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    Holiday schmooze

    Ridiculous traffic jam can't keep revelers from holiday party at River Oaks mansion

    Shelby Hodge
    shelby hodge
    Dec 13, 2014 | 3:00 pm

    Even the ridiculous traffic jam at Shepherd and Inwood could not thwart the enthusiasm of partygoers headed for the ever-popular, annual Holiday Schmooze benefitting Legacy Community Health Services.

     

    For the few who lived in the neighborhood and just couldn't take the hassle, it was a beautiful night for walking and a number did, still in the holiday spirit when arriving at the Christmas-dressed home of Kathryn and Jeff Smith. As is tradition, this fundraiser is held in a spectacular home with Jackson Hicks and his Jackson and Co. providing the party fare and libation merriment.

     

    As Legacy executive director Katy Caldwell said in her brief remarks to the gathering, "Since the beginning of Schmooze in 1996, generous donors like you have contributed well over $1 million dollars to support HIV/AIDS programs and services. For that we are thankful and this could not have happened without Jackson Hicks and Jackson and Co.'s generous support."

     

    After visiting the buffet table laden with cheeses, roasted asparagus, olives, apples and steaming cups of shrimp bisque, the 200 guests spilled over onto the patio and around the swimming pool on this night that was perfect for al fresco fundraising.

     

    "The Holiday Schmooze is one of our most important events toward support of our HIV programs," Caldwell said. "It fills in the gaps that are not funded. So it really does meet a critical need."

     

    Among supporters were Legacy's Chree Boydston, plus June Christensen, Pat Breen, Christie and Mike Sullivan, Melanie Gray, Bryan Hlavinka and David Theisen, Courtney and Bo Hopson, Sid Moorhead, Jennifer Roosth, Nick Espinosa, C. C Conner and David Groover and, our personal fave, Milton Townsend.

     

    Party hosts Jeff and Kathryn Smith, from left, with John Evatz and Brian Williams.

    News, Shelby, Holiday Schmooze, Dec. 2014, Jeff Smith, Kathryn Smith, John Evatz,
      
    Photo by Jacob Power
    Party hosts Jeff and Kathryn Smith, from left, with John Evatz and Brian Williams.
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    series/htx-ready-to-jingle-2014
    news/society
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    The greatest gift

    Christmas for the homeless: Santa, Elves and a winter wonderland in Houston surprise shelter moms and kids

    Shelby Hodge
    shelby hodge
    Dec 27, 2014 | 9:03 am
    Christmas for the homeless: Santa, Elves and a winter wonderland in Houston surprise shelter moms and kids
    © Michelle Watson/CultureMap
    Taking a merry Christmas to Mission of Yahweh Santa's elves with Santa (Brian Hartland), Mrs. Claus (Adele Hartland) and young Michael McNair on Santa's lap.

    Houston's chilly Christmas morning turned into a snowy delight in one small corner of the city when the 150 mothers and children at the modest Mission of Yahweh homeless shelter were treated to the holiday celebration of a lifetime.

     

    It was a most generous gift — "Christmas on a Mission" — that Monica Hartland Blaisdell and John Blaisdell launched six years ago to bring special joy to the unfortunates who would otherwise be on the streets.

     

    By 8:30 Christmas morning the mission campus had been transformed into a winter wonderland complete with snow (and the requisite snowball fights) and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus along with a posse of elves. There were games, face painting, a 25-foot slide and a Christmas DJ. Christmas cookies and hot chocolate for everyone!

     

    Mission volunteers presented carry-on bags, filled with much-needed personal items, to each mom while the youngsters received toys requested in their letters to Santa.

     

    Joining the Blaisdells as lead elves were Bethany Hartland, Julie Pitts, Megan Blaisdell, Ginnell Marshall and Paul-David Van Atta.

     

    Sharing this true spirit of Christmas adventure were volunteers, many accompanied by their children, including Joanna and Brad Marks, Samantha and David Kennedy, Hannah and Cal McNair, Janelle and Greg Reid, Warner Roberts, Charlie Hartland, Angie Roberts, Ben Johnston and Erich Ploog, Christine Kirchner, Brian Hartland, Adele Hartland and Monsour Taghdisi and Henry Richardson.

    Taking a merry Christmas to Mission of Yahweh Santa's elves with Santa (Brian Hartland), Mrs. Claus (Adele Hartland) and young Michael McNair on Santa's lap.

    News, shelby, Mission of Yahweh, Dec. 2014, Santa, elves and Michael McNair
      
    © Michelle Watson/CultureMap
    Taking a merry Christmas to Mission of Yahweh Santa's elves with Santa (Brian Hartland), Mrs. Claus (Adele Hartland) and young Michael McNair on Santa's lap.
    unspecifiedseries568795465
    series/htx-ready-to-jingle-2014
    news/society
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