Hope for a Better Future Was Built at Mission of Yahweh Second Annual Leaders & Legends Gala

Hope for a Better Future Was Built at Mission of Yahweh Second Annual Leaders & Legends Gala

A brand-new dormitory that will house forty more women and children was the catalyst for the second annual Mission of Yahweh Leaders & Legends Gala, held at River Oaks Country Club. The event, chaired by Christine Johnson and Jody Merritt, along with Executive Director Gaye Jackson and Honorary Chairs Samantha Kennedy, Warner Roberts and Saula Valente and Presenting Sponsor Sidney Faust, honored those legendary community leaders who supported the construction of this new building and will provide furnishings once completed. They were Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Lori and Todd King, Larry Martin, Janelle and Greg Reid, and Laura and Dave Ward. This dynamic duo brought together 400 friends, supporters, and sponsors and raised more than $600,000 to continue the good works of this faith-based shelter that empowers, enriches, and restores the lives of homeless women and children.

Themed “Building Hope for a Future,” the event focused on the new structure being added to the already 12-building campus. The event chairs used this creative premise in every available section of the ballroom and pre-function area. Designed by The Events Company, a wooden frame house became the staging backdrop. They also placed cinder blocks, foam bricks, buckets, paint brushes, rulers, and rolled-up architectural blueprints amidst florals, which became table centerpieces. Individual bricks placed within a “Giving Wall” were available to purchase in the pre-function area and sold out quickly, to the organization’s delight!

Attendees were entertained at the pre-event reception by a musical ensemble led by the Maestro and Music Director of the Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and St. Agnes Academy Orchestra, Dr. Guillermo Hernandez-Ching. The Luxury Big Board, led by Houston auctioneer extraordinaire Johnny “Bravo” Holloway, included items such as spa experiences, a Tootsies shopping party, jewelry, a Champagne and Caviar experience from Madame Zero, a Chloe handbag, sports memorabilia, and more. Guests quickly scooped up the raffle tickets to win a Carolina Herrera Blue Iris Female Mink Jacket donated by Saula Valente.

Once the ballroom doors opened and partygoers took their seats, media personality and emcee Deborah Duncan began the program by asking Reverend Mary Gracely to give the invocation. The Mission then made a surprise announcement by awarding “Volunteers of the Month” to honor the year-long dedication as volunteers to make the gala a record-breaking success. Receiving accolades were chairs Christine Johnson, Jody Merritt, Scott Evans and Ghada Ali.

Dallas-based “Marilyn Monroe” and “Frank Sinatra” impersonators entertained the audience during the dinner and dessert course, courtesy of J&D Entertainment. “Frank” crooned favorites such as “New York, New York” and “My Way” and “Marilyn” warbled her way through “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” and others.

Videographer Chris Swanson and his company, Firefox Media, created a stunning video presentation called “Stories of the Mission,” highlighting the thousands of women and children to whom the organization has provided care.

Once again, athletic auctioneer Johnny “Bravo” Holloway made his way to the stage to welcome a few of the women who live at the Mission and receive its services. After a long applause, he jumped into action for a “Paddles Up” appeal and “table-jumped” into a world-class live auction. Offerings for bids included a luxurious Mink Stroller; a Golf Experience in Scotland at St. Andrews Golf Course; a Texans experience complete with pre-game sideline passes and a CJ Stroud-signed football; a vacation stay in a Durango, Colorado home (which sold twice); a Taylor Swift-signed guitar, hotel accommodations and two tickets to her New Orleans concert; a beautiful home in Puerto Vallarta; and “Lunch with Legends,” which included champagne and lunch with Houston legends Frank Billingsley, Deborah Duncan, Honorable Ed Emmett and Honorable Bill King, Edna Meyer-Nelson, Warner Roberts and Derrick Shore. A spectacular end to a “ground-breaking” beginning!

In the Social Scene (not previously mentioned):  Chris Kase, Hershey Grace, Cheryl Byington, Jillian Nel, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Pamela Lockard, Farida Abjani, Susan Boggio, Alicia Smith, Kim Moody, Beth Wolff, Leila Perrin, Owen and Odilia Conflenti, Heidi Rockecharlie, Robin and Danny Klaes, Amy Davis, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Frann Lichtenstein, Honorable Judge Margaret Poissant, Debbie and Rudy Festari, Heidi and Barry Turney, Sidney Faust, Honorable Susan S. Soussan, Gary Becker, Carol and Dr. Tom Sawyer, Elsie Eckert, Maria Moncada Alaoui and Omar Alaoui, Sherri Zucker, Andy Cordes, Dawsel White, Rania and Ramy Mankarious, Steve Spencer, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, Sharron Melton, Kirin and Joe Wells, Nick Sanford, Dena and Omar Musfy, Angela Hernandez, Kirk Kveton and Daniel Irion, Jennifer and John Warren, Shayna Andrews, Maureen and Jeff Sanders, Hollianne and Zac Cherry, Dr. Roxy Riefkohl and Celeste Ferrill