Safety First

Houston spirit shines as Crime Stoppers gala raises $2 million

Big hats met big-hearted giving at The Revaire as Crime Stoppers of Houston hosted its Second Annual “Raise ’Em Up for Texas” Gala, presented by Glenda and Russell Gordy and the C. James and Carole Walter Looke Family Fund

The evening unfolded like a Texas-sized toast guided by gala chairs Brooke Lee, Dana Barton, and Kristen Collins, and lifted further by strategic chairs Vanessa Ames and Jordan Seff.

More than 460 guests filled the sprawling venue, welcomed first by a festive happy hour and a bustling silent auction. Master of ceremonies Johnny Bravo kicked things into gear as guests settled in, followed by remarks from Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious, who championed the crowd’s shared commitment to keeping Houston safe.

Speaker Maurine Molak, co-founder of the David’s Legacy Foundation shared the story of her son, whose life was cut short at 16 after enduring relentless cyberbullying. She illuminated the gap in resources available to families at the time and the sweeping efforts that eventually led to David’s Law. Her partnership with Crime Stoppers through The John M. O’Quinn Foundation Million for Million campaign has already reached more than two million students, continuing David’s legacy by empowering young Texans to seek safety, support, and hope.

A surprise presentation of the Second McIngvale Family Humanitarian Award honored Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown of Southern Smoke Foundation for their community-wide compassion. Accepting on their behalf was Catarina Bill.

Then came a major announcement: The creation of a new Crime Stoppers Women’s Collective, a group of 50 women stepping into a leadership role for 2026, along with an ambitious push to educate 10 million Texas students and the launch of SafeSpace Student Hub, a digital platform designed to give students a confidential place to seek guidance.

Nobody’s Fool closed out the night with plenty of two-stepping as supporters lingered, celebrating a mission-driven evening that raised a record-breaking $2 million.

Showing up in full Texas spirit were Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, Hallie Vanderhider, Sippy and Ajay Khurana, Tom Ramsey, Noe Diaz, Ben Katrib, Twila Carter, Willie Davis, Fred Flickinger, Mary Nan Huffman, Julian Ramirez, Alan Rosen, Terry Allbritton, Emily DeToto, Lori DeAngelo, Peyton Peebles, Aaron Burdette, Lance Long, Dan Simons, Carolyn Dozier, Ken Wise, Tiffany Herd, Eric and Lisa Elder, Alex and Tammy Janos, Kari Lynd, Natalie and Steve Mohtashami, Kyle and Erin Cummings, Snehal Amin and Adrienne Amin, Jessica Leeke, Carla and Tony Maarraoui, Karen and Lohn Zylicz, Frank and Jill Stagg, Robert and Dana Clay, Catherine and Peter Badger, Pam Connealy, Mayes and Macy Middleton, Megan and Walker Weston, Meredith and Ben Marshall, Seth and Hannah Siegel-Gardner, Anna Reger, Sheri Zucker, Trini Mendenhall, Phillip Royalty, Jeff Nadalo, Farida Abjani, Maria Moncada Alaoui and Omar Alaoui, Susan Boggio, Deborah Duncan, and Laura Ward.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Event and strategy chairs Vanessa Ames, Kristen Collins, Dana Barton, Brooke Lee, and Jordan Seff.

fundraisers crime stoppers houston

Party Watch

Houston nonprofit tees up tournament season with lively launch party

Photo by Hung Truong Photography

Courtney Key Adamski, Stephanie Wilcox, Jenn Zoubok, and Kristin Bingham.

What: Jamie’s Hope Kickoff Party

Where: Collins Lobby Bar

The Scoop: Houston A-listers traded golf polos for elevated cocktails as Jamie’s Hope teed up its 2026 fundraising season with a lively kickoff soirée at Collins Lobby Bar.

Guests mixed, mingled, and worked the room over light bites from Post Oak Sushi while signature pours featuring Zephyr Gin and Don Londres Tequila kept the crowd in a properly spirited mood. DJ CRV provided the soundtrack for the evening, layering upbeat energy across the sleek gathering as attendees looked ahead to Jamie’s Hope’s signature event, the 13th Annual Golf Tournament for a Cure, set for October 19 at TPC Houston.

The evening also spotlighted the organization’s ongoing partnership with MD Anderson’s Division of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics. Dr. Apostolia Tsimberidou, a leader in targeted therapy research and personalized cancer treatment, shared remarks about advancements in cancer care and the importance of continued community support.

The evening raised more than $100,000 in support of cancer research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and programs assisting local families navigating cancer treatment.

Who: Jelani and Stefanie Hawkins, Brian Ching and Lindsay Yates, Andy Aweida and Kaitlin Gray, Kate McGee, Danny and Iraida Brown, Carla Mondt, Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Stephanie Wilcox, Stephanie Gonzalez, Paulina Padilla, Katherine Ross, Angela and Bo Nichols, Corey White, and Joseph Balderas.