake candles that might just have you second-guessing what’s edible. It was a feast fit for vampires, werewolves, and Houston’s social elite alike.

Adding to the festivities, ‘80s cover band The Spazmatics revived the dance floor with a high-energy, undead-worthy set, pulling every last creature of the night into their spell. With the iconic chandeliers casting an ethereal glow, the floor was alive with revelers reliving their MTV glory days.

Maleficent, Dracula, and Wednesday Addams mingled with the crowd, adding a dash of dark fantasy to the evening’s ambiance while paddle bids flew during the live and silent auctions chaired by Devorah Krieger and Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey. Highlights included everything from a diamond necklace to a puppy duo courtesy of K-9 Angels Rescue. Guests vied with ghostly fervor for a bangle donated by Zadok Jewelers. After a close battle, Yana Rodilosso emerged triumphant

The evening raised a spine-tingling $1.14 million, the museum’s second-highest tally ever, all to fuel its mission to nurture Houston's young minds.

Among the undead were Alexandra and Alex Cabraie, Antoinette and Julian Duncan, Kathryn and Travis Boeker, Erin Smith, Bethany and Ben Buchanan, Courtney and Bo Hughes, Deanna Altenhoff, Darren Brasher, Stephanie Wilcox, Freddie Minahan, Heather and Mark Teshoian, Iona and Mike Avery, Veronica and John Griffin, Lacey and Matt Goossen, Ashley and Jonathan Sloan, Neil Badlani and Rekha Muddaraj, Cassandra and Ryan Dalton, and Matthew Mackey.

Photo by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Ashley Sloan, Kathryn Boeker, Erin Smith, and Bethany Buchanan.

In The Pink

Big-time actors bring laughter and tears to a $500,000 Woodlands charity event

Elaine Turner and Marlaine White at the In the Pink luncheon in The Woodlands.

shock and awe

Dark elegance and spooky splendor raise $1.1M for Children’s Museum Houston

CultureMap Emails Are AwesomeGet Houston intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome
Get Houston intel delivered daily.