Houston’s Institute of Hispanic Culture Gets Support From Local Power Players, Builds Gala Anticipation With $100,000 Night

What: The Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston gala preview

Where: CAM Studio

PC Moment: Although the curtains don’t rise on the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston’s annual gala until September 23 at the Ballroom at Bayou Place, enthusiasm ran high on this evening that saw a record of $100,000 committed to the IHCH fundraising fête. And that made it an exceptionally happy event for gala chair Leslie Warren and co-chairs Monica Amirez and Carmen Muñoz.

The gala, which saw its halcyon days in the 1980s and 1990s, enjoyed a reentry into the spotlight last year when BeDesign’s Marcelo Saenz and Adrian Dueñas chaired the gala along with Silvia Salle and honored a host of notable Hispanic headliners including Nina Altuve, wife of the Astros’ beloved Jose Altuve.

Fundraising for the recent gala preview was led by Houston Medical Imaging CEO Dr. Randall Stenoien and wife Robie; the owner of CAM Studio Carla Muñoz; and plastic surgeon Dr. German Newall and wife Micheline, who attended with Andrea Gómez, founder and CEO of Houston-based AG Communications LLC. They and everyone else schmoozed through the studio collection of luxury European furnishings for home and office.

Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston board president Jhakees Napolitano reminded the gathering of the nonprofit’s mission of promoting education through its scholarship program as well as celebrating Hispanic culture and heritage in Houston.

The evening included the lilting saxophone sounds of Marco Antonio Rivas, party foods from Uptown Catering and a tasting of Don Julio Rosado tequila. Artist Edgar Medina provided an update on his live auction contribution by giving a preview of what gala attendees can expect when he live paints a one-of-a-kind work of art that will be featured during the gala’s live auction.

PC Seen: Carlos and Karina Barbieri, Jim and Debbie Buckley, Charles Clark, George Dodge, Michael Hoctor, David and Yanira Huntington, Miles Matter, Al Parrish, Gary Petersen, John and Erika Toussaint, Chad and Melissa Touqan, and Russell Ybarra.