Houston Billionaire Couple Steps up in Making a Difference Luncheon

What: El Centro de Corazón “Making a Difference” luncheon

Where: Hotel ZaZa Museum District

PC Moment: Applause sounded through the hotel ballroom as Susan Sarofim accepted the Community Honorees award on behalf of herself and her husband, Houston billionaire Fayez Sarofim, and as Roxann Neumann, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Silver Eagle Distributors, accepted the Corporate Leader award for her company. In their remarks, both stressed the importance of access to health care. The key mission of El Centro de Corazón is providing health care to low-income, medically underserved families living in Houston’s East End.

Guest speaker Steve Pemberton, chief human resource officer at Globoforce and best-selling author of his memoir, A Chance in the World, held the gathering of close to 300 mesmerized as he spoke about his childhood as a ward of the state. When he finished his remarkable story of how his experiences led him to become a tireless advocate for the disenfranchised, Pemberton received a standing ovation.

Luncheon chairs Christina Morales and Cyndy Garza Roberts applauded the centers 25 years of service while honorary chairs Leisa Holland-Nelson and Leila Perrin cheered the luncheon proceeds of close to $150,000.

PC Seen: El Centro CEO Marcie Mir, emcee Gina Gaston, Philamena Baird, Bill King, Beckie and Gasper Mir, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, Bobbie Nau, Diane Englet, Margaret and Joel Shannon, Nory Angel, Frances Castaneda Dyess, Peggy Kohnert and Stephanie Tsuru.