Party Watch

Tennis Foundation serves up Houston tennis legend and social buzz

What: Public Parks Tennis Foundation reception during the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship

Where: Private River Oaks residence

The Scoop: The Public Parks Tennis Foundation gathered tennis fans and Houston notables for an intimate River Oaks reception timed with the opening of the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship.

The evening’s main attraction was Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) star and tournament No. 1 seed Ben Shelton, who attended alongside his father and coach, Bryan Shelton. During a conversation led by foundation founding member Ed Emmett, Ben Shelton spoke candidly about perseverance, early morning practices, discipline, and learning to bounce back after losses.

Houston tennis legend Zina Garrison added a hometown touch, connecting the foundation’s mission to her own rise from the public courts at MacGregor Park to the international stage. Joining Ed Emmett in hosting duties were foundation board members Zach Davis, Janis Burke, and Dennis Pullin.

Who: Ben Ackerly, Kelly and Chris Holder, Thomas Angelos, George Webb, Macy Vanderbloemen, William Vanderbloemen, Adrienne Vanderbloemen, Kenny Friedman, Josh and Suzanne McKenzie, Lesha Elsenbrook, Coalter Baker, Paul Blankenship, June Deadrick, Gwen Emmett, Pierce Bush, Bill White, John Hernandez, and Lori McNeil.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Ned Holmes, Zina Garrison, and Ed Emmett.

Field of Green

Astros owner Jim Crane honored at Memorial Park's gala soirée

Memorial Park Conservancy 2026 Park Ball

Photo by Jenny Antill

Catherine Chapman, Eliza Tollette, Mary Claire Boline, Emma Mason, and Lisa Mason.

Not all successful fundraisers require gowns and tuxes.

Photo by Jenny Antill

Catherine Chapman, Eliza Tollette, Mary Claire Boline, Emma Mason, and Lisa Mason.

Memorial Park Conservancy’s 2026 Park Ball summoned 500 guests for Gala in the Glades. Chaired by Emily Clay and Bill Schneidau alongside Mary Kay and Brandt Bowden, the fête honored Jim Crane, Whitney Crane, and the Astros Golf Foundation for their continued support of Memorial Park Conservancy.

The timing felt especially apropos as the foundation returned to Memorial Park Golf Course for The Chevron Championship after its annual presence through the Texas Children’s Houston Open. During the evening program, Memorial Park Conservancy board chair Veronica Chapa Gorczynski and president and CEO Chris Ballard presented the honorees and chairs with tokens of appreciation.

In a rare gala feat, the lights dimmed completely and guests paused for 30 seconds of stillness to fully absorb the sounds and atmosphere of the surrounding parkland. The calm gave way to cheerful chaos later in the evening when guests discovered hidden door prizes tucked beneath random chairs,

Dinner by City Kitchen kept the evening polished, while Houston Groove Society turned the glades into a dance floor once dessert plates cleared. The annual fundraiser raked in more than $1 million to support Memorial Park’s 1,100 acres of urban forest, prairie, and savanna habitat.

Embracing park life were Andrea and Jared Crane, Giles and Andrea Kibbe, Anita Seghal, Manish and Neha Agrawal, Janet and Paul Hobby, Kate and Steve Gibson, Dick and Meg Weekley, Chris Weekley and Christine Laborde, Chris and Aubrey Ballard, Joe Cleary, Lia Vallone, Veronica Chapa Gorczynski and John Gorczynski, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Kalinda Campbell, Claire and John Caudill, Lissa and Farzanah Gangjee, Rogene Gee, Elizabeth and Tom Howley, George Johnston and Jaime Loera, Sabrina and Jordan Kirwin, Louie and Maggie Layrisson, Marilyn and Bob McDowell, Linda Padon, Tanya and Rick Pal, Penny and Townes Pressler, Jessica Rawson, Karen and Rob Saltiel, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, Cyvia Wolff and Marc Grossberg, and Thomas Hunt.

memorial park fundraisers