TheHouston Classical Charter School (HCCS) welcomed 260 guests to The Goodman for its second annual Foundational Dinner on April 11. The sold-out crowd was treated to a record-smashing evening as a staggering $1.75 million was raised to expand the Alief school's campus.
The festive event was chaired by Kristin and Raul Abello with honorary chairs Dr. Julie and Eric Kuo and Jessica and Brian Leeke and auction chairs Jordan and Dylan Seff.
The live auction secured a spot as one of the high points of the glittering affair and included a signed Taylor Swift guitar and two tickets to her show in New Orleans. Other swoon-worthy auction items included a trip for 17 to Puerto Vallarta at Villa Alexa, and a Hill Country getaway with a James Beard-nominated chef.
HCCS supporters Mark Gregg, founder of KiwiEnergy and Joe Greenberg, Alta Resources CEO, added to the already record-breaking evening by graciously matching all gifts during the event up to $200,000.
Houston Classical Charter School currently provides a free education to students from Pre-K through 5th grade and is hoping to expand to enroll students through 8th grade. More than 80 percent of the families enrolled at the Alief school live below the poverty line.
Deyvis Salazar, founder of HCCS, told the crowd that the school’s growth “is not merely for the sake of expansion. We are not aiming to become a network of 20 schools. On the contrary, we strive to maintain intimate connections with our families. We are committed to knowing each child and family who walks through our doors.”
Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the evening, were HCCS supporters Adrienne and Snehal Amin, Katy Thomas-Salazar and Deyvis Salazar, Claire and Joe Greenberg, Vanessa and Chuck Ames, John Marc Monrad, Jillian and Yuri Waldo, Katherine and Paul Manuel, Jordan and Dylan Seff, Haydeh and Ali Davoudi, Cristina and Morgan Lunt, and Debb and Mark Gregg.
Photo by Daniel Ortiz
Raul and Kristin Abello, Dr. Julie and Eric Kuo, Jordan and Dylan Seff
