Event Date: October 5, 2021
Location: Potente
Event: Gala
No. of Attendees: 130
Money Raised: $330,000
Beneficiary: AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse)
Chairpersons: Katherine & Dr. Brian Parsley and Stephanie von Stein Schusterman & Dr. Mark Schusterman
Photography: Wilson Parish
Hearts and Pocketbooks Opened During Domestic Violence Awareness Month To Support AVDA at “Honoring Texas Victims Dinner”
A staggering $325,000 was raised at the recent AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) Dinner, which honored more than 185 Texans whose lives were lost to domestic violence in 2019. Kudos to chairpersons Katherine & Dr. Brian Parsley and Stephanie von Stein Schusterman & Dr. Mark Schusterman.
Potente (meaning “powerful” in Spanish) and its Executive Chef Danny Trace masterfully handled the evening’s fare. His signature black truffle dish Spaghetti Al Tartufo Nero preceded by Fairytale Pumpkin Hummus, Amarone Braised Veal and Calvados Apple Crostata were all paired with fine Italian wines and helped set the tone to surpass the organization’s earlier goals. Very “potente” indeed!
A somber and reflective part of the evening began with comments from AVDA CEO Maisha Colter, who stated AVDA “has seen a disturbing continuation of the rising trend of domestic violence into 2021 with a 40% increase in domestic violence crime in Harris County since the pandemic began, which includes 17 people killed by perpetrators out on multiple felony bonds.” By the end of August, Houston saw an increase in domestic violence-related homicides of 78 percent from 2020 during the same period. A sobering set of statistics!
Socially present were: Board Chair Leisa Holland-Nelson, Bob Bowman, Steve Winter, Mark Russell, Dr. Joey Fisher, Meredith Marshall, Carla Diaz-Lewis, Karen Freedman and Amy Huggins, Bobbie Nau, Trini Mendenhall, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Jordan and Dylan Seff, Vanessa and Chuck Ames, Natalie and Steve Mohtashami, Leela and Nat Krishnamurthy and Laura Liang.
