Houston High Rollers Go All In For This Casino Night With a Heart
Raising $700,000 For the Ronald McDonald House
BY Shelby Hodge // 10.18.21Bridget & JB Brennan, Chelsea Partain, Ryan Haney at the 'All in for the House' gala benefitting the Ronald McDonald House at the Bayou City Events Center (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)
What: Ronald McDonald House Houston “All in for the House” gala
Where: Bayou City Events Pavilion
PC Moment: Better late than never as the gala, originally scheduled for 2020, was postponed for a year thanks to COVID-19 worries. And rather than filling the ballroom with the 300 partygoers, organizers opted for the open-air pavilion. As luck would have it, the casino-themed evening nudged at $700,000, a testament to the efforts of chairs Debbie and Ozzie Bauer and Karen and David Smith as well as a tribute to the honorees, Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook, longtime supporters of Ronald McDonald House Houston.
The night enjoyed a Vegas vibe with gaming tables, a Dean Martin look-alike crooning Rat Pack hits, and Sean Beck’s bourbon tasting for those interested in sampling rare whiskeys. The latter was particularly popular with the gents. Contributing to the fundraising were the bourbon pull and the Quarter Slots raffle in which guests could spin the wheel and earn a surprise gift bag from either Tootsies or Tenenbaum.
PC Seen: Ronald McDonald House Houston CEO Cristina Vetrano, Paige Fertitta, Mady and Ken Kades, Maria and Neil Bush, Nancy and Jack Dinerstein, Seliece and Lee Womble, Dr. Susan Blaney, Emma and Seth Elsenbrook, Evan Elsenbrook, Allison and Dan Connally, Cyndy Garza Roberts and Thomas Roberts, and Ruth and Charles Pulido.