Pirate Party Gets a Grocery Store King, TV News Star and Ex-Mayor in Costume: Walk That Plank

What: Children at Risk/Main Street Theater Spring Party

Where: Midtown Arts & Theater Center (MATCH)

PC Moment: A handful of guests simply could not resist the temptation to channel a bit of Jack Sparrow or Captain Hook for the evening that saw the MATCH breezeway transformed into a pirate ship fantasy and Children at Risk CEO Bob Sanborn taking it to the costume limit. Then there was H-E-B’s Scott McClelland, former Mayor Annise Parker and KPRC Channel 2 lifestyle reporter Chip Brewster, each of whom donned costumes for their starring roles in a danger-on-the-high-seas play written by Main Street Theater especially for the event. Ahoy, matey!

Add a chef’s competition in which Americas’ David Cordua, Izakaya’s Jean-Philippe Gaston, Killen’s STQ Teddy Lopez, the Original Ninfa’s Alex Padilla, and Brennan’s Danny Trace pitted their culinary skills against one another with Cordua receiving the Surf & Turf throw-down award.

Helping push the fundraising to a handsome $225,000 was the live auction which included a photo safari trip for two to Zulu Nyala in South Africa. That gem sold seven times.

Who: Chairs Heidi Dugan, Jennifer and Lance Gilliam, Kara Greenberg Gross and Adam Gross, Karen and Bill Shields, Suzanne Starley, Rowena Young and Buddy Steves, Dr. Hilary Suzawa, and Dr. Daniel Lemke; plus Soraya McClelland, Laura and Steve Jones, Michelle and Joe Kelly, Tracy Maddox and Crystal and Justin O’Brien.