Event Date: October 28, 2023
Location: Hilton Americas-Houston
Event: Gala
Beneficiary: Ronald McDonald House Houston
No. in attendance: 720
Money raised: $820,000
Chairpersons: April and Wells McGee
Honorees: Hess Corporation and Kaye Barnes
Emcee: Lisa Malosky
Décor: Let It Fly
Event Coordination: Francisco + Co. and In Any Event
Auctioneer: Johnny “Bravo” Holloway
Photography: Daniel Ortiz and Jacob Power
Boo Ball Brought Out the Halloween Spirit and Raised a Scary High Six-Figure Sum!
Costumes, a Haunted House, a champagne station serving drinks by a camouflaged white-gloved hand through a hedge wall, and more, greeted the 720 guests arriving at Hilton Americas-Houston for the “Boo Ball Returns, 2023 Haunted House,” benefiting Ronald McDonald House Houston.
Taking bows for the over $820,000 raised were Chairpersons April and Wells McGee, “Founder’s Award” Honoree David Carmony (who accepted for Hess Corporation), and “Volunteer of the Year” Kaye Barnes.
Former Channel 2 Sports Reporter, Journalist and Producer Lisa Malosky handled the emcee duties for the evening. She greeted the audience warmly and introduced RMDHH CEO Cristina Vetrano, who proudly spoke about the House’s mission as a home away from home to families with seriously ill children treated in the Texas Medical Center. Holcombe House, the organization’s main location, consists of 70 bedrooms, but rooms in Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital and M.D. Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital increases the support the charity can offer needy families during their children’s health struggles.
Famed Houston-born auctioneer Johnny “Bravo” Holloway’s high-energy made the most out of the live auction, silent auction, raffle, a “Pick Your Poison” spirits draw, big board, and appeal, which raised over $100,000 in less than five minutes! An adorable puppy, escorted on stage by 17-year-old Kaely Suarez, who started her life in a hospital NICU, and whose parents stayed at Ronald McDonald House, received thunderous applause and lively bidders!
Houston décor staple Let It Fly provided the eerie tablescapes, which featured dead floral centerpieces with cobwebs, skeletons and floating eyeballs. Their Haunted House backdrop provided many Instagram-worthy snapshots!
Coordinating this frightful ambiance was the job of Francisco & Co. and In Any Event. Ellie Francisco, Niki Smith and their teams orchestrated a spooky and fun-filled gathering that kept those attending wanting more!
By the end of the evening, all attending had a Ghostly Good Time!
Socially present (not previously mentioned): Emma and Seth Elsenbrook, Mady and Ken Kades, Steve Vetrano, Debbie and Ozzie Bauer, Melinda and Matt Mogas. Lindy and Tom McGee, Flo McGee and Wade Upton, Melissa Juneau, Emily Crosswell, Seliece and Lee Womble, Elyse and Drew Tolson, Allison and Dan Connally, Diane and John Riley, Megan and Luke Hotze, Elaine Balagia Croucher, Faith Majors, Katie and John Daily, Katherine Whaley and Chris Wadley, Sneha and Nick Merchant, Liz and James Walsh, Kaylin and Chris Weber, Maggie and Will Stacy, Holly and John Brennan
