Cuisine For A Cause

Cuisine for a Cause and dinner with a Texan add spice to Dress for Success bash

For one night, the Dress for Success Houston office was transformed into a foodie haven that turned into a blowout bash. The non-profit organization, whose mission is to provide low-income women seeking employment with interview suits and career development resources with the goal of becoming economically self-sufficient, hosted a dinner, “Cuisine for a Cause," that raised more than $385,000.

Co-founder and president Nancy Levicki and event chairs Mary and Ben Patton and Rachael and Jason Volz joined together to host 350 guests. The evening began with an outdoor presentation by event emcee, KHOU 11 news reporter and anchor Mia Gradney, who spoke about the charity’s mission and highlighted client success stories.

A Fare Extraordinaire, with special recognition to its founder Karen Lerner, was honored for its continued support of Dress for Success Houston.

Attendees dined on gourmet fare provided by a roster of Houston chefs including Alyssa Dole of Revival Market and Coltivare, Nikki Farias of The Tasting Room Uptown Park, Kirstan Williams of Peli Peli, and Addie D’Agostino of Relish Restaurant & Bar.

Music by DJ London downstairs, and by Kristine Mills with pianist Jeff Franzel on the second floor, kept the evening flowing. And the silent auction was spirited as a Steak 48 wine dinner with Houston Texans nose tackle Vince Wilfork and wife Bianca, went for $4,000. The winning bidders were Chris and Kristi Chickering.

Dining for a good cause were Dress for Success Houston co-founder Susie Cunningham and husband Bucky, KPRC Channel 2’s Rachel McNeill and Dr. Wayne Franklin, Isabel and Danny David, Melissa Sugulas, Valerie Dietrich, Cinda and Armando Palacios, Maria Lindenberg and Brian Lindenberg, Kelli Kickerillo and Todd Forester, and DFS board members, including Niloufar Molavi and husband Amir, Chris Bradshaw and wife Kristy, and Gary Reaves and wife Rebekah.

Todd Forester, Kelli Kickerillo, Neekie Kashani, Amir Kashani.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Todd Forester, Kelli Kickerillo, Neekie Kashani, Amir Kashani.

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Party Watch

Burns’ Supper brings poetry and fellowship to Houston Public Library

Houston Public Library Foundation Burns Night 2026

Photo by Up in the Air Films

City of Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Whitney Whitmire.

What: Inaugural Robert Burns’ Supper honoring Fellows of the Houston Public Library

Photo by Up in the Air Films

City of Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Whitney Whitmire.

Where: Julia Ideson Building

The Scoop: Houston’s literary set traded their usual reading rooms for a touch of Scottish revelry when the Houston Public Library Foundation hosted its inaugural Robert Burns’ Supper inside the historic Julia Ideson Building. The evening nodded to the legendary Scottish poet while celebrating the installation of the Houston Public Library’s first-ever Fellows.

The newly minted fellows represent a cross section of Houston’s intellectual and civic life. Honorees included Dr. Ruth Simmons, recognized as Fellow of Humanities and Letters; Dr. Peter Hotez, Fellow of The Sciences; Leigh Smith, Fellow of Arts and Culture; Laura Bellows, Fellow of Industry and Commerce; and Hon. William White, Fellow of Law and Civic Life. The program highlights individuals whose leadership reflects the library’s mission to inspire lifelong learning and strengthen the community through access to knowledge.

The evening leaned into the spirited traditions of the classic Burns’ Supper, complete with poetry, music, and celebratory toasts befitting the Scottish bard’s birthday season. Houston Poet Laureate Reyes Ramirez debuted a new work titled Ode to Houston, adding a local verse to the festivities.

The inaugural gathering served as both tribute and fundraiser for the Houston Public Library Foundation, supporting programs, literacy initiatives, and community access to educational resources across the city.

Who: Robyn Ramirez, Cheryl Byington, Nicolas Jimenez, Jack Pendergrast, Maque Garcia, John Preece, Jackie McElroy, Lou McElroy, Ann Hotez, Douglas Gray, Steven and Anne-Marie Bellows, Jim Jordan, Jerri Blanton, Betty and Jim Key, Kurt Grether, Dr. Melanie Johnson, Mario Castillo, Tom and Laura Bacon, Liz Wakefield, Jenny Gregory, Tallent Ricca-Bacon, Katy Bacon-Madigan, Bill and Andrea White, Sandy Gaw, Tiffany Thomas, John Whitmire, Charles Foster, Henry and Doe Florsheim, Regina Rogers, Michele Leal Farah and George Farah, Piotr Galitzine and Maria Anna Galitzine, David Mincberg, Lainie Gordon, Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Willie Davis, Nancy Ames and Danny Ward, Mimi and Zachry Brown, Frank Rynd, Mickey and Dorothy Ables, Whitney Whitmire, Lillie Robertson, and Beth Robertson.

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