party watch

Houstonians honor health heroes and raise $450,000 for game-changing medical research

Kelsey Dinner Margaret Kelsey Connor, William Kelsey, Ann Kelsey, Laura Kelsey

Margaret Kelsey Connor, William Kelsey, Ann Kelsey, and Laura Kelsey.

Photo by Alexander's Portraits

What: The Live Oak Legacy Dinner

The scoop: Honoring the memory of two prominent medical figures, members of the Kelsey family hosted the Live Oak Legacy Dinner to support the Kelsey Research Foundation. The foundation is committed to advancing medical research, providing health education opportunities, and improving health and preventing and treating disease.

The evening, which paid tribute to Mavis P. Kelsey, Sr., MD and John R. Kelsey, MD, began with a cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner during which guests were served Chilean sea bass followed by River Oak’s traditional chocolate pecan ball.

The night began with an informative video that educated guests on the research being conducted by the Foundation. Following the video, guest speaker Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer at Cleveland Clinic and co-author with Dr. Mehmet Oz of You: The Owner’s Manual series, discussed the importance of gut health as a key to longevity. Dr. Herbert DuPont, president and CEO of KRF, joined Dr. Roizen onstage for an informative discussion.

This year’s dinner raised over $450,000 to support the research efforts of the KRF-UTHealth Center for Microbiome Research, which was established in 2014 as a collaboration between KRF and UTHealth’s McGovern Medical School and School of Public Health.

The center is dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of the gut microbiome and its possibilities to modify disease and improve health through the development and use of a capsule product. To date, KRF has successfully treated approximately 200 patients with a pure disorder of gut microbiota called Clostridium difficile infection (C. Diff) through a fecal microbiota transplantation capsule product.

Early research has indicated the same treatment method may also produce improvements in Parkinson’s disease, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome patient GI function and quality of life. As more detailed findings on cause and effect of alterations in the gut microbiota and disease are demonstrated, KRF’s research will help bring microbiome restoration therapy to market as a low-cost, high-science treatment for millions of patients who suffer from these diseases.

Who: Gaye and John Kelsey, Ann and Tom Kelsey, Wendy and Mavis Kelsey, Heidi and Bob Kelsey, Virginia W. Kelsey, Scotty Arnoldy, Debbie and John Daugherty, Cheri and Andy Fossler, Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence, John Poindexter, Kim and Dan Tutcher, and Jack and Ellie Sweeney.

fundraisers

College Bound

A Princeton moment steals the spotlight at Houston nonprofit's luncheon

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

Ambition is contagious.

Photo by Hung L. Truong

Diana Villatoro Sorto.

And that was the ethos when Emerge supporters gathered at River Oaks Country Club for the organization’s annual Build the Village Luncheon, a polished midday affair centered on a simple but powerful idea: Investing in Houston’s next generation of leaders.

More than 400 guests filled the room for the program, including Emerge scholars, for a celebration of the organization’s mission to help high-achieving students from low-income communities gain admission to and graduate from the country’s top colleges.

Serving as co-chairs were Kate Dearing Fowler and Kate Schilling Kelm, who welcomed guests to a lively gathering. The luncheon honored Mia Mends, chief executive officer of Cushman and Wakefield Services and former Emerge board chair, recognizing her years of leadership, mentorship, and steadfast commitment to expanding opportunities for the organization’s scholars.

One of the afternoon’s most electric moments arrived when Klein Collins High School senior Diana Villatoro Sorto stepped to the podium and announced that she will attend Princeton University this fall. The declaration sparked an immediate roar of applause across the ballroom, the kind that ripples through a crowd and lingers for longer than expected.

The program also spotlighted Emerge alumna Marlee Morgan, whose story of resilience and academic success is an example of the organization’s long-term commitment to supporting scholars well beyond the college admissions process. Emerge’s work doesn’t end with an acceptance letter. It extends into helping students navigate college and launch meaningful careers.

The crowd’s enthusiasm translated into tangible support. Attendees raised more than $760,000.

On the scene were Paula and Reginald DesRoches, Farid Virani, Liz DeMontrond, Jack Blanton, Ann Stern, Elisa Villanueva Beard, and Ruth Lopez Turley, and many others.

party watch

Houstonians honor health heroes and raise $450,000 for game-changing medical research

Texas' new, 4,871-acre state park is now open to the public

Western-inspired, family-friendly restaurant now open near the Heights

Lizzo makes Houston feel 'Good as Hell' at sold-out Rodeo concert

College Bound

A Princeton moment steals the spotlight at Houston nonprofit's luncheon