Make-A-Wish Gala Had Guests Walking Among the Stars for a $1.7 Million Evening

Make-A-Wish Gala Had Guests Walking Among the Stars for a $1.7 Million Evening

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes. Such was the case, as the Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana realized its dream when 750 hearts descended upon The Post Oak at Uptown Hotel to attend the inaugural Make-A-Wish Gala “Among the Stars,” which celebrated 40 years of granting wishes to children across southeast Texas and Louisiana.

Honorary Chairs Claudia and Brad Freels and Carly and John Whitehurst were all smiles as the event raised over $1.7 million for this amazing organization. Carly, daughter of Claudia & Brad, was especially moved, as 2024 marked the 10-year anniversary of her granted wish to attend the Country Music Awards.

A ballroom decorated in blue and gold and white florals welcomed attendees for a very special evening. Channel 11’s Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan served as emcee for this glorious gathering. The gala kicked off with a surprise $350,000 gift from Holly and Ryan Lambert to inspire giving to this wonderful cause. Surprise videos from JJ Watt and Charles Barkley granting wishes for two very special young people drew thunderous applause.

Following dinner, an appeal had paddles raised constantly. Live auction packages had bidders trying to “one-up” each other all through that portion of the evening. A package to the Country Music Awards in Nashville generated a whopping $30,000.

The evening was certainly not lacking in entertainment. Former Make-A-Wish child Franklin Ingalls brilliantly performed a piano composition, followed by Andrew Marshall, a former finalist from NBC’s The Voice, who sang several crowd pleasers. DJ Corey Greene kept the dance floor active and the crowd on its feet before the evening came to a close.

Shelly Millwee, President and CEO said, “What an extraordinary and magical night for Make-A-Wish. The generous funds raised from our inaugural event will help grant many wishes and bring joy and hope to more local children facing unimaginable illnesses. We are incredibly humbled by the big hearts of so many who helped make this evening a tremendous success.”

It truly was an evening to walk among the stars!

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Ashley and Jonathan Sloan, Brenda and Joe Trial, Heather and Don Hrap, Christy and Ron Phillips, Lyndsay and Matt Pennebaker, Neil Bush, Jennifer and Alan Rosen, Michael Vanderhider, Mandy S. Williams, Greg Miller, Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro, Bethany and Ben Buchanan, Lindsey Yates and Brian Ching, Patricia and Sig Cornelius, Thomas and Stephanie Hatfield, Kristen and Barry Palmer