Houston Firefighter Hunks Joined By a Strong Firefighter Woman In the Calendar Show, Turning This Red Hot Gala Even More Fiery

The Red Hot Gala never fails to ignite a wildly enthusiastic crowd particularly when the Fire Fighter Calendar men make an all-pecs and biceps parade down the catwalk that cuts through the Royal Sonesta Hotel ballroom. This year, there is a woman too for the first time. That’d be “Mrs. September,” Sahsa, in bra top and firefighter trousers whose muscle-rippling strut had the ladies in the throng of 550 cheering with even more enthusiasm.

The ninth Red Hot Gala, once again chaired by Elizabeth and Alan Stein, earned $835,000 for the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation (HPFFA Charitable Foundation). Joining the Steins in the leadership role was honorary co-chair Edna Meyer Nelson.

Receiving special recognition as presenting sponsors offering generous support for the evening were Bobbie Nau along with Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees.

As is tradition, the evening opened with the presentation of the flags by the Houston Firefighter Honor Guard and the Pipes and Drums and acapella singing of The Star-Spangled Banner by firefighter Joe Rice.

In addition to the ballroom, Let It Fly decorated the pre-dinner room with portraits of the Houston firefighters and jazzed up the presentation of some 130 silent auction items. While adult liquids flowed and bidding soared, The Moment Band provided a lively soundtrack.

During dinner an unexpected emotional interval came when Houston Mattress Maker‘s Youval Meicler, via video, shared his personal experience with  firefighters coming to his rescue and saving his life when he was having a heart attack.

The mood pivoted upbeat with the start of the live auction with Vincent Montalbano encouraging bidding often and bidding high. A private dinner with Mayor John Whitmire and Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz at the smashing River Oaks home of Gary Petersen was a last minute surprise item. With Whitmire, Muñoz and Petersen all watching from the audience.

Paddles Up followed and then it was off to the after party.

The Moment Band was ready and brought the tempo back up for final silent auction bidding and the “Big Boards” famous Bid Off. Firefighter Calendar guys and gals autographed their 2027 Calendars and entertained everyone with shows of strength, lifting one person after the other for photo opps.

But wait, there’s more. After Party No. 2 followed, finding late night revelers moving on to the hotel bar, keeping spirits high. So to speak.

PC Seen: HPFFA president Marty Lancton, emcee Jennifer Reyna of KHOU, HPFFA Charitable Foundation development director Laura Elizabeth Stein, Robin and Danny Klaes, Kit Klaes and Davis Hance, Gaye Lynn and Stuart Zarrow, Tony Bradfield andMarcus Fisher,  Farida Abjani, Alicia Smith, Brigitte Kalai, Patti and Don Murphy, Elsie and Les Eckert, Bruce Padilla and Shelby Kibodeaux.