Abs, Axes and a $835K Haul: Welcome Back to the Red Hot Gala!

Mr. March takes the stage (photo by Johnny Than)

By Jeff Gremillion

The Red Hot Gala lit up the Royal Sonesta Houston and Houston’s firefighters left with $835,000.

More than 550 guests and firefighters turned out for the ninth anniversary of the benefit for the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Charitable Foundation. Chairs and event founders Elizabeth and Alan Stein ran the night. Edna Meyer-Nelson served as honorary co-chair. Presenting sponsors Bobbie Nau and Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees returned. The room walked in with more than $550,000 already committed, for training, equipment, health and community programs.

Let It Fly set the look, with a photo wall and firefighter silhouettes. The Moment Band played the cocktail hour while guests worked through more than 130 silent auction packages. It took flickering lights and a stop to the music to get the festive, crowd into the ballroom.

The Houston Firefighter Honor Guard and the Pipes and Drums presented the flags. Firefighter Joe Rice sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” a cappella to a pin-drop ballroom. Jennifer Reyna and HPFFA President Patrick M. “Marty” Lancton emceed. The Steins thanked the volunteers who work the year, and presented traditional personalized axes and trophies to the presenting sponsors and honorary co-chair. Flowers went to six behind-the-scenes workers: Dee Darby, Amanda Davis, Betty DuBose, Jessica Sousson, Laura Elizabeth Stein and Scarlett Tyler.

Then the 2026 Houston Firefighter Calendar participants took the runway when the lights dropped — sexy, shirtless and fiercely flirting with the ladies in the room! (Usually these guys put out fires, but once a year they make a point to heat things up! All for a great cause.)

A video told Youval Meicler’s story of firefighters arriving during his heart attack, and of the families who wait on every siren. Meicler then made a personal appeal for donations to the foundation.

Vincent Montalbano opened the live auction with a surprise private dinner with Mayor John Whitmire and Fire Chief Thomas Munoz at Gary Petersen’s home, which went for $26,000. A Garrison Brothers Whiskey experience sold for $25,000. Park City, a South America bird hunt, Snowmass and United Airlines packages followed. A Puerto Vallarta trip sold twice at $25,000. The live auction totaled $166,000. Afterward, The Moment Band came back, calendar participants signed 2027 calendars, and a bid-off ran on the big boards. The night closed at $835,000.

In the crowd: Brigitte Kalai, Jo Ann Petersen and Mike Taylor, Gaye Lynn and Stuart Zarrow, Elsie and Les Eckert, Dee and James Darby, Alicia Smith, Patti Murphy, Mayor Whitmire, Whitney Whitmire, Monica and Russell Ybarra, Bruce Padilla and Shelby Kibodeaux, Edna Meyer-Nelson, Carol and Bill Lawler, Fire Chief Munoz, Lynden and Jacob Stein, Ashley Gibson and Michael Vanderhider, Tony Bradfield and Marcus Fisher, Van and David Greenberg, Robin and Danny Klaes, Andy Schatte, Troy Blakeney, Hershey Grace and Ellie Francisco.