Record $1.7 Million Raised in One Celebratory Houston Night

Jewish Family Services' Lauded Mental Health Programs Get the Spotlight

By Shelby Hodge // Jun 7, 2019

Photography Daniel Ortiz

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Speed painter Dan Dunn completes his painting at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Chesed Award honorees Ellen & Steve Robinson with daughter Erica Robinson at JFS LiVE! 2019 (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Chesed Award honorees Ellen & Steve Robinson with daughter Erica Robinson at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

JFS CEO Linda Burger amid the live 'artwork' at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Mayor Sylvester Turner, JFS board president Joy Kaplan at the 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Chairs Todd & Silvia Riff, Sue & Greg Lewis at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Rachael Levy, Avital Ingber, Rebecca Loeb at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Joan Alexander at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Karen & Jay Harberg at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Carl Josehart, Sam Jacobson at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Sandy Helfman, Linda Burger, Arlene & Evan Moshe at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Mark Zeidman, Nicole Lombardo at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Kevin & Sasha Alexander, Amy & Ruyan Brown, Julie & Drew Alexander at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Cheryl Levy, Susan Farb Morris, Dee Dee Dochen at JFS LiVE! 2019 (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Cheryl Levy, Susan Farb Morris, Dee Dee Dochen at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Stacy Bernstein, Josh Reinitz at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Scott & Liz Rubinsky, Anita Bormaster at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Melissa & Stephen Golding at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jason & Rory Feldman, Lisa & Lee Helfman at the JFS 106th anniversary gala. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

What: Jewish Family Services (JFS) Houston 106th anniversary JFS LiVE! gala

Where: Westin Galleria Hotel

PC Moment: Applause, applause for chairs Sue and Greg Lewis and Silvia and Todd Riff who led “The Art of Celebration” themed gala to a most colorful and exceptional record-breaking success with $1.7 million raised in support of JFS Houston’s community programing and services.

The ballroom virtually exploded in swaths of colorful decor and artwork. “Paintings” came to life. Paintjam’s Dan Dunn completed a painting in record time. And a life-sized recreation of the JFS’s Celebration Company bus provided selfie inspiration.

The exuberance of support was most powerfully witnessed with the “paddles up” program that alone raised more than $400,000 for the organization’s nationally recognized mental health program, which focuses on education related to substance abuse and suicide prevention.

JFS client stories brought home the significance of the nonprofit’s work with testimonials from a five time flood victim who received financial support after Hurricane Harvey, from a young professional with hearing loss who received support and case management, from a family receiving rent support when one of the members lost her job and other impactful stories.

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The evening honored Ellen and Steve Robinson with the evening’s prestigious Joan Alexander Chesed Award for their long-time support and hours of volunteering with JFS.

PC Seen: Mayor Sylvester Turner, JFS board president Joy Kaplan and Joe Kaplan, Joan Alexander, Julie and Drew Alexander, Carl Josehart and Sam Jacobson, Esther Freedman, Caroline Rosen Funk, Stacy Soefer Gomar and Luis Gomar, Steven and Sandy Helfman Wolf, Karen and Jay Harberg, Alan Helfman, and Chris Kase.