Total Throwback

Prom-themed gala raises $1.16M for Children’s Museum Houston

The halls of The Corinthian weren’t just decked out—they were decked back in time as the Children’s Museum Houston’s annual gala hit rewind for a rad throwback bash that raised a record-breaking $1.163 million. This year’s theme, “Prom Night: Party Like It’s 1999,” brought the pep rally energy and teen movie tropes to glorious, glittery life.

Photo by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Prom King and Queen Will Northington and Ellen Bookout.

Forget black-tie — this was all about butterfly clips, chokers, and more rhinestones than a Claire’s clearance rack. Kathryn and Travis Boeker and Cassandra and Ryan Dalton chaired the evening, turning a philanthropic gala into prom night meets high school fever dream, thanks to over-the-top decor from Bergner & Johnson. Adding to the fundraising prowess were underwriting chairs Rebecca and Bill Adler and Blair and Barry Kessler plus auction chairs Tracy Northington and Nina Rand.

Think: Pep rally banners, oversized cootie catchers, and a full-on basketball court for a dance floor.

Guests were greeted with ring pops and neon flower crowns before entering a scene that felt straight out of Saved by the Bell. Cheerleaders and the Worthing High School drumline amped up the energy while “Coach” and “Librarian” characters kept the nostalgia — and mischief — in check. Honestly, the only thing missing was Zack Morris time-freezing to break the fourth wall.

With 460 attendees channeling their inner Cher Horowitz or Romy and Michele, the ‘90s fashion throwbacks were worthy of their own yearbook spread. A prom photo booth immortalized the lewks — awkward corsage poses and all.

The night’s culinary nostalgia trip, courtesy of Jackson & Co., hit all the right notes. A decadent short rib entrée had guests swooning, but it was dessert that stole the show: Homemade strawberry Pop-Tarts that had everyone reaching for their Tamagotchis. Later, when the real dancing started, guests recharged with late-night bites of strombolis and parmesan fries.

Because prom calories don’t count.

Auctioneer Brittany Franklin revved up the live auction like it was an AIM chat room on fire. Bidders competed for coveted prizes including a ceremonial first pitch at a Houston Astros game and a sleek six-seater Evolution Maverick golf cart. Floral stations let guests purchase corsages and boutonnieres on-site, with proceeds giving the fundraising total an extra boost.

When the time came to crown royalty, Will Northington and Ellen Bookout were named Prom King and Queen. Then came the twist: the gala co-chairs led a surprise “She’s All That”-style flash mob to Fatboy Slim’s “Rockafeller Skank,” lighting up the dance floor and making everyone feel like the main character.

The Drywater Band kept spirits high and hips moving late into the night. And when it all wrapped, guests found nostalgic treat boxes from Dessert Gallery waiting in their cars. In a full-circle moment, event blooms and extra corsages were donated to Bloom Again Houston, extending the evening’s joy to hospitals and senior centers citywide.

Summoning their inner senior superlatives and bringing serious cafeteria cool were Amir Davoody and Rana Mehr, Anita Cheung, Winnie Dodson, Ashley Sloan, Babtunde and Lacey Cole, Codi Wiener and Molly LaFauci, Crystal Robino and Jen Kavoussi, Elizabeth Cordia, Morgan Allen Neal, Mary Echols, Christine Perusquia, Georgia and Stephen Fox, Jackie and Gary Richert, Jerod and Asasia Pierce, Jessica and Fletcher Trammell, Kyle and Landi Lutz, Lindsey and Travis Wilson, Mari and Bryan Glass, Mary Morgan Stevens, Mayleen and Michael Tsang, Neil Badlani and Rekha Muddaraj, Nimesh and Katie Bhakta, Rachel and Shawn Gottschalk, Reed and Mary Morgan Stevens, Rodolfo and Natalie Cooper, Todd Felix, Angela Oh, Trey and Kelly Mattson, and Lane and Chita Craft.

fundraisers museums children's museum houston

perfectly paired

2 Michelin-rated Houston restaurants teamed up for taco-fueled fundraiser

Big Brothers Big Sisters Houston Perfect Pairing Pit Room Tatemo

Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters Houston

Michael Sambrooks, Emmanuel Chavez, Humberto Celis, Alexia Ramirez, Matt Harris, and Amber Kelusky.

A chef who leads a Michelin-starred restaurant teamed up with a Michelin-rated Houston barbecue joint to raise money for a local nonprofit that helps young people reach their potential.

Held Sunday, August 30, the Perfect Pairing event united Tatemó chef-owner Emmanuel Chavez with The Pit Room’s Memorial location for an epic evening of tacos, margaritas, and community. Both restaurants are included in the Michelin Guide, with Tatemó holding one star and The Pit Room holding a Bib Gourmand desgination. Michael Sambrooks, founder of The Pit Room’s parent company Sambrooks Hospitality, credits BBBS volunteer and event chair Matt Harris for the original idea behind the event.

“The idea is to have guest chefs, do something lowkey that’s more like a fun party than a big gala,” Sambrooks says. “All the proceeds go to Big Brothers Big Sisters — 100 percent of the ticket sales. We donate all the costs of the space, food, and drinks.”

Harris proposed two styles of ribeye tacos to Chavez that have become trendy in both Texas and Mexico — gaoneras and cachetadas — both wrapped in Tatemó’s signature nixtamalized corn tortillas. The Pit Room’s staff served them to diners alongside papas fritas and smoked corn elotes. Chavez’s signature tuna tostada and huitlacoche quesadilla kicked off the meal, while jackfruit tres leches with Altima caviar ended the night on a sweet note.

“Part of the event is we want people to have fun. We don’t want it to be too fussy, but the food has to be good,” Harris says. “Talking to people in the crowd last night, a lot of people were intrigued and excited because it’s a pretty high level taco. To be able to present them tableside, it just felt right.”

“We were just there with a flat top trying to bust out tacos as fast as we could,” Chavez says. “I felt like I was on Top Chef. There were 30 minutes, you have x amount of people, go.”

Harris credits Sambrooks for providing the organization with such generous support.

“What people saw on the plate was great, but the number of moving parts that it took to make that happen was not small. None of that would be possible without Michael,” Harris says. “It’s very humbling to have someone be that generous and not just open the doors but provide service, provide product, open his relationships with vendors — it doesn’t stop.”

Sambrooks explains that he’s decided to support both Communities in School and Big Brothers Big Sisters with larger events, which allows his company to have a greater impact than if it spread its contributions around more broadly.

“Restaurants always get asked for donations. You’ve got to pick who you want to work with,” Sambrooks says.

Overall, the sold-out crowd of 120 people raised over $12,000 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship programs. Seen in the crowd were Burger Bodega chef-owner Abbas Dhanani and his wife Nida; Craft Pita chef-owner Raffi Nasr and his wife Brittney, commercial real estate developer John Andell, Leaf & Grain founder Deets Hoffman, former Masterchef contestant Cesar Cano, Houston Business Journal 40 under 40 recipient Chassidy Deckhard, and Houston Chronicle food critic Bao Ong.

Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters Houston

Michael Sambrooks, Emmanuel Chavez, Humberto Celis, Alexia Ramirez, Matt Harris, and Amber Kelusky.

fundraisers chefs tacos barbecue