Houston’s Political Heavyweights and an Oil Giant Party for a Good Cause: Embracing the Tapestry of the City
BY Shelby Hodge // 05.08.17Paula Sutton, Scott Ballard, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Martin B. Cominsky
What: Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston Tapestry Gala
Where: Hilton Americas-Houston
PC Moment: Honorary chairs Philamena Baird, Interfaith Ministries board member Swatantra Jain and Interfaith Ministries board chair Paula Sutton led the evening to proceeds of more than $500,000, which was probably thanks in no small part to the gala honoree: Shell Oil Company. The oil company’s vice president of human resources, Scott Ballard, accepted the Tapestry Award, which was presented by Mayor Sylvester Turner. Proceeds from the event are earmarked for Interfaith Ministries programs including Meals on Wheels/aniMeals, refugee resettlement and interfaith relations. Interfaith Ministries president and CEO Martin B. Cominsky noted that Shell employees have been “stalwart volunteers in our program to feed more than 4,000 homebound seniors each weekday.”
Who: Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and wife Gwen, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, 2016 Tapestry Gala honorees Lily and Charles Foster, gala emcee Lisa Malosky, Cindy and John Kellum, Bill Gross, Philamena and Arthur Baird, Susan and Dan Boggio, Sippi and Ajay Khurana, Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Bimla and Swatantra Jain, and city council members Amanda Edwards, Steve Le, Mike Laster, and Robert Gallegos.