Houston Astros’ Girlfriends/Wives and VIP Fans Enjoy a $1.5 Million Night at Ballpark

Minute Maid park rocked to a different beat when Earth, Wind & Fire took the stage on the floor of the baseball stadium, sending many among the 1,100 attending the fifth annual Diamond Dreams Gala into dance mode. There was plenty to celebrate with many of the Astros, their girlfriends/wives and front office folks attending.

The night raised $1.5 million for the Astros Foundation and New Hope Housing.

“The foundation has come a long way in eight years,” Astros owner Jim Crane told the throng. “When I first checked the financial statement, it had just $30,000 in it… Actually, we have about $20 million in the bank right now.”

And then he promised “another great season” for fans.

Astros devotees were gaga over the team turnout that included Justin Verlander, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Lance McCullers and Carlos Correa to name a few. Fans ponying up the big bucks for the VIP reception were the lucky ones rubbing elbows and garnering selfies with the 2017 World Series champions.

What once was a black-tie affair, then a cocktail attire evening took a more relaxed step on this night for which the invitation suggested “fun and funky” attire. Early arrivals were primarily cocktail attired. But then the characters began arriving: Frank and Michelle Hevrdjes (guests at Crane’s table) in costumes embracing the ’70s, Daniel Harries in an Astros orange suit (Amazon.com), Toni Richmond and Tami Walker swathed in sequins, and a host of retro looks that had Astros Foundation executive director Twila Carter beaming.

Many on the invitation list simply could not get their heads around “fun and funky.” Carter, in cocktail attire herself, was delighted with those who got it.

PC Seen: Whitney Crane, Cece and Mac Fowler, Joy Horak-Brown, Susie and Sanford Criner, Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu, Tatiana and Craig Massey, Courtney and Christopher Sarofim, Phyllis and Tony Mandola, Pam Morse and Dan Pastorini, and Brenda and Tom Koch, the ABC 13 morning news anchor who served as the evening’s emcee.