RECOGNISING THOSE WHO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HOUSTON
CKW LUXE celebrates spring with its prestigious Top 20 Impact Makers Awards Gala
Photo Credit: Annie Mulligan, Quy Tran and Eduardo Perme
General Editor: Margaret MacMillan
Publisher: Connie Kwan-Wong
Video Credit: Amber Magic Studio
FOR MORE PHOTOS, PLEASE VISIT:
2022 Top 20 Impact Makers Awards
2022 Top 20 Impact Makers Step and Repeat
2022 Top 20 Impact Makers Dance Performance
2022 Top 20 Impact Makers Presentation
On May 28, 2022, the exclusive St. Regis Houston hosted twenty of the city’s most devoted philanthropists, and those who were there to celebrate them, for the 2022 CKW LUXE Top 20 Impact Makers Awards Gala. The important awards are bestowed annually upon power couples and inspiring mother/father and daughter/son duos, women, men, and youth. Those honored with an Impact Makers Award are humanitarians who are generous in their support of others, dedicated to improving lives and living conditions, and devoted to finding better ways of helping. They have made an achievement that has had a positive impact on some area of the arts, science, education, humanitarianism, or medicine within our community.
Dr. Diana Collins, Dr. William and Teresa Reading, Farida Abjani, Brigitte Kalai, and Flora and Francis Choy formed the host committee for the celebratory evening. Rita Garcia of ABC 13 was the vibrant emcee.
The Story
The delicate beauty and gentle fragrance of fresh flowers embraced guests as, accompanied by soothing harp music, they stepped into springtime splendor. From the magnificent cherry blossom-painted backdrop crowning the stage, to the pastel-colored roses adorning the opulently decorated tables, the St. Regis ballroom bloomed with the promise of the year’s most hopeful season. The latest issue of CKW LUXE magazine, whose cover mirrors the evening’s theme with its cherry blossom motif, awaited guests at their seats. The extraordinary work of Royal Luxury Events, who provided the stunning décor, furniture, flowers, and stage and M&V Decorations, who provided the exquisite finishing touches, combined to make the event an enduring memory for all in attendance.
The Moments
Tommy Kuranoff, General Manager of Momentum BMW Southwest, was presented with a certificate of appreciation for the support the company has given CKW LUXE since its inception. Garcia welcomed the evening’s special guest, the Consul General of France in Houston, Valerie Baraban, who took over the position in September 2021. Connie Kwan-Wong, publisher of CKW LUXE magazine, welcomed attendees and thanked them for their loyalty to the magazine and its goals. She also congratulated the evening’s honorees, thanking them for their many contributions to the City of Houston. The moment everyone was waiting for arrived when Garcia introduced CKW LUXE’s Top 20 Impact Makers for 2022 and Kwan-Wong presented them with their awards. Each award winner also received congressional recognition and a certificate of appreciation from the City of Houston. The honors were bestowed by Sugar Land City Council member Carol McCutcheon.
CKW LUXE’s Top 20 Impact Makers for 2022
www.ckwluxe.com/2022-top-20-impact-makers-awardees
Top 20 Power Couple Impact Makers
Dr. Rachel and Dr. Warren Ellsworth
Varda and Jess Fields
Rashmi and Sunny Sharma
Laura and Dave Ward
Top 20 Inspiring Mother/Daughter Impact Makers
Gule and Dr. Sara Andrabi
Top 20 Inspiring Man Impact Makers
Astley Blair
Dr. Daryl Dichoso
Alan Helfman
Dr. Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner
Top 20 Inspiring Woman Impact Makers
Darlene Clark
Katya Dow
Princess Tatiana Galitzine
Gayla Gardner
Dr. Karen Gray Gomez
Nancy J. Li
Diane Slattery Riley
Leslie Siller
Jane B. Wagner
Jerre Parsons Williams
Geraldina Interiano Wise
The uplifting evening came to an end with three vivacious dance performances by the accomplished students of the Milana Pliner Dance Studio. Kwan-Wong closed the event by once again thanking everyone for their attendance and ongoing encouragement.
CKW LUXE would like to express its sincere gratitude to the evening’s presenting sponsor, Momentum BMW Southwest.
CKW LUXE would also like to thank the event sponsors: Royal Luxury Events, William H. Reading MD, The Cathy Stubbs Team, Petite Maison, Diana Collins M.D., Milana Pliner, and M&V Decorations. CKW LUXE would also like to thank its Wisdom Sponsors: Diane Slattery Riley and John Riley, Princess Tatiana Galitzine and Guillermo Sierra, Jane B. Wagner, and Farida Abjani, Flora Choy, Dr. Diana Collins, and Teresa Reading in honor of Katya Dow. Thank you, also, to its Kindness Sponsors: Gule and Dr. Sara Andrabi, Astley Blair, Memorial Hermann Hospital in honor of Dr. Daryl Dichoso and Dr. Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, and Jerre Parsons Williams and Dennis Williams, and to its Caring Sponsors: Drs. Rachel and Warren Ellsworth, Varda and Jess Fields, Drs. Karen Gray Gomez and Rossie Gomez, Nancy J. Li with Royal Public School, Rashmi and Sunny Sharma, and Scott W. Wise and Geraldina Interiano Wise. Thank you, also, to its supporters: Darlene Clark, Gayla Gardner, Alan Helfman, Leslie Siller, and Laura and Dave Ward. Special thanks to Vickie West and Ralph Burch in honor of Leslie Siller; Ginger Menown in honor of Astley Blair; Tammy Nguyen in honor of Jane Wagner; Tammy Nguyen in honor of Varda and Jess Fields; and Betty Tudor in honor of Leslie Siller, Jerre Parsons Williams, and CKW LUXE.
Without the assistance of everyone above, the event would not have been the memorable success it was.
Presenting Sponsor
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About CKW LUXE Magazine
CKW LUXE magazine is a philanthropic, inspirational, and quality living magazine. The three letters in our name, CKW, stand for Caring, Kindness, and Wisdom, encouraging us to CARE for one and all, treat everyone with KINDNESS, and be WISE in our understanding of others. The purpose of the magazine is to share enlightening stories that spread the message of love, hope, and positivity.
