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    Philanthropy in bloom

    Seven Acres’ garden of giving flourishes with record-breaking Houston gala

    Joel Luks
    Feb 7, 2025 | 6:00 am

    The ballroom at Hilton Americas-Houston was in full bloom for the Generosity Grows, Join Our Garden gala benefiting Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services. The evening on Jan. 26 celebrated the commitment to providing compassionate care for seniors.

    Seven Acres Senior Care 2025 gala

    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Debbie and Arturo Karkakowsky.

    Longtime supporters Vicky and Michael Richker were the honorees, receiving the Joyce Proler Schechter Spirit of Life Award. Adding a personal touch to the moment, Michael Richker serenaded the crowd with a reworked rendition of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” giving it a Seven Acres twist. The award presentation was introduced by Elizabeth Warren, daughter of Vicky Richker, and Jonathan Richker, son of Michael Richker, alongside Joyce Proler Schechter herself.

    Guests were welcomed by emcees Linda Lorelle and Khambrel Marshall. For Lorelle, the event carried special significance, as her mother is a Seven Acres resident. During the cocktail hour, supporters sipped specialty martinis, snapped up auction items, and tried their luck at Heads or Tails, culminating in one lucky guest walking away with a $1,000 gift card to Dubin’s Fine Jewelry. The David Caceres Band kept the dance floor going, providing the perfect soundtrack for an evening of celebration.

    Event chairs Cindy and Gary Greenberg and Gail and Gary Swartz beamed as they took in the success of the fundraiser, while honorary chairs Rhona and Bruce Caress and auction chair Bonnie Winograd were also recognized for their contributions..

    The night also marked a new chapter for Seven Acres, as Michael Feinstein, president of the board, introduced Marsha Cayton as the new chief executive officer. By night’s end, more than $1.3 million had been raised to support Seven Acres’ mission thanks to 500-plus guests.

    Among those with compassionate hearts were Joyce and Arthur Schechter, Bruce Stein and family, Judy and Ronnie Yambra, Kaki and Larry Buck, Renee Wizig-Barrios and Alvaro Barrios, Barbara and Barry Lewis, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Beth Wolff, Scott Jacobson, LuAnn and Morton Katz, Linda and Andy Burger, Carl Josehart and Sam Jacobson, Sue Sue and Don Aron, and Varda and Jess Fields.

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    BOOTS & BALLET

    Houston Ballet kicks off 2026 season with Texas-themed fundraising dinner

    Gabi De la Rosa
    Sep 16, 2026 | 12:31 pm
    Houston Ballet season opener
    Photo by Michelle Watson, CatchLight Group
    Honorees Hugh and Carroll Ray and Opening Night Onstage Dinner chairs Kris and Richard McGee.

    This year, ballet aficionados swapped formal attire for cowboy boots, hats, and fringe as they filled the Wortham Theater Center for Houston Ballet's 2026-27 season opener, a triple bill including George Balanchine’s Symphonie Concertante, Lar Lubovitch’s Meadow, and the revival of Stanton Welch’s Pecos Bill. The Western-inspired looks were a nod to the highly anticipated production, which brought a fun Texas twist to the ballet's annual onstage dinner.

    The evening began with Michele Leal, the City of Houston’s director of the Office of Arts, reading a proclamation from Mayor John Whitmire naming September 11, 2026, Houston Ballet Day. The celebratory moment was followed by a pause for silence in remembrance of those lost on 9/11, before the orchestra launched into a spirited rendition of the national anthem.

    The crowd gave a hats-off ovation to Kris and Richard McGee, who chaired the event, which raised more than $320,000 for the Houston Ballet. Co-artistic director Julie Kent honored Carroll and Ray Hugh for more than 40 years of generosity and for helping to inspire and sustain an appreciation for dance in Houston.

    Immediately after the performance, the curtains rose to welcome dinner guests to the opening-night onstage dinner. Completely transformed by Bergner and Johnson Design, the space drew inspiration from Pecos Bill and Texas's natural landscape. Tablescapes included denim, taupe linens, and red gingham napkins set off by centerpieces featuring a colorful bounty of flowers.

    Guests kicked off their Texas-themed meal, prepared by City Kitchen, with a seasonal salad, followed by a main course of beef short rib served with Yukon Gold potato mash, oven-roasted okra, and buttermilk biscuits. Dessert was a classic chocolate pecan tart paired with vanilla bean gelato.

    Boot-wearing VIPs included Kris and Richard McGee; Carroll and Hugh Ray; Sonja Kostich; Julie Kent; Stanton Welch AM; Chad Libertus; Stephanie Tsuru; Melza and Ted Barr; C.C. Conner and David Groover; Jo Furr; Margaret Alkek Williams; David Wuthrich; Bill Stubbs and Kurt Grether; Rose Cullen; Leigh and Reggie Smith; Ileana and Michael Treviño; Shawn Stephens and Jim Jordan; Margaret Cox; Deborah Keyser and James Stafford; Allison and Troy Thacker; Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones; Jennifer and Chris Laporte; Leigh and Chris Joseph; Michele Leal; Angie Matula; Akemi Saitoh; Marguerite Swartz; Jerry Ann Woodfin-Costa; Mignon and Steve Gill; Susan and Gary Binney; Christine and Paul Sofka; Sharon Roark; Leslie Alston; Michael Zenker; Michelle Iversen Jeffery; Timothy Wampler; Beth Muecke; Rochelle and Andrew Deiso; Kent Schaffer; Sasha Davis and Geoffrey Oshman; Kevin Potter; Jean and Henry May; Helen and Jim Shaffer; Rini and Edward Ziegler; Erin Patak and Alejandro Aballay; Mitchell George and Stanley Curtis, Jr.

    Houston Ballet season opener 2026

    Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLight Group

    Honorees Hugh and Carroll Ray and Opening Night Onstage Dinner chairs Kris and Richard McGee.

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