Event Date: November 4, 2023
Location: Hilton Americas-Houston
Event: Gala
Beneficiary: Interfaith Ministries Greater Houston
No. in attendance: 600
Money raised: $730,000
Chairpersons: Karen and Jay Harberg and Tehmina and Dr. Faisal Masud
Honorary Chairs: Brigitte and Bashar Kalai
Honorees: Pastors Juanita and Rudy Rasmus and Susan and Dan Boggio
Emcee: Ernie Manouse
Presenting Sponsor: Shell USA, Inc.
Photography: Quy Tran
A New Orleans-Style Musical Parade “Welcomed the World” to Interfaith Ministries Greater Houston’s Tapestry Gala
Six hundred guests “Welcomed the World” at Interfaith Ministries Greater Houston for their annual Tapestry Gala at Hilton Americas-Houston. After enjoying a “mocktail” and a breathtaking art exhibit showcasing various faith traditions, they were led into the ballroom by a lively New Orleans-style musical parade, The Brass Animals.
Houston Public Media television host Ernie Manouse handled the emcee duties and welcomed everyone to the evening’s festivities. A beautifully shared prayer for peace and understanding from Imam Mohammad Haq, Rabbi Steve Gross, Nadia Tajali, Ray Tran, Atul Kothari and Father Orrin Halepska was a poignant and blessed moment to begin the program.
As always, Hilton Americas-Houston’s culinary team created a menu reflective of the multi-cultural cuisines and customs. From the Winter Greens with Pecans and Cranberries to the Grilled Chicken Breast Marsala with Pan-Seared Seabass to the vegetarian entrée of Portobello Mushroom with Saag Paneer and Quinoa Potato Cake, no detail was left out. The dessert sampler of Lemon Blueberry White Cake and Passionfruit Chocolate Pave was a treat for the eyes and stomach!
Martin Cominsky, IMGH President and CEO, and Board Chair Randall Evans were brought to the stage to extend heartfelt thanks to co-chairs Karen and Jay Harberg and Tehmina and Dr. Faisal Masud and Honorary Chairs Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, as well as Presenting Sponsor Shell USA, Inc., whose representative Christina Jones proudly spoke on their behalf.
Pastors Juanita and Rudy Rasmus and Susan and Dan Boggio received honored praise from the organization. The Boggios set a new threshold at Interfaith Ministries by being the only donors to have received all three of the charity’s prized awards—Tapestry for Overall Service, For All Humanity Award and the Wags & Whiskers Award!
Along with Shell USA mentioned earlier, additional sponsors making this inspiring evening possible included Palladium Sponsor Sysco, Susan and Dan Boggio, Karyn and Charles Crisp, EOG Resources, Susanne and Randall Evans, Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Karen and Jay Harberg and Hilton Americas–Houston.
The charity “Gods” smiled on IMGH as over $730,000 was raised to continue their good works.
In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned): Ann Kaesermann, Saied Alavi, Wendy Cooper, Vican Sun, Charlene Chuang, Rev. Dr. Tamla Wilson, Henry Florsheim, Kathy Flanagan, M.D., Dr. Marla Fielder, Nihala Zakaria, Jacques D’Rovencourt, Mark Eddings, Chris Hollins, Margo Martin, Charly Weldon, Aliza Dutt, Farida Abjani, Sandra Smith-Cooper, Raquel Lewis, Mandy Kao, Christina Zhou, David Leebron and Y. Ping Sun, Eric and Stephanie Nielson, Casey Curry, Louise Eng, Tama Lundquist, Tena Lundquist Faust, Eileen and Kase Lawal, Amy Pierce, Karen Labat, George and Laura Pontikes, Robert Sakowitz, Franelle Rogers, Alison Comstock Moss, Beth Wolff, Joyce and Arthur Schechter, Paula Sutton and Bill Gross, Philamena and Arthur Baird, Julie and Richard Chi, Regina Rogers, Nasruddin Rupani, and Mary Gwen and Ben Hulse
