Event Date: October 17, 2023
Location: River Oaks Country Club
Event: Luncheon
Beneficiaries: Italian Cultural & Community Center
No. in attendance: 300
Money Raised: $185,000
Chairpersons: Lesha Elsenbrook and Ginger Niemann
Honorees: Roz Pactor and Steve Tyrell
Emcee: Owen Conflenti
Fashion Show Sponsor: Neiman Marcus
Fashion Show Production: Jeanne Ruberti
Photography: Johnny Than
Italian Food, Fashion and Friends Celebrated at Italian Cultural and Community Center Fall Luncheon
Chairs Lesha Elsenbrook and Ginger Niemann were all smiles when the more than 300 guests showed up at River Oaks Country Club to celebrate all things Italian at the annual Italian Cultural & Community Center Luncheon.
Channel 2 anchor (and Italian) Owen Conflenti served as Master of Ceremonies and introduced soprano Krista Pape, who performed the well-known aria Sempre Libera from La Traviata. As attendees dined on an Italian-inspired meal, ICCC Executive Director Erika Myers and Mauro Lorenzini, Consul General of Italy, gave heartfelt remarks to the audience.
Honored at this event were famed blogger Roz Pactor and her brother, international award-winning crooner Steve Tyrell. Roz spoke eloquently and shared stories of a recent trip to Italy and a side trip to Sicily, which checked off a “bucket list” item, which was to see the land where her family was born. Steve surprised everyone and received a long applause, by performing “Bella Notte,” which he recorded for the video version of Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp.”
The best was saved for last. Introduced by Neiman Marcus General Manager Preston Antonini (an Italian), the famed Galleria store presented its fashion show, produced by Jeanne Ruberti, featuring fashions from Italian designers. The perfectly executed show was replete with Italian music, stunning models and beautiful clothes. The ending of the show featured models, bedecked in green, white and red (colors of the Italian flag) wearing “red glasses” with the fashions—a nod to honoree Roz Pactor’s synonymous red glasses she wears every day.
The announcement of the winner of the “Prosecco Pull” and Raffle closed the show. Marilu Garza’s name was drawn as the recipient of the jeweled earrings.
Congratulazioni to all those who helped create another successful luncheon for this organization, which resulted in $185,000 raised to support their good works.
In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned): Rose Carrabba, Rose Cullen, Monica Hartland, Franelle Rogers, Leila Perrin, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Sandra Porter, Vicki Rizzo, Tom Elsenbrook, Lu Caltagirone, Heidi Rockecharlie, Julie Mastroianni, Georgia Graugnard, Karen DeGeurin, Gina Gusemano Leck, Deborah Aspromonte Simon, Janet Gurwitch, Debbie Festari, Patti Murphy, Raquel Lewis
