Children At Risk

Fred Armisen brings the funny to benefit child advocacy in Houston

In a ballroom brimming with heart and humor, more than 430 changemakers gathered at The Post Oak Hotel for Stand Up for Children, Children At Risk’s annual soirée in support of Texas’s most vulnerable. Suzan and Jeremy Samuels and Beth Wolff helmed the evening as event chairs, celebrating a night that raised $360,000 to fuel the nonprofit’s advocacy efforts tackling child poverty and inequality.

The always-charismatic Khambrel Marshall returned to the stage as emcee and auctioneer. The crowd lit up for Emmy-nominated comedian and musician Fred Armisen, whose smart and quirky set — punctuated with guitar riffs and rhythm shifts — drew roaring laughter from the well-heeled audience.

President and CEO Dr. Bob Sanborn reminded guests of the organization’s mission as a nonpartisan force for strategic research and public policy. Rep. Ann Johnson brought the message home with personal reflections on the devastating realities of human trafficking and the urgent need for community awareness and legislative change.

A highlight of the evening: the recognition of Dr. Sippi Khurana as Community Honoree. Her passionate remarks, grounded in data and compassion, underscored why Children At Risk’s work matters more than ever. Her third-grade daughter, Seva, charmed the room with a beautiful invocation.

Table centerpieces from H-E-B set the stage for a spirited evening of mingling, raffling, and bidding. Silent auction items kept smartphones buzzing, while live auction paddles flew high — especially for a “his and hers” package featuring dazzling Niara Jewelry earrings.

Seen in the crowd were Ellen Sanborn, Doe and Henry Florsheim, Jenny and John Seo, Katy and Ed Wolff, Cynthia Wolff, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Ajay Khurana, Kristen Cannon, Nina and Clint Rand, Sneha and Nick Merchant, Alice and Matthew Brams, Shaina Perry and Jeremy Ross, Shawn and Donald Bowers, Amy and Rob Pierce, George Connelly and Evelyn Leightman, Katie and Seth Tsuru, Jayne Johnston, Dr. Julie Dickson, and David Charles.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Sippi Khurana, Fred Armisen, and Ajay Khurana.

fundraisers children at risk

High-stakes Giving

YES Prep’s poker night raises $2.1 million for Houston students

YES Prep Public Schools poker tournament 2025

Courtesy of YES Prep Public Schools

Stephanie Trujilo, Karen Taylor, and Joyce Saraiva.

In a city where deals are made daily, the real jackpot was found at the Corinthian as more than 600 movers, makers, and high-stakes shakers gathered on March 6 for the 20th Annual Energy Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament benefiting YES Prep Public Schools.

Courtesy of YES Prep Public Schools

Stephanie Trujilo, Karen Taylor, and Joyce Saraiva.

This milestone soirée wasn’t only about poker faces—it was about heart, hustle, and hitting a $2.1 million fundraising full house in support of more than 19,000 students across 24 campuses.

Since 2006, this signature night has raised more than $24 million in total for YES Prep. With backing from 84-plus corporate, foundation, and individual sponsors—including major players like Vitol, Alta Resources, and AmSpec—the 2025 edition proved that when Houston’s energy titans rally for education, the results are cha-ching.

Before the first chips were shuffled, Vitol welcomed VIPs to its lavish lounge, The Vitol Vault, where gourmet bites like truffled new potatoes and mini beef Wellingtons set the scene for a night of indulgence. Then came the kicker: Vitol Foundation matched employee donations with a cool $200,000 boost.

As the tournament heated up, Bill Heuer of iHostPoker kept the crowd on edge before crowning Calvin Greer the night’s big winner. Meanwhile, the rest of the card sharks and benefactors dined on pecan-crusted sliders and mini tortas, and walked away with a taste of victory.

The celebration was steered by a dedicated committee, including Aaron Byrd, Marisa Chavarria, Brian Colona, Michol Ecklund, Austin Elam, Jerrid Gunderson, Jeffrey Milstein, Steve Mohtashami, and Bill Nelson, whose collective efforts kept the momentum strong.

Among those with a winning hand were Mickey Barrett, Steve Barth, Chip Berthelot, Andrew Black, Sam Caban, Bryan Chapman, Colt Clary, John Curtin, Lise Demant, Mark Gregg, Michael Guzzi, Rodney Hance, Jeff Hepper, Jake Herd, Jim Hoy, Thomas Hutchinson, Casey Khan, Curtis Knobbe, Jeff Knox, Kevin Lee, Mike Metz, Chris Popov, Joe Rubbo, Rich Sichenzio, Frank Stagg, and Carlos Wheelock.

fundraisers yes prep public schools