Getting a jumpstart on Halloween revelry, Ronald McDonald House filled the ballroom of the Hilton Americas-Houston with a sellout cotillion of 1,000 costumed revelers Friday night for its biennial Boo Ball (this was number 3) and earned $1 million in the process.
While most Halloween events are buffet affairs, this "black-tie or costume" evening includes musical programming, live auction, dance band and a seated dinner. Imagine a ballroom filled with Wizard of Oz scarecrows and Dorothys, the Flintstones, wicked witches and the walking dead seated at decorative dinner tables amid "The Haunted Forest." Delightfully bizarre.
In fact, the visuals on this night provided high entertainment. Consider Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook dressed as Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody, respectively, and Ellie and Michael Francisco costumed as The Flintstones' Wilma and "yabba dabba doo" Fred. Taking a different spin on costuming Debbie and John Daugherty accessorized their black-tie attire with Venetian carnival masks.
The benefit was chaired by Maria and Neil Bush, who opted for the black-tie fashion dictate, and Debbie and Ozzie Bauer, who dressed as Fiona and Shrek. It was hats off to the Houston Area Lexus Dealers, honored for two decades of support for the gala. The hot ticket on this night was for the raffle of the Lexus IS 250.
Joining the class act costuming (no sluts in the bunch) Ronald McDonald House board president Greg Looser and wife Beth, Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff, Flo McGee, Paula and Steve Letbetter, Susan Hansen, JoLynn Falgout and Melissa and William Allen.
Noelle and Chris Donnelly, from left, and Brad and Melissa Kalmans.
