Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and The Palm Royale were the Big Costumed Winners at iWRITE’s 8th Lucky for Literacy Bubbles & Bingo Bash

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and The Palm Royale were the Big Costumed Winners at iWRITE’s Lucky for Literacy 8th Bubbles & Bingo Bash

For the eighth year, iWRITE held its annual “Lucky for Literacy Bubbles and Bingo Bash” for an excited crowd of 220 “guzzied-up” lunchtime partiers. Successfully and happily chaired by Saula Cente-Valente and Ashley Seippel, the event’s combined efforts raised over $115,000 for iWRITE’s Early Writers Program, School Workshops & Writing Curriculum, Publishing Projects, and Summer Camp Scholarships.

Guests arrived early to do some “Pop-Up” shopping from local retailers, including David Peck, Elaine Turner, Designs by Sippy, Coco Nola, Milla & Ella, and Prickly Pear. A percentage of the purchases was given to iWRITE. A luxury raffle featured a gorgeous amethyst ring donated by renowned jeweler Nini Jewels. A few of the many silent auction packages were donated for bidding by Vintage Contessa & Times Past, Porsche River Oaks, Edit, Al’s Handmade Boots, Menowake and Barbara Biel.

This yearly fun-filled afternoon event draws an enthusiastic crowd, not only for its charitable efforts, but also for its sheer delight. Attendees buy tables with their friends and dress up in costumes. The costumes are awarded by both celebrity judges and audience votes. Popular themes represented in the crowd were TEAM USA Winter Olympics, Palm Royale, Houston Icons, Gillies, The Great Gatsby, Rhinestone Cowboy, Forest Animals, Paris, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and H-E-B (who also provided the table centerpieces) dressed up as their floral department. Fashion event producers Lenny Matuzsewski and Tamara Klosz Bonar chose The Palm Royale as their favorite group and the crowd’s favorite table was the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Once again, everyone’s favorite auctioneer, Johnny “Bravo” Holloway, served as the luncheon’s Bingo Caller, which is always one of the favorite parts of the event. The competition was heavy, as guests played eight rounds of bingo and winners received gifts from Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Bella Rinova Salon, Pajama Princess, Williams-Sonoma, Amalfi, and others. Some of the table gifts given were graciously donated from More Than You Can Imagine, Simply Saula, Saks Fifth Avenue and The Bryan Museum.

iWRITE Founder Melissa Williams Murphy was all smiles and, with a grateful heart, said, “The funds we raised today will serve students in underserved school communities where literacy skills are two to three grade levels below where they should be. iWRITE’s mission is to build student confidence through writing, and our writing programs incorporate milestone goals and rewards, which boost these students’ motivation to achieve success.”

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Lara Bell, Elaine Balagia Croucher, Megan Hotze, Maris Castro, Michael Bickham, Beth Muecke, Lisa Helfman, Kara Vidal, Heidi Turney, Kim Sanchez, Ashley Small, Sneha Merchant, Blanca Jolly, Nikki Samuelsen, Robin Klaes, Leila Perrin, Marilu Garza, Kari Work, Tena Lundquist Faust, Tama Lundquist, Marge Lundquist, Deborah Laws, Cheryl Byington, Beth Wolff, Sandra Smith, Penelope Wright, Chita Craft, Camilla Valente, March Duncan, Sidney Faust, Betty Hrncir, Elsie Eckert, Heidi Rockecharlie, Leslie Nossaman, Vanhita Pothuri, Maria Moncada-Alaoui, Karen deGeurin, Debbie Clemens