Shelby's Social Diary

MFAH has more than 1 million reasons to celebrate One Great Night

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

It's difficult to get one's mind around the concept of a recession when the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston scores $1.1 million in a single evening of testosterone-infused wining, dining, cigar-smoking and philanthropy. That was the case with One Great Night in November, the men's smoker, that not only saw high-dollar proceeds but also enjoyed one of the annual event's largest contingents of black-tie-attired social/business heavyweights.

How sweet it is for the MFAH and director Peter Marzio to be so well-placed that within two months, two fundraisers (the Grand Gala Ball was held in early October) earned the museum more than $1 million each.

Credit the evening's chairs — Berdon Lawrence and his sons, Charles B. Lawrence and Mark Lawrence, and his son-in-law David Mitchell — with much of the success. Before a single gent had raised his hand to make a personal purchase of artwork for the museum from the cache presented by MFAH curators, the event had brought in $320,000 in table sales. That total went to purchase the ceramic vessel Red Figure Krater With Battle Scene (460-450 B.C.), which received the most votes from the men.

The exciting philanthropy fun on this night is traditionally the individual purchases that enrich the museum's holdings. Case in point on Tuesday, the photograph Atomic Bomb Damage: Wristwatch Stopped at 11:02, August 9, 1956 that Houston Texans owner Bob McNair gave to the museum in honor of the birth of his grandson on that very great day in November. Meredith Long purchased and donated a ceramic vessel from 520 B.C. in honor of his wife, MFAH board chair Cornelia Long.

After parting with serious greenbacks and feasting on an osso bucco dinner from City Kitchen, many of the guests stepped outside in the garden to light up the Davidoff cigars that Jeffrey Stone provided, a tradition for many years.

Big guns in the mix included Fayez Sarofim, Jason Fertitta, Herman Stude, Jack Blanton Jr., Tony Petrello, Jim Flores, Corby Robertson, Joe Hudson, Harry Reasoner, Les Ballard and Lee Godfrey.

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Raising Expectations

3 nights of Michelin-starred cuisine fuel Houston nonprofit’s mission

Genuine Cup Hope and Opportunity Dinners 2026

Photo by Jenny Antill

This team came together to execute the Hope and Opportunity dinners.

Fine dining dished with purpose? We’ll have seconds, please.

The Genuine Cup’s second annual Hope and Opportunity Dinner Series brought three evenings of Spanish-inspired hospitality to Soleil June 11-13, raising $665,350 to expand employment pathways and opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Co-founders Ignacio Torras and Lorna Ortiz welcomed approximately 300 guests across three sold-out dinners for a culinary collaboration featuring Spain’s celebrated Roca Brothers of El Celler de Can Roca alongside Houston chefs who lead four of the city’s six Michelin-starred restaurants — Felipe Botero (Le Jardinier), Felipe Riccio (March), Mayank Istwal (Musaafer), and Luis Roger (BCN).

Attendees began with Spanish-inspired bites and wine pairings before settling in for a multi-course tasting menu accompanied by Edward Grigassy’s live Spanish guitar performance, creating an evening that felt more Barcelona than Boulevard.

“This event is about more than raising funds — it’s about raising expectations,” said Torras. “Every individual deserves the opportunity to contribute, succeed, and be recognized for their talents. Through hospitality, sport, and community, we are creating pathways that help make that possible.”

The program spotlighted the Genuine Cup’s mission through remarks from Senator Ted Cruz, Commissioner Lesley Briones, and Robert Rule, whose story as a Genuine Cup athlete and Rocambolesc employee reinforced the importance of meaningful employment opportunities for neurodiverse individuals.

Throughout the dinners, members of the Genuine Cup community played active roles in the guest experience.

Funds will benefit the Genuine Cup, an international soccer tournament that will bring together athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Houston from July 27 - August 1. In total, teams from 50 countries will participate in the event, which is being held at Rice Stadium.

On the scene were Anne and Karl Stern, Ivan Perez, Kathleen Sledge, Tony and Francis Buzbee, Daniel Briones, Albert and Anne Chao, Sammi and Mithu Malick, Michael and Megan Bartz, David and Laura Piccione, William and Constanza Restrepo, Neil and Elizabeth Chapman, Kyle and Erin Cummings, and Heidi and Senator Ted Cruz.

Photo by Jenny Antill

This team came together to execute the Hope and Opportunity dinners.

chefs fundraisers