Photography: Agapito Sanchez, Gittings and Jeff Myers Photography
Event: Virtual luncheon
Event Date: September 3, 2020
Location: Virtual
Money Raised: $170,000+
Beneficiary: Center for Pursuit
Number of Attendees: 300+
Event Coordination: Francisco & Co.
Homemade in Texas Luncheon Was a Virtual Success for Center for Pursuit
The setting was the boardroom at Baylor College of Medicine in the Medical Center, where over 300 guests logged in via YouTube or Zoom for a real-time virtual event to support the Homemade in Texas Luncheon, which benefited Center for Pursuit. Khambrel Marshall was the event’s emcee and interviewed Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (who has a personal relationship with the Center), and Dr. James McDeavitt, Senior Vice President and Dean of Clinical Affairs at Baylor College of Medicine, who is also leading Baylor’s Incident Command Center, responsible for responding to COVID-19.
Over $170,000 was raised thanks to the efforts of chairpersons Raj and Harsha Naran, Rishi and Shivani Naran, Jeff and Prina Spillane and donations continue to flow in online. Center for Pursuit provides help and empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live meaningful, dignified lives filled with opportunity. Charles C. Canton, President and CEO of Center for Pursuit, presented the update on the new, transformative campus that will expand the possibilities for their clients situated on the eastside of downtown.
Mayor Sylvester Turner opened the event with a video recognizing Tom Landis, Founder of Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, who purposefully designed his company to employ people with all types of disabilities, and Frances Castañeda Dyess, President of Houston East End Chamber of Commerce, which brings together business partners from all industries and professions, primarily in the East End where The Center’s new campus is being built.
Socially but virtually present: Nory Angel, Leisa Holland Nelson, Leila Perrin, Kim Sterling, Marc Shapiro, Harriet Foster, Sandra Porter, Janet and Paul Hobby, Jennifer Dominiquini, Steve Vetrano, Marcie Mir, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Charity Yarborough, Franelle Rogers, and Laura Chapman.
