Shelby's Social Diary

Jimmy Choos holds the spotlight at National Kidney Foundation Pump-A-Liciousluncheon

Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman

For the second year in a row, Merele Yarborough stepped out in her designer footwear to chair the National Kidney Foundation Pump-A-Licious luncheon. But this year, she punched it up a notch, moving the event to Tootsies, bringing a Jimmy Choo honcho, Savvas Kaminarides, on board and drawing a trés fashionable group of women dedicated to "kicking out kidney disease."

The store was packed with 300 well-heeled women and a sprinkling of men who chit-chatted exuberantly, sipped bubbly and eventually sat down to the perfect lady-like luncheon from Catering by Culinaire. Think glam factors such as Kesa Guest, Ericka Bagwell, Gayla Gardner, Becca Cason Thrash, Jacqueline Kinloch, Phoebe Tudor and Anita Smith and you get the high-fashion picture.

Beyond the stylish ladies and the stunning runway show of high-fashion footwear from Tootsies' stable of shoe designers, the luncheon had its serious side. In fact, Merele was on board for the second time because of the impact kidney disease has had on her family. Her sister was on dialysis before her death due to kidney disease and now her mother, more than 100 years old, is on dialysis. To bring the disease even closer to home for guests, Nancy Mathé told her story, including the loss of her baby due to the disease.

The luncheon honored two outstanding Houstonians with the Crystal Slipper Award — Dr. Garabed Eknoyan, past president of the National Kidney Foundation, and former astronaut Joan Higginbotham.

Leading applause for the honorees was luncheon emcee and Channel 39 news anchor Mia Gradney, who was among notables that included Tootsies host Mickey Rosmarin, Winell Herron, Elissa Turnham, Mimi Vance, Tomisu Friedkin, DeeDee Marsh, Sharon Owens, Shushana Castle and Phyllis Williams.

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legacy and lyrics

High notes and higher hopes put Houston's Omega House in the spotlight

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Deborah Duncan, Brigitte Kalai, Dr. Charlene Flash, and Alicia Smith.

For Avenue 360, it was time to get back in the gala game with Voices for Hope — its first big fundraising celebration since the pandemic. This year’s event marked a lively return to in-person gatherings, joining the ranks of busy, bustling parties that have defined 2024.

The evening celebrated the legacy of Omega House, Texas’s residential hospice for AIDS patients.

Co-chaired by Alicia Smith and Brigitte Kalai, Voices for Hope revived an important tradition of honoring Omega House’s legacy of compassionate end-of-life care. The night opened with a cocktail reception emceed by Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan, during which guests entered raffles for luxurious prizes, including jewelry from Nini Jewels and Wayne Smith Jewels, a shopping spree at Tootsie’s, and a staycation at The Post Oak Hotel with a Porsche weekend rental.

About those voices: the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts choir’s charming performance of “Seasons of Love” set the evening’s emotional tone. Blues artist Luke Whitney continued with soulful melodies before America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Christina Wells brought down the house with dynamic interpretations of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “We Are Family.”

Houston’s social scribe Shelby Hodge gifted Wells her raffle prize, honoring the performer for her roles as a singer, nurse, and mother. The gala also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Bering Omega Community Services, with board member Ken Bohan receiving the Harmony of the Heart Award. Omega House medical director Dr. Gus Krucke, director of dental services Dr. Mark Nichols, and director Sandy Stacy were honored with the Symphony of Service Award, with Stacy’s 30 years of service encouraging standing applause.

Spotted were Lance Smith, Bashar Kalai, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Leisa Holland Nelson, Farida Abjani, Shafik Rifaat, Maria and Omar Moncada Alaoui, Jody Merritt, Christine Johnson, Michele Till, Anna Reger, Mandy Kao, Mark Folkes and Christopher Johnston, Brandon Weinbrenner and Mitchell Greco, Fady Armanious, and Tony Bradfield.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Deborah Duncan, Brigitte Kalai, Dr. Charlene Flash, and Alicia Smith.