The Celebration 

On Saturday, April 27, 2024, the elegant Four Seasons Hotel Houston hosted twenty-four of the city’s most devoted philanthropists, philanthropic families, and philanthropic institutions and those who were there to celebrate them, for the 2024 CKW LUXE Top 20 Impact Makers Awards Gala. The important awards are bestowed annually upon power couples, dedicated sisters, 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. This year, four new awards were presented in addition to the Top 20 Impact Makers Awards: Longevity Award, Impactful Corporation Award, Caring Family Award, and Lifetime Award. 

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Dr. Peter Chang and Honorable Theresa Chang, Dr. Diana Collins, William H. Reading MD and Teresa Reading RN, Farida Abjani, Gule Andrabi, Donna Chapman, Flora Choy and Francis Choy, Donna Cole, Katya Dow, Elsie Eckert, Sidney Faust, Nat Krishnamurthy and Leela Krishnamurthy, Helen Shaffer, Betty and Jess Tutor, Jane Wagner, and Sherri Zucker formed the host committee for the festive evening. Miya Shay of ABC 13 emceed.  

 

The Story 

Stepping with anticipation into the Four Seasons Hotel Houston’s beautiful ballroom, guests found themselves traveling back in time to Ancient Egypt, where Pharaohs, resplendent in elaborate headdresses and ornate neckwear glistening with precious gems and bathed in gold ruled with supreme power. From the larger-than-life images of the young Tutankhamun to the impressive background picturing the iconic pyramids of Giza, to representations of ornately carved columns, guests were not only reminded of the splendor of the time, they were made to feel a part of it. Taking their seats at tables swathed in blue and gold linens, each sat in their own throne-like chair covered in gold cloth. Blue, the color of the day and the night sky, and gold, the color of the sun god Ra, were reflected not only in the table linens but in the gorgeous floral centerpieces gracing each table and the intricate floral sculptures adorning the room. Carefully placed on every chair, the most recent edition of CKW LUXE magazine, with its eye-catching cover reflecting the evening’s theme, waited to be taken home. 

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The Moments 

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. Her words were followed by a short speech by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. 

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The moment everyone was waiting for arrived when Shay introduced CKW LUXE’s Top 20 Impact Makers for 2024. Each award winner received a 2024 Top 20 Impact Makers Award, a certificate of appreciation from the City of Houston, and Congressional recognition. The honors were bestowed by Kwan-Wong and Honorable Theresa Chang, former Judge of Harris County Civil Court and Commissioner of Texas Commission on the Arts. 

 

CKW LUXE’s Top 20 Impact Makers for 2024 

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Longevity Award 

Joanne King Herring 

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Impactful Corporation Award 

Amegy Bank, represented by CEO Steve Stephens 

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Caring Family Award 

The Kalai Family 

 

Lifetime Award 

Sidney Faust 

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Top 20 Inspiring Woman Impact Makers  

Michelle Bair, PhD 

Sonja Bruzauskas 

Khori Dastoor 

Dr. April Day 

Dr. Lisa Graham-Garza 

Pat Houck 

Libi Lebel 

Rosie Valadez McStay   

Paula M. Mendoza   

Melissa Williams Murphy   

Dr. Mary Ann Reynolds-Wilkins  

Amalia Stanton 

Nancy Strohmer  

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Top 20 Inspiring Mother/Daughter Duo Impact Makers  

Tammy Gee Su and Skylar Su   

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Top 20 Inspiring Man Impact Makers  

Andrew Davis 

Dr. Allen Deutsch 

Steven Foster, FACHE    

Glen Gondo 

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Top 20 Power Couple Impact Makers  

Narmin Kermally and Naushad Kermally  

Ritu Nadkarni and Kunal Nadkarni  

 

During the dinner break, honorees and attendees were treated to a mesmerizing performance by Ellemental Arts. Dressed in costumes that reflected the evening’s theme, the performers captivated the crowd with acrobatic and dance movements enhanced by glowing props. To close the lively evening, guests remained for the after party. 

Kwan-Wong closed the event by once again thanking everyone for their attendance and ongoing encouragement.  

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CKW LUXE would like to extend a sincere thank you to: our Champion of Caring, Kindness, and Wisdom Sponsors: Farida Abjani, Gule Andrabi, Flora and Francis Choy, Dr. Diana Collins, Dr. William and Teresa C. Reading, and Jane Wagner; our Making a Change Sponsors: Donna Cole and Glen Gondo; Memorial Hermann Hospital, Amalia M. Stanton; Sidney Faust and Cora Sue Mach, Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, and Nat and Leela Krishnamurthy; our Wisdom Sponsors: Sonja Bruzauskas and Houston Haymon; Logica Ratio, Allen Deutsch; St. Luke’s Health, Steven Foster; and Cloud9Travels, Narmin Kermally and Naushad Kermally; our Kindness Sponsors: Nancy and Hans Strohmer and Dr. Mary Ann and Bob Wilkins; Memorial Hermann Hospital; and The House of Blooms, Pat Houch; and our Caring Sponsors: Amegy Bank, Steve D. Stephens; Honorable Theresa Chang and Dr. Peter Chang; Rosie Valadez McStay; Nancy and Hans Strohmer; and Friends of CKW.  

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As well, CKW LUXE would like to express its appreciation to the event sponsors: Elevated AV Production, creating extraordinary events for all occasions; Gule Andrabi, educating children through Montessori teaching; Aging Gracefully, providing specialized services that give the right care at the right time; Diana Collins MD, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry; Dr. Danh Q. Le and Thanh Le, offering outstanding chiropractic and printing services; William H. Reading MD and Teresa Reading RN, respected health care providers, our wonderful after-party sponsors; Cora Sue Mach, highly regarded community leader, our amazing entertainment sponsor; and Francis Choy, certified accountant and real estate broker and Flora Choy, financial services professional and children’s book author, our incredible bar sponsors.  

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We would like to extend special thanks and appreciation to House of Blooms for being our floral sponsor and for providing us with our honorees’ beautiful bouquets as well as the extraordinary floral designs that transformed the event space. House of Blooms is widely known for its exceptional and distinctive floral creations and its service excellence.  

Without the assistance of everyone above, the event would not have been the memorable success it was.  

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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.