Fiery Fête

Houston’s bravest set the night aflame at the Red Hot Gala

It was a night where courage met couture as guests turned up the heat at the Houston Fire Fighters “Red Hot Gala,” celebrating its eighth anniversary at the Royal Sonesta Houston. Benefiting the Houston Professional Firefighters Charitable Foundation, the fiery fête honored Houston’s bravest while raising more than $500,000 before the first champagne cork even popped.

Hosted by Patrick “Marty” Lancton and media maven Courtney Zavala, the evening balanced reverence with revelry, saluting everyday heroes in turnout gear instead of tuxedos.

Gala chairs Elizabeth and Alan Stein led the charge, welcoming sponsors ExxonMobil’s Alvin Abraham, Bobbie Nau, and Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, along with dinner sponsor Edna Meyer-Nelson. The foundation’s 2025 Community Partner, United Airlines, received special recognition as Noemi Scantlebury accepted the award on behalf of the airline.

A 12-foot faux bronze firefighter sculpture by artist Rodney Davis commanded attention, as did the crowd itself: A mix of gala glam and firehouse comfort. Some guests opted for sequined sparkle, while others kept it cool and casual. The program brimmed with emotion, especially during a video montage featuring firefighters waking up, saying goodbye to loved ones, and heading into uncertainty with quiet bravery. The room fell silent, then erupted in applause.

Later, Elizabeth and Alan Stein were gifted personalized firefighter jackets before the heat truly rose during the 2026 Houston Firefighter Calendar reveal. For the fourth time, a female firefighter joined the lineup, and the crowd’s response was thunderous. Amid the cheers and flashes, the message remained clear: These men and women may look runway-ready, but they’re not entertainers.

They’re heroes.

The evening also featured a high-energy live auction led by Vincent Montalbano, with standout prizes including a Steak 48 dinner, United Polaris round-trip tickets, and a Snowmass adventure. Tony Bradfield of Tenenbaum Jewelers added sparkle with luxury drawings for Dom Pérignon and gift certificates up to $5,000.

CultureMap seen were Pat Mann and Tim Phillips, Shantell and Brian Wischnewsky, Aimee and Jerry Bingham, Carolina Oliveira, Brigitte Kalai, Bill Baldwin, Jo Ann Petersen and Mike Taylor, Gaye Lynn and Stuart Zarrow, Dee and James Darby, Cynthia Wolff, Alicia Smith, Patti Murphy, Beth Muecke, Mayor John Whitmire, Bruce Padilla and Shelby Kibodeaux, Carol and Bill Lawler, Tori and Ed DeCora, Houston Fire Chief Thomas Munoz, Commissioner Dawn Buckingham and Dr. Ed Buckingham, Robert Tijerina, Texas State Representative Lacy Hull, George Dodge, Allison and Jack Jensen, Betty and Daniel DuBose, Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook, Elyse Elsenbrook and Drew Tolson, Kate and Evan Elsenbrook, Michele and Youval Meicler, Joanna Marks, Lynden and Jacob Stein, Clay and Jay McKenna, Darrik Dillard, and Randi and Chris Boleman.

Photo by Catchlight Group

Meet the models in the 2026 Houston Fire Fighters' calendar.

fundraisers gala

Shopping Fantasia

Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker preview party sets new donation record

Houston Nutcracker Market Preview Party 2025

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Houston Ballet Academy Dancers.

The Houston holiday season doesn’t officially begin until the Nutcracker Market throws open its doors, and this year’s Wells Fargo Preview Party felt like stepping into a snow globe set on extra. Like more is more.

Somewhere between the cheeky stocking stuffers and the Dior-kissed repurposed couture, guests needed an actual map to conquer the sprawling shopping fantasia.

Held November 12 at NRG Center, the 45th anniversary celebration of the Houston Ballet shopping fête welcomed more than 5,000 eager shoppers, all ready to sprint through aisles lined with more than 280 merchants. Helmed by chairs Susan Binney and Jennifer Kushner, along with preview party chairs Leslie Alston, Kaylon Phillips, and Casey Rowe, the evening shimmered with nostalgia. Guests showed up in themed attire ranging from glittery holiday chic to coordinated squads that looked like flash mobs armed with credit cards and a mission.

Houston Ballet’s new executive director Sonja Kostich arrived for her very first Nutcracker Market, greeting supporters and soaking in the community’s devotion to a beloved tradition that fuels the Ballet’s mission and scholarship programs. Houston Ballet Academy students glided through the party in costumes from Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, creating photo ops. Principal dancer Harper Watters and Houston Ballet icon Lauren Anderson also made appearances.

Festive cocktails, champagne flutes, and a parade of hors d’oeuvre and desserts satisfied while the David Caceres Band kept the energy high. By the end of the night, the Preview Party had raised nearly $1.5 million in ticket sales and commissions — a record for the Market.

Moreover, more than 104,000 shoppers showed up during the November 13-16 festivities. All in, ticket sales surpassed $24 million and raised more than $6 million to directly support Houston Ballet, its Academy and scholarship program.

Showing their holiday spirit were Kristy Bradshaw, Ann Bean, Wendy Burks, Anne Chao, Gay Currie, Tom DeBesse, Arcy Muñoz Marshall, Sharon Erskine, Ann Graham, Twana Griffith Faykus, Michelle Iversen Jeffery, Jay Jones, Julie Kent, Deborah and Edward Koehler, Chad Libertus, Desrye Morgan, Beth Muecke, Patti Murphy, Jennifer Sommers, S. Shawn Stephens, Allison Thacker, Cynthia Wolff, Deborah Duncan, Ghada Ali, Carolina Oliveira, Catarina R. Gonzales, and Miya Shay.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Houston Ballet Academy Dancers.

fundraisers houston ballet shopping nutcracker market