A Celebration of All Things Italiano at Italian Cultural and Community Center’s “Bella Roma Luncheon & Fashion Show”

A Celebration of All Things Italiano at Italian Cultural and Community Center’s “Bella Roma Luncheon & Fashion Show”

All things Italian were in bella vista (in full view) as the Italian Cultural & Community Center (ICCC) held its fifth annual Luncheon & Fashion Show, this year titled Bella Roma. The event was a sold-out success, thanks in great measure to Chairpersons Karen Remington and Saula Cente Valente, Honorees Debbie and Rudy Festari, the event team and sponsors.

The luncheon began with an operatic rendition of one of Rudy Festari’s favorite songs by Andrea Bocelli, “Con te Partiro,” which was performed by Gabriel Chona Rueda and Andreea Mut. KPRC Channel 2 Anchor Owen Conflenti led the program as emcee and welcomed ICCC Executive Director Erika Myers, who gave grateful remarks to those attending and spoke briefly about the organization’s mission of advancing, celebrating, and preserving Italian culture and heritage.

The aforementioned chairs recognized the more than 350 supporters and announced the record-breaking $212,000 raised to continue the Center’s objective. The luncheon honorees were applauded as they came to the stage to accept their well-deserved accolades. Debbie Festari spoke passionately about husband Rudy and his journey to the United States at an early age, inspiring the attendees with the importance of his family’s Italian heritage. Debbie asked Baseball Hall of Famer and family friend Jeff Bagwell to introduce Rudy. Jeff spoke warmly about their friendship and how they both felt as if they were part of each other’s family. Rudy thanked the crowd for being part of the occasion and proudly spoke of his love for his wife and two sons, Valentino and Elton (who was unable to attend but was there in spirit), and gratitude for the success afforded him by the longtime patrons of his Galleria-area clothing store. Interspersed in his acceptance speech were words and phrases spoken in his native Italian, which brought many smiles to the crowd.

The final portion of the evento pranzo (luncheon event) was the highly anticipated “Best of Saks” Runway Show featuring a curated collection of fashions from luxury Italian designers. Jeanne Ruberti, former Director of the Fifth Avenue Club at Saks and now an in-demand fashion show producer, flew in from Ohio to create a beautifully orchestrated presentation replete with styles from the Bel Paese (beautiful country). Fashion houses such as Brunello Cucinelli, Etro, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Valentino and Akris Punto were well represented by the models strutting the catwalk. To the tune of Bette Midler’s “Mambo Italiano,” the final group of three models appeared in evening gowns in the colors of the Italian flag.

Tutti si sono divertiti (Everyone had a wonderful time) celebrating All Things Italiano!

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Brigitte Kalai, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Lesha Elsenbrook, Elia Gabbanelli, Donna Lewis, Melissa Juneau, Felicia Stone, Stephanie Perkins, Gina Gusemano Leck, Courtney Hopson, Melissa Mithoff, Jessica Rossman, Jessica Meyer, Kristy Phillips, Jessica Gomez and Lorena Gomez, Franelle Rogers, Debbie Clemens, Rachel Bagwell, Gary Petersen, Annie Amante, Mason Clark, Maria Moncada Alaoui, Victor Costa, Roz Pactor, Heidi Turney, Edna Meyer-Nelson, Christine Johnson, Jody Merritt, Elsie Eckert, Sidney Faust, Ginger Neimann, Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton, Karen Payne, Michael Broderick, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Marilu Garza, Cathy Brock, Vicki Rizzo, Patti Murphy, Dr. Ronald Maldonado, Jennifer Pinkerton, Leila Perrin, Sandra Porter, Brian Ching and Lindsay Yates, Roberta Bentley, Holly Dean, Mario Gudmundsson, Christian Miranda and Joyce Echols