Shelby's Social Diary

Man's best friend rules the runway at Citizens for Animal Protection's CelebrityPaws Gala

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

Dogs sipping cucumber-flavored water from a Baccarat crystal bowl — only at the Citizens for Animal Protection Celebrity Paws Gala. Kim and Dan Tutcher, mom and dad to Pet of the Year runners-up Sullivan and Riley, provided that classy oasis of love tableside after the dogs had made their victory lap down the ballroom catwalk and the Tutchers received the dazzling bowl as the prize.

And then there was the vavavoom Carolyn St. Clair escorted by her designer-clad spaniels Tallulah and Spencer, Hershey Grace pushing her kitty, Snickers, in a froufrou stroller and The Bachelor's Kalon McMahon on the arm of his Bachelor Padsweetie Lindzi Cox. Lunch with McMahon was part of the live auction, the date going for $5,000.

It's just that sort of thing that makes the Celebrity Paws Gala one of the more entertaining fundraisers of the year and this year it was a whopper. The 620 black-tie attired guests and the score of well-behaved pooches that poured into the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom helped raise a record $800,000.

Chairs Elizabeth Stein, Laura Stein, Shelby Kibodeaux and Bruce Padilla oversaw the evening that featured a host of celebrity dogs and their high-profile owners in vignettes. Bringing their pets to the party for the friendly competition were Kim Padgett, Elizabeth Allen, Nicholas Altman, Jana Fant, Jeff Gremillion, Adrienne Harvey, Meredith Johnson, Kim Padgett, Erin Spencer and the Tutchers along with junior honorees Karson Ludwick and Morgan Meynier.

Padgett and her West Highland Terrier, Cassidy Marie, both dressed in matching gowns designed by Chloe Dao received top honors. Cathy and Jesse Marion were honored with the Melcher Humanitarian Award and Beverly Wren with the Celebrity Paws Hall of Fame Award. Gloria and Frank Meszaros of West Houston Subaru received the CAP Cherished Companion Award.

Animal lovers making the scene included CAP president Linda Schmuck with Todd Zucker, honorary chairs Donna and Bob Bruni, Andy Cordes and Brian Teichman, Sarah and Alfred Moran, Danielle and John Ellis, Richard Fant, Karen and Byron Hood, Tua and Brian Burke, Kathryn and Jeff Smith and Brenda and Arthur Fant.

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Power in Pumps

Arts of Healing honors 18 Houston women in medicine at fashionable show

Arts of Healing Foundation Fashion Show 2025

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Brittany Bluestein Pippin, Stephanie Louise, Stephanie Wilcox, and Kaitlin Gray.

The fourth annual Arts of Healing Foundation Fashion Show drew a record-breaking crowd of more than 350 guests to the Post Oak Hotel on April 4, celebrating an unstoppable force in Houston’s healthcare community: Women in medicine.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Brittany Bluestein Pippin, Stephanie Louise, Stephanie Wilcox, and Kaitlin Gray.

Ditching their white coats and scrubs, 18 honorees from every corner of the Houston medical scene traded operating-room-ready gear for Tootsies’ latest designs, curated by creative director Fady Armanious. With specialties spanning oncology to emergency medicine and roles from surgeons to administrators, these women stepped onto what organizers dubbed the “runway of role models.”

And owned it.

Presented by DFC Medical, Dr. Isaac and Lori Raijman, and Houston Medical Imaging, the evening balanced glam with gratitude. Rose-hued drapery and floral linens by Blooming Gallery set the tone, while a fast-selling raffle raised additional funds in support of the foundation’s mission: Fusing art and medicine to foster healing and creativity for patients and physicians alike.

The models? A powerhouse lineup of 18 trailblazing women in medicine, each transforming the runway into a celebration of purpose and personal style. Among them were Dr. Connie Wang, Jayne Johnston, Dr. Susan Mathew, Dr. Alexandra Stevens, Dr. Magdalena Sanz Cortes, Dr. Katie Bolt, Dr. M. Monica Gramatges, Dr. Christina Paruthi, Dr. Shaden Khalaf, Tricia McGusty, Dr. Emily Jamea, Dr. Gwyn Richardson, Dr. Shirley Lima, Dr. Sonali Patel, Dr. Shanda Blackmon, Dr. Gina Blocker, Dr. Jessica Traver, and Dr. Dalia Moghazy — each earning applause as they showcased not just fashion, but the fierce compassion and expertise that define their careers.

Since its founding eight years ago, the foundation has contributed over $700,000 to local nonprofits, including The Elkins Pancreas Center at Baylor College of Medicine, The Lung Force, March of Dimes, and The Sunshine Kids Foundation. Its year-round programming includes YouTube art lessons and in-person art classes for children undergoing cancer treatment, often led by physicians themselves — along with a special summer camp for young patients.

Before the night wrapped, attendees eagerly grabbed save-the-date cards for the next big event: The Physician Art Show and Gala on November 8.

Among those in the crowd were Kristen Collins, Stephanie Wilcox, Trisha and Josh Weisman, Sonia and Ray Alizzi, Natalie and Mark Bordman, Ashlee Rubbo, Dr. Danielle Antosh, Dr. Tammy Saunders, Dr. Khalad and Amal Khalaf, Bethany Buchanan, Kristen Cannon, Dr. Kathy Nguyen, Dr. Kristy Hamilton, Dr. Rukmini Rednam, Dr. Randy and Robie Stenoin, and Donna Lewis.

fundraisers arts of healing foundation