When Astronauts Go to the Photo Booth and Great Gatsby Fun Reigns

What: The 11th annual Be an Angel Awards Gala

Where: The Astorian

PC moment: “The Great Gatsby” theme of the evening inspired miles of pearls, beaucoup feather boas and a handful of fedoras for the gents with none more in the spirit of the fundraiser than chairs Dot and Walt Cunningham, NASA’s second civilian astronaut.

In a trés droll moment, one supporter asked special guest Apollo13 astronaut Fred Haise, “I know you’ve been to the moon but have you been to the photo booth?” If emcee KHOU Channel 11’s  Deborah Duncan had heard this, she surely would have added it to her lively repartee.

No foolishness however when honorees Twila Carter, executive director of the Astros Foundation, and Robert Woods, co-founder and CEO of the Center for Success and Independence, were introduced.

That was just part of the high-spirited fun that punctuated the evening that raised $500,000, including a whopping $300,500 garnered during the live auction headed by the Cowboy Auctioneer Heath Hale and his team of Cowboy Ringmen.

Be An Angel’s executive director Marti Boone, introduced the Be An Angel VIP, Krystal Lewis, a vibrant 15-year-old young lady with cerebral palsy. Be An Angel gifted her with a $10,000 seating transitional system.

PC Seen: Pam Morse and Dan Pastorini, Andy Icken, Justin Carter, Travis Carter, Pam and John Breeding, Karen and Ray Solcher, Roxie and Jim Anderson, April and Dr. Jorge Salazar, Sunshine and Joel Rogers, Hanh and Mark To, Lucia and David Warden, Culp and Raul Lema, and Diana and David Voll.