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 Wilson Parish

Lauren Brown and Tiffany Herd.

fundraisers crime stoppers houston

Lone Star Legacy

Galveston museum celebrates Jewish pioneers who shaped Texas

Photo by Jacob Power

Salim and Rita Hayek, Amy Gonzales, and Stephen Janes.

More than 400 guests gathered at The Bryan Museum in Galveston to celebrate a chapter of Texas history that’s often overlooked.

Photo by Jacob Power

Salim and Rita Hayek, Amy Gonzales, and Stephen Janes.

The story of the Lone Star State has always been one of arrivals, ambition, and reinvention, and the 2026 Bryan Museum Gala, themed Texas Our Promised Land, paid tribute to the Jewish pioneers whose journeys left an indelible mark.

Chaired by Lily and Charles Foster, B.J. and Buddy Herz, and Joy and Benjamin Warren, the evening honored the legacy of Rabbi Henry Cohen. Serving as honorary chair was Rabbi Peter Kessler, in honor of Rabbi Jimmy Kessler and Shelley Kessler.

Attendees were greeted by an intricate rose backdrop before exploring a series of activations inspired by Jewish pioneers of Texas. Among the highlights was a recreated 1950s-era Sakowitz storefront window featuring one-of-a-kind garments and footwear originally designed by Sakowitz. A pop-up experience featuring life-size panels of Rabbi Cohen offered guests an early look at Port of Promise: Jewish Pioneers of Texas, the museum’s forthcoming exhibition set to debut in November.

Throughout the historic Galveston Orphans Home, which survived the devastating 1900 Storm, guests mingled with members of the gala committee led by Robert Sakowitz and relatives of Rabbi Cohen who traveled from across the country for the occasion.

Auction enthusiasts had plenty to tempt their bidding paddles, including a private museum tour and dinner with museum founder J.P. Bryan, a Texas Constitutional Chair experience, and an adventure aboard Battleship Texas.

The gala raised more than $800,000 to support The Bryan Museum’s education, exhibition, and outreach initiatives.

On the scene were Mary Jon Bryan, Andrea and John Bryan, Ava Leigh and Ross Pellegrin, Melissa Murphy, Guylene and Jay Lendrum, Kate and Jim Lykes, Dancie and Jim Ware, Jolyn and Russell Sheirman, Angela and Craig Brown, Susanne and Gerald Sullivan, Jocelyn and Billy Sullivan, Sarah and Todd Sullivan, Lisette and Tony Brown, Frances Moody Buzbee and Tony Buzbee, Rebecca and Joe Jaworski, Brittany Sakowitz Kushner and Kevin Kushner, Tissy and Rusty Hardin, Jeff and Laurie Bricker, and members of the Cohen family including Henry Frisch, Sarah Frisch, Ruth Dealy, James Dealy, and Lisa Cohen.

bryan museum fundraisers galveston museums