Kathie Lee Gifford Visits Houston For a Fireside Chat With Dominique Sachse — Major Surprise Included

When Two Media Heavyweights Meet

BY Shelby Hodge // Nov 1, 2021

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Dominique Sachse, Kathie Lee Gifford at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Dominique Sachse and Kathie Lee Gifford amid a joyous confetti shower at the Power of Literacy Luncheon (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Power of Literacy luncheon chairs Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Stephanie Tsuru (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Neil & Maria Bush at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Karen Thompson, Deanna Barton at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Cathy Cleary, Nancy Ames at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Sarah Ray, Dana Miller, Paige Griffin, Candy Knudson; at the Power of Literacy luncheon (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Cindy Puryear at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Cheryl Byington, Lucy Lewis, Maureen Higdon at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Elaine Balagia, Shauna Huffington at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Emcee Keith Garvin, Julie Baker Finck at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Kristina Sommerville, Elizabeth Stein, Bobbie Nau at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Leah Stasney, Carol Sawyer, Lisa Graham-Garza at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Lizzie Prochazka, Mary Ellen Prochazka, Lexie Raitt at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Minnie Baird, Lynn Wilson at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Monica Lunsford, Grace Gosnell, Victoria Villarreal, Allie Jarreau, Joselyn Tego at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Raffle winner Roslyn Bazzell Mitchell at the Power of Literacy luncheon (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Tena Faust, Betty Hrncir, Ashton Garrison, Alice Mosing at the Power of Literacy luncheon (Photo by Jacob Powers)

Dominique Sachse, Kathie Lee Gifford at the Power of Literacy luncheon. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

What: Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s Ladies for Literacy Guild’s annual Power of Literacy Luncheon

Where: The Post Oak Hotel

PC Moment: Confetti canons shooting across the Houston hotel ballroom climaxed the fireside chat between Dominique Sachse and New York Times best-selling author Kathie Lee Gifford, when it was announced that each of the 500 guests would receive an advance copy of Gifford’s book The Jesus I Know. The HarperCollins Christian Publishing book is scheduled for release on November 30.

The discussion between the women covered a variety of subjects including Gifford’s career, her family and the upcoming book. Sachse has her own book coming out in April so the two media stars had much in common. A highlight was the unexpected video featuring a special message from Gifford’s TODAY show co-host Hoda Kotb who delivered a heartfelt message of congratulations on the new book.

Dominique Sachse and Kathie Lee Gifford after confetti at Power of Literacy Luncheon; Photo by Daniel Ortiz — Dominique Sachse and Kathie Lee Gifford amid a joyous confetti shower at the Power of Literacy Luncheon (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

“Kathie was funny, thought-provoking, inspirational and informative — and Dominique did a masterful job as always facilitating a dynamic conversation,” Neil Bush said following the luncheon. “We are thrilled that the Ladies for Literacy Guild has become such a vibrant part of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and have positioned this annual event as a must-attend for the Houston community, raising awareness and funds to fuel the cause so near and dear to the Bush family – literacy.”

PC Seen: Emcee KPRC news anchor Keith Garvin, luncheon chairs Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman and Stephanie Tsuru, Ladies for Literacy Guild president Lisa Jakel, Bobbie Nau, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Bob Bowman, Julie Baker Finck, Maria Bush, Kelli Cohen Fein, Lilly Andress, Vicki West, Ann Bookout, Anne Neeson, Sidney Faust, Paige Fertitta, and Mehrnaz Gill.