Trees of Hope feted the festive season with its 27th annual holiday gala at the Citadel on Kirby. The black-tie event drew a crowd of over 350 patrons, including honorary chair Lynn Wyatt and gala co-chairs Donna Grehn and Sharon Schwartz.
The sparkling affair featured dozens of brightly decorated trees, including one created by renowned Dallas designer Billy Milner and donated by Heart of Fashion founder Vivian Wise. What’s more, the lively evening featured music by the David Caceres Band and an auction that broke an organizational record, raising nearly $100,000 in paddles-up donations alone.
Trees of Hope president Laura Jones paid tribute to the night’s honorees Lisa and John Stoika, and Harvest Point Fellowship Church pastor Lawrence Scott, a former child resident of Star of Hope homeless shelter, stirred the audience with his own family’s story of transformation.
In total, the grand gala raised more than $600,000 for Trees of Hope to improve the lives of homeless children at Houston’s Star of Hope.
Distinguished attendees included Star of Hope board chairman Reid Smith and wife Sandra, Star of Hope president and CEO Hank Rush, Lori and Chip Johnson, Robin and Danny Klaes, Bill and Courtney Toomey, Carmen and Butch Mach, Phyliss and Barry Caldwell, Heather and Richard Holmes, Steve Jones, Beth Muecke, and Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook.
Vivian Wise.
