The Celebration

The Post Oak Hotel welcomed 320 guests to a VIP cocktail party benefiting Saint Bernard Project (SBP). The inaugural event, Answering the Call, was held to raise awareness of the nonprofit, which assists in rebuilding homes destroyed by natural disasters. SBP has served the community for over 12 years. Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, and Hallie Vanderhider chaired the evening. The honorary chairs were Jennifer and David Ducote, Paige and Tilman Fertitta, Joanne King Herring, Hannah and Cal McNair, Sydney and Jeff Shellebarger, Leticia and Stephen Trauber, and Margaret Alkek Williams. Houston Rockets head coach, Mike D’Antoni, and his wife, Laurel D’Antoni, and Marvin Odum, Chief Recovery Officer for Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation, were honored for their many contributions to the organization. Great Day Houston host, Deborah Duncan, led the lively event.

​

The Story

The hotel was abuzz with excitement as Houston Rockets cheerleaders and Clutch, the Houston Rockets mascot, greeted guests. Several Houston Rockets players were there to support their coach and the organization. Guests enjoyed light bites, and the specialty drinks, Thank You and Resilience, were the talk of the night. Flare bartenders from J. Martini Services entertained attendees as they mixed cocktails.

 

The Moments

A special tribute was paid to JJ Watt, whose foundation gave SBP funding from its Hurricane Harvey fundraising, by Marvin Odum and The Greater Houston Partnership. The live auction, led by auctioneer Stephen Lewis, had guests excited about the Houston Texans VIP package, the $10,000 gift card from IW Marks Jewelers, and the Houston Rockets Coach-For-a-Day opportunity. The latter generated a bidding war that culminated in a top bid of $40,000, and was won by Edward Laase, a retired director at Boeing, and his wife, Lawanda Laase. The lucky winners will hit the road with Coach D’Antoni and the team. 

 

The event garnered $900,000 in contributions, including a generous gift from the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation and Margaret Alkek Williams and Randa and Charles Williams of $500,000. 

 

Guests:  SBP co-founders, Zack Rosenberg and Liz McCartney; Steve and Michelle Maislin; Stephanie and Frank Tsuru; Beth Wolff; Ed Wolff; Brenda and Marc Watts; Dr. Devinder and Gina Bhatia; Blake Fertitta; Patrick Fertitta; Michael Fertitta; Lisa Holthouse; Ashley and Jeremy Radack; Ronnie Killen and Kelly Louis; Laura and Dave Ward; Ann Limberg; Dick Weekley; Rob and Amy Pierce; Edward and Lawanda Laase; Joanna and Brad Marks; Kim and Dan Moody; Anne and Carl Noble; Megan and Luke Hotze; and Jenee and Nick Stefanakis. 

 

About Saint Bernard Project

Saint Bernard Project (SBP) is a disaster recovery nonprofit that helps rebuild homes after a disaster. The organization will complete its 100th rebuild in Houston by the end of 2018, and will continue serving families in the area for at least five more years until the recovery from Hurricane Harvey is complete. SBP also helps build resilience throughout the community with free disaster preparedness training for businesses and communities.  

​

For more information about SBP, please visit: www.sbpusa.org.