Party Watch

Giselle-inspired evening sets the stage for 2026 Houston Ballet Ball

What: Houston Ballet Ball Kickoff

Photo by Annie Mulligan

Patti Murphy and Beth Muecke.

Where: Private home of Paige and Tilman Fertitta

The Scoop: A who’s who of Houston’s arts scene gathered in the glittering River Oaks home of Paige Fertitta for an elegant evening to toast the upcoming 2026 Houston Ballet Ball, set for February 21. A live pianist set the tone as Houston Ballet Trustees, patrons, and supporters sipped Champagne Madame Zero and grazed on charcuterie by Grotto Downtown, luxe passed bites, and a showstopping caviar bar courtesy of La Griglia.

Sonja Kostich, executive director of Houston Ballet, welcomed guests with heartfelt thanks, spotlighting key players behind the scenes, including ball chairs Christine and David M. Underwood Jr., and the 2026 honorees Richard Flowers and Houston First, represented by Paula Whitten-Doolin.

The night’s big reveal? This year’s Ballet Ball theme, drawn from Act II of Stanton Welch’s ethereal Giselle — a haunting woodland dream world brought to life in rich greens and blues. As a preview of the main event, Flowers and The Events Company transformed the Fertitta home into an enchanting forest-inspired fête.

Attendees didn’t leave empty-handed — or empty-handed themselves. Guests contributed prized bottles to the Ballet Ball Wine Cellar, setting the stage for a highly competitive silent auction.

Who: Ada Agbor, Cynthia and Bucky Allshouse, Susan and Gary Binney, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Cheryl Byington, Zoe Cadore, Kristen Cannon, Anne and Albert Chao, Margaret Cox, Tracy and Valerie Dieterich, Bruce and Pamela Earthman, Lesha Elsenbrook, Blayne Fertitta, Angel Rios, Lily Chen Foster and Charles Foster, Ellie Francisco, Jo Furr, Mignon Gill, Victoria Gutierrez, Jayne Johnston, Jennifer and Christopher Laporte, Amy LeBlanc, Petra Martinez, Jean and Henry May, Kris McGee, Lauren and Jordan Mintz, Desrye Morgan, Beth Muecke, Patti and Don Murphy, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Tammy and Wayne Nguyen, Cabrina Owsley, Karen Payne, Melissa Reihle, Shara and Kent Schaffer, Tricia and Mark Singer, Sunday Shepherd, Alicia Smith, Liliana Soltero and Mike Hawkins, Tatiana Sorkin and Michel Coret, S. Shawn Stephens, Stephanie Tsuru, Marguerite Swartz, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, and Beth Wolff.

fundraisers houston ballet

Starry Night

Elegant Museum of Fine Arts, Houston gala raises $1.6 million

Photo by Michelle Watson

Scott and Geraldine Wise; Renu and Suresh Khator.

A landscape of midnight blue and the glow of chandeliers set the scene for the 2025 Grand Gala Ball at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in the Caroline Wiess Law Building. This year’s sold-out affair honored longtime supporter J. Venn Leeds, whose philanthropic signature on the museum spans decades.

Guests stepped through a tented entrance swathed in deep blue linens and soft candlelight while inside, the cocktail reception featured white banquettes, gold accents, and floral arrangements that struck a balance between sleek and celebratory.

Dinner in Cullinan Hall transported attendees to an indoor garden-meets-starry-night vignette created by The Events Company. Trees and florals filled the room, silver-embroidered tablecloths shimmered under a collection of chandeliers, and the Manhattan Orchestra provided the evening’s soundtrack.

The evening raised over $1.625 million, thanks to robust support from donors and the introduction of the Jan and J. Venn Leeds Grand Gala Ball Operating Endowment.

This year’s lead underwriter was the Hildebrand Fund. Other underwriters included ExxonMobil, Cherie and Jim Flores, Nancy and Rich Kinder, the Leeds. Fayez Sarofim & Co., Susan D. Sarofim, Anne S. Duncan, Lynne and Joe Hudson, Cornelia C. Long, the Schnitzer Family, and Margaret Alkek Williams.

Among those joining the celebration were Alvin Abraham, Claudia Kreisle, Sara Morgan, Ann and Karl Stern, Doug and Melissa Schnitzer, Joan Schnitzer, Janie and Daniel Zilkha, Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs, Durga and Sushila Agrawal, Anu and Shirish Lal, Paula and Reggie DesRoches, Suresh and Renu Khator, Cyvia Wolff, Nancy and Butch Abendshein, Meredith Cullen, Carla Knobloch, Andrius and Tamara Kontrimas, Dan and Kirsten Zimmerman, Will and Kristin Pritchard, Leslie and Jack Blanton Jr., Kathy and Marty Goossen, and Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones.

Photo by Michelle Watson

Scott and Geraldine Wise; Renu and Suresh Khator.

fundraisers museums museum of fine arts houston