Party Watch

Houston polo party brings big style for nonprofit’s first-ever fundraiser

What: Polo for a Purpose benefiting AVDA

Where: Houston Polo Club

The Scoop: Houston’s philanthropic set traded stilettos for stomping boots at the inaugural Polo for a Purpose, hosted by Friends of Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA). More than 100 stylish supporters gathered for an afternoon of champagne sipping, hat tipping, and fundraising, all to help end family violence and celebrate AVDA’s 45th anniversary.

Chaired by Janine Galt, Clara Orlean, and Laurel Wheatley, the outdoor fête had no shortage of fashionable flourishes: Bow ties were crisp, sun hats were wide, and spirits were high. Guests cozied up in exclusive fieldside seats, soaking up a lively polo match and savoring luxe bites from The Lymbar.

A lively Hermes scarf raffle added some sparkle, while a surprise polo player and horse meet-and-greet stole the show. The Best Bow Tie and Best Ladies Outfit contests kept the friendly competition rolling well after the divots were stomped and the bubbly flowed.

The event raised $25,000, which will provide free legal services, counseling, and advocacy for domestic violence survivors across the Greater Houston area.

Who: Katie Tsuru, Nora and Brian Jarrard, Imani Guillory, Dale Volpe, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Kristen Cannon, Shannon Crain, Mario Gudmundsson, Jack Vielhauer, Will Brown, Anne Avilez, Jessica Lawson, and Inna and Nic Radford.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Loren Canales, Minna Nashef, Lidiya Deane, and Colleen McKnight.

fundraisers avda friends of aid to victims of domestic abuse

Party Watch

Champagne and shells mark bold push to save Texas oyster reefs

Coastal Preservation and Restoration launch party

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Caroline Craddock, Tommy Garcia Prats, and Andrew Abendshein.

What: Texas Farm-Raised Gulf Oyster Tasting Celebrating the Launch of Coastal Preservation and Restoration

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Caroline Craddock, Tommy Garcia Prats, and Andrew Abendshein.

Where: La Griglia

The Scoop: Shell-ebrating sustainability never tasted so chic. More than 85 guests gathered on La Griglia’s breezy patio to toast the official launch of Coastal Preservation and Restoration (CPR), a new initiative aiming to restore 5,000 acres of Texas’s public oyster reefs by 2050, making it the largest reef restoration effort in the nation.

The soirée paired bubbly with brininess, as guests slurped freshly shucked Texas farm-raised Gulf oysters from Key Allegro Oyster Co. and Oyster Bros., complemented by elegant accoutrements and a touch of night sparkle.

John Eads, CPR’s founder and chairman, shared heartfelt remarks about the power of oyster mariculture to safeguard reef systems, bolster local economies, and buffer coastal communities. He was joined by Shellye Arnold, introduced as the organization’s incoming CEO, who brings serious conservation chops from her decade-plus leading Memorial Park Conservancy.

With organizations like Harte Research Institute, Galveston Bay Foundation, and Coastal Conservation Association Texas in the mix, the evening closed with a toast to the future, one where Texas bays thrive with purpose, oysters, and just the right hint of salinity.

Who: Mary Eads, Pam and Will Harte, Nancy and Butch Abendshein, Sis Johnson, Daniel and Lucie Arnoldy, Emily Clay, Susan Cooley, Dancie and Jim Ware, David Mincberg and Lainie Gordon, Rob Fondren, Carla Knobloch, Bob Stokes, and Bill King.

fundraisers