Homemade Hope

This Gala Shows Just How Big Houston’s Heart Really Is

By Shelby Hodge // Oct 3, 2017

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Brooke Bentley, Blair Bentley

Honorees Yvonne & Rufus Cormier

Katherine Rider, Lila Sharifian, Rachel Kramer, Erin Slosburg, Ashley Howard

Josephine & Philip John

Maria Lowery, Rana Hassen

Divya & Chris Brown, Chris Bradshaw

Carol & Kris Sherman

Victoria Sartor, Stephen Wood

Kathleen Graf, Lisa Woods, Jamie Byrd

Erica & David Garcia

Deborah Elias, Bianca Bucaram, Miya Shay

Eric Douglas, Darryl Sharpton

Pam Howard, Beverly Bentley, Rob McClain, Sarah Bellows, Catherine Mosbacher

Mike & Michol Ecklund

What: Homemade Hope “Home Is Where the Heart Is Gala”

Where: The Briar Club

PC Moment: A standing ovation for honorees Yvonne and Rufus Cormier followed the couple’s heartfelt remarks about the importance of helping others, the guiding principle behind Homemade Hope which works to brighten the lives of homeless children. The much-admired community leaders were introduced by long-time friend Jerry LeVias, former All-American and NFL football player who charged the gridiron with Rufus Cormier at Southern Methodist University.

The evening was led by emcee Sonny Garza who introduced the non-profit’s executive director Blair Bentley and special guest speakers Homemade Hope student Eric, 11, and Denise, who shared her wrenching story of having just emerged from being homeless to losing her home and her car in the Harvey floods. While sheltering at the George R. Brown Convention Center, she was connected with Homemade Hope which located an RV that provided living quarters and transportation.

Dinner and dancing to the sounds of the Chinatown Band rounded out the evening.

Who: Gala chairs Brooke Bentley Gunst and Lisa Woods; plus former Houston Texans linebacker Darryl Sharpton, Miya Shay, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Tony Bravo and Richard Werner, Maria and Graham Lowery, Jennifer and Matt Esfahani, Divya and Chris Brown, Haley and Barrett Webster, Vita and Drew Doughertry, Beverley and Bart Bentley, Lila Sharifian, Nancy and Mike Hardy and Trent Kelley.