12 Visionary Houstonians Win Don Quixote Awards and the Julia Ideson Building Serves as the Perfect Stage

What: Houston Public Library Foundation“Impossible Dream Gala”

Where: Houston Public Library’s historic Julia Ideson Building

PC moment: In celebration of the historic structure’s centennial and in honor of the venue’s Spanish Renaissance architecture, the foundation honored 12 Houstonians with the Don Quixote awards, recognizing each for “charging headlong” into their respective fields.

“Celebrating 100 years of the Julia Ideson Building alongside 12 visionaries who embody the spirit of Don Quixote has been truly inspiring,” says Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre, who chaired the event with his wife Tere Aguirre. “Each honoree has driven meaningful change across our community, showing us what is possible when passion meets purpose.”

In the spotlight were:

— Andrea Bajani, poet, novelist and 2025 Premio Strega winner

— Varsha Bajaj, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of “Roar” and “Thirst”

— Robert Eury, civic leader

— Julie Baker Finck, president and CEO of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation

— Guy Hagstette, senior vice president of parks and civic projects for the Kinder Foundation

— Joanne King Herring, diplomat, entrepreneur and philanthropist

— Nicolas Kanellos, founding director of Arte Público Press and recovering the US Hispanic literary heritage

— Melanie Lawson, Emmy Award-winning journalist

— Alecia Lawyer, founder, artistic director and principal oboist of ROCO, Houston’s Chamber Orchestra

— Rich Levy, poet and retired executive director of Inprint

— Mari Carmen Ramírez, Wortham curator of Latin American art and director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

— Ignacio Torras, CEO of Tricon Energy and the founder of the Genuine Cup

In the Spanish mode were entertainment with flamenco presentations and the dinner led by native Spaniard Luis Roger of the Michelin Star rated BCN Taste & Tradition and MAD restaurants.

“The Julia Ideson Building has served as a beacon of knowledge, culture and connection for a century,” Houston Public Library executive director Nicholas Sawicki says. “Honoring these 12 leaders in such a historic space reminds us that public libraries are not just about preserving history, but empowering the visionaries who build our city’s future.”

Serving as honorary chairs for the evening were prominent Houston civic leaders Minnette Boesel, Phoebe Tudor and Cyvia Wolff.

PC Seen: Susan Sarofim, Neil Bush,  Sarahbeth and Pierce Bush, CITGO CEO Carlos Jorda, Willie Davis; Consul Generals Jesus Sanz, Anna Hammarlund Blixt, and Richard Shackleton; and Alicia Bryan, David Gow, Geraldina and Scott Wise, Joan Johnson, Kathy and Joe Cleary, Kathy and Marty Goossen, and Mike Wheeler and Kathi Mosbacher.