Blake Shelton
By Jeff Gremillion
Houston Children’s Charity marked 30 years of helping H-Town kids, at The Post Oak Hotel, and the room answered with $13.2 million and 158 wheelchair-accessible vans.
The “Still Shining” gala, presented by title sponsors Porsche River Oaks and Porsche West Houston, drew 825 guests. The Events Company dressed the ballroom. Reverend Mary Gracely of One Spirit Interfaith Community gave the invocation. A video message came from U.S. Ambassador to Italy and board chairman Tilman J. Fertitta. Vice Chairman Gary Becker and Mayor John Whitmire spoke.
The night honored philanthropist Gary R. Petersen, a longtime backer of the vans that give children with disabilities a way out of the house. President and CEO Laura Ward presented him with a commemorative vase to a standing ovation. Petersen also underwrote the entertainment, which put Blake Shelton on the stage.
Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, introduced by Tony Buzbee and Richard Fant, announced the statewide expansion of Chariots for Children, the charity’s wheelchair-accessible van program and the only one of its kind in the country. The reach now extends into Central Texas, including Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country. Katie and Mike Lowenberg and Randy Hopper unveiled the Dave Ward Tribute Van, honoring the late Houston broadcaster. The Lowenbergs were the inaugural donors of what will be an annual tradition.
Ward and auctioneer Johnny Bravo ran the live auction. Maria Moncada Alaoui, Porsche brand vice president at Sonic Automotive, joined for Luxury in the Fast Lane, a package with a new Porsche 911 Carrera, a Nobu Hotel stay, a day at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta and NINI Jewels 911 cufflinks. Trini Mendenhall-Royalty took it for $240,000. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson made a surprise appearance. The Ultimate Dinner Party, donated by The Post Oak Hotel, the Tilman Fertitta family and Barbara McKnight, came with 50 Cent himself and went to Katie and Mike Lowenberg for $200,000. Kristina and Paul Somerville won the Toast to Luxury Wine Country package for $120,000. Other high bidders included Javier Marcos, Vanessa and Chuck Ames, Scott West, Jamie Burson, and Nitzia and John Johnson.
Buzbee and Ward then rallied the room for vans. The result was 158, including 30 from Jana and Richard Fant, 20 from Frances Moody Buzbee and Tony Buzbee, and 20 from Erin and Mo Aziz. With 114 children on the waiting list, the gifts cleared it and added more.
Shelton closed with a 75-minute set, kicking back a bit, laughing with crowd, enjoying cocktails as they came his way from the crowd, and playing all his hits one by one.
Unlike most galas, the entire evening is produced in-house by Ward and her staff, with no chair or committees.
Other supporters included Paige Fertitta, Katie and Patrick Fertitta, Maria Moncada Alaoui and Omar Alaoui, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Michael Vanderhider, Sue Smith and Jim Eberle, Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz, Houston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz and former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
Laura Ward and 50 Cent (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Jen and Brandon Dewan (photo by Joy Hallock)
Bob and Debbie Ogle (photo by Joy Hallock)
Richard Fant, Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott and Tony Buzbee (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Janice Freeman and Grant Guthrie (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Trini Mendenhall (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Erin and Mo Aziz (photo by Priscilla Dickson)