A High-Flying, High-Rolling, “Greatest Mission on Earth Leaders & Legends Gala” Soars into a Record-Breaking $800,000 Night for Mission of Yahweh

A High-Flying, High-Rolling, “Greatest Mission on Earth Leaders & Legends Gala” Soars into a Record-Breaking $800,000 Night for Mission of Yahweh

The Greatest Mission on Earth brought together Leaders & Legends and more than 420 supporters for a record-breaking fundraising evening for The Mission of Yahweh. Chairs Robin and Danny Klaes helmed the evening, and last year’s chairs, Leila Perrin, Beth Wolff, and Cynthia Wolff, took bows as Honorary Chairs. Honorees were Monica Hartland, Samantha and David Kennedy and Warner Roberts. The Presenting Sponsor was famed Houston attorney Benny Agosto and his wife, Nichole.

The gala theme set the stage for an evening of unabashed fun! Guests arrived and were immediately transported to a feeling reminiscent of childhood and their first visit to Barnum & Bailey Circus. Décor company Let It Fly set the scene with custom-made carnival check-in booths. Snake charmers, stilt walkers, a magician and a juggler meandered through the pre-function area. A roving photo booth, courtesy of J&D Entertainment, also kept things lively.

Once the ballroom doors opened, the festivities truly began. Let It Fly’s décor was stupefying! The stage curtains featured alternating red and white stripes with the gala logo centered. Sequined red tablecloths and florals from H-E-B filled the audience with wonder. Tables were adorned with boxes of animal crackers, bags of peanuts still in their shells, ornaments, and so much more. One could hardly find a detail left out! The silent auction and raffle kept guests bidding most of the night. On stage, the David Caceres Band entertained until it was time for guests to take their seats.

Emcees Frank Billingsley and Ernie Manouse were the evening’s ringmasters. Reverend Mary Gracely delivered a heartfelt invocation, and the circus-themed program began with the introduction of chairs and social “big-wigs” Robin and Danny Klaes, who thanked the sponsors and everyone who helped bring the crowd into the “big top.” One by one, videos of the honorees, filmed by Chris Swanson and his company Firefox Video, followed, and each honoree made their way to the stage to receive a beautiful floral arrangement and a gift. Honoree Warner Roberts, considered by many to be the G.O.A.T. (for those unaware of this acronym, it refers to “Greatest of All Time”), was asked to speak on behalf of the honorees. Her moving speech lifted the energy in the ballroom even higher as the room fell deathly silent and everyone hung on her every word. She spoke of the Mission’s and Sister Gay’s humble beginnings, Warner’s journey to meet her, discovering the residents being housed in two shotgun shacks, and Warner finding the community support to build its first dorm in six months. She also shared how the Mission empowers, enriches, and restores the lives of women and children experiencing homelessness. The Mission remains committed to reaching women and children who need a helping hand and a pathway toward a brighter future. As her speech came to a teary close, the room rose to give her a standing ovation.

Gloria Guinyard, a former Mission resident and now an employee, spoke from the heart about her journey through the facility and now has the daily opportunity to help others on the same path, offering them the same hope and support she received.

After dinner, high-flying, table-jumping auctioneer Johnny “Bravo” Holloway energized the crowd with an “Appeal” and an inspiring live auction featuring several incredible items, including a Broadway package, a stay in a luxurious Puerto Vallarta home, a one-of-a-kind Houston Rodeo package, and a chance to travel with the Houston Texans on the team jet to a game. The paddles flew nonstop as bidders traded bids until a champion was crowned. As each live auction item was won, a Champagne Parade went to the winner’s table and presented the table and its guests with glasses and a bottle of Le Chemin du Roi by 50 Cent.

Even P.T. Barnum would have been proud, as more than $800,000 was raised to benefit this remarkable organization. The chairpersons, honorees, sponsors, and the hundreds of attendees were all The Greatest Showmen!

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Larry Martin, Nicole Psiillides, Board Chair Kari Work, Executive Director Glenda Haynes, John Work, Tony Gracely, Sidney Faust, Cora Sue Mach, Betty and John Hrncir, Elsie and Les Eckert, Alicia Smith, Brigitte Kalai, Farida Abjani, Kim Moody, Mark Haas, Susan and Henri Soussan, Pam Lockard Sterlekar, Regina Rogers, Joanna Marks, Frank Edgerly, Hannah and Cal McNair, Lara and Jay Bany, Julie Pitts, Angie Roberts, Cliff Roberts, Cliff Warner Roberts, Lee Roberts, Gary Petersen, Chris Kase, Carol Sawyer, Andy Delery, Dionne Breen, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Dr. Jacquie Baly and James Craig, Leila Perrin, Sandra Porter, Charity Yarborough Cox, Saula Valente, Deborah Laws, Cheryl Byington, Jerre Williams, Chree Boydstun, Tripp Carter, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, Kevin Gilliard, Kittsie Klaes and Davis Hance, Nikki and Scott Samuelsen, Annabelle Kennedy, Helen and Jim Shaffer, Henry Richardson, Monsour Taghdisi, Evelyn Leightman, Sherri Zucker