“Feet Were Stomping” and “Boots were Kicked Up” at the Eighth Annual Dec My Room Gala

“Feet Were Stomping” and “Boots Were Kicked Up” at the Eighth Annual Dec My Room Gala

Dec My Room Founders Kendall Plank and Susan Plank were all smiles as over 250 supporters, including Chair Chelsea Collmer, gathered at The Ballroom at Bayou Place in chic Western attire, to help celebrate the 8th Annual Kick Up Your Boots and its record-breaking raise of over $400,000!

The event was filled with non-stop excitement, featuring Country-Western entertainer Mark Chesnutt, two sponsored ice bars, a raffle for gold & diamond earrings, a spirits pull, an appeal, and a live auction. A rare bottle of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon was part of a Federal American Grill package, which had paddles flying. The “campfire” bidding continued with a first pitch opportunity at a 2026 Astros game and a three-day management hunt at Sycamore Springs Ranch in Kerrville. Both went for big bucks! Event decorator Kirksey Gregg pulled out all the stops as he constructed painted horses, wooden fences and a General Store “photo-op” display. Large Western backdrops framed the landing outside the ballroom entrance.

Recognized for their city-wide contributions and taking well-deserved bows as Community Honorees were Aimee and Wynne Snoots. Jen and Matt Brice, and their restaurant, Federal Grill, were lauded as Corporate Honorees.

To give some well-earned praise to this 18-year-old non-profit, note that Dec My Room has decorated over 10,000 rooms in over 180 hospitals around the country for pediatric and young adult patients. Volunteers select items reflecting each patient’s likes and interests. Items are purchased and decorated for them to enjoy during their hospital stay and take home when they leave. Every once in a while, celebrities enjoy the goodwill generated by the talented teams. Singer Taylor Swift once stopped by a Tampa-designed hospital room to visit a child enjoying their special environment during a challenging medical experience.

Mike Plank beamed with pride for his wife and daughter’s event success, as he took a frontside table and ended the night with friends, rolled cigars, and brand-new Texas high-end sipping Loco Tequila!

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Stacey Lindseth and Al Lindseth, Carley and Mike Stasney, Kat and Ryan Pressly, Laura Moore and Don Sanders, Laurie and Bret Sanders, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Lisa and Jerry Simon, Gaye Lynn and Stuart Zarrow, Jody Merritt, Natalie and Shaun Hodge, Nina and Clint Rand, Tracy and Landon Ehlinger, Noelle and Ryan Strickland, Patrice and Robert Allinger, Lindsey Love, Brittany Tribble. Kory and Geoff Blum, George Foreman, IV, Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia, Tom Butler, Ali and Haydeh Davoudi, Tammy and Stuart Spence, Grace and Steven Ward, Beth Rivera, Kiki Wilson, Jennifer Cope, Brittany Tribble