River Oaks’ Ultimate Holiday Home Proves to be the Perfect Setting for Legacy Community Health’s Holiday Schmooze

5 Christmas Trees, a Fireplace Crackling and Much Good Getting Done

BY Shelby Hodge // 12.26.23

photography Daniel Ortiz

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Legacy Schmooze hosts Gerry Heard & Tylor Hearn flank Legacy's Chree Boydstun at the annual holiday fundraiser at the Heard/Hearn River Oaks home. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Richard Werner & Tony Bravo at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Bobby Hilliard, Colby Hilliard, Greg Fown at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Deb Rockman, Shannon Hall at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Chris & Brandy Laakso at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

David Kelley, Wanna Hadnott, Tom Cordell at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jani Lopez, Jim Sirkorski at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Josh Beasley, Andrew Hayes at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jeff & Kathryn Smith at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jo Furr at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Bobby Dees & Hallie Vanderhider, Fady Armanious at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Kashay & Steve Crawford at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Milton Townsend, Ceron, Don Mafrige Jr., Heidi Vaughan at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Kevin Gilliard, Ed Finger, Gerard Pollard, Jim Sikorski at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Linda Cantu, Shubhra Endley, Linda Gibbs, and Sharon Land at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Mike Holloman, Jenny Block, Tripp Carter, and Robin Brown at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Rebekah & Hao Le, Naveen Pingly, Lynn Nazareth at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Ricardo Guarjardo, Timmy Martinez at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Eric Van Haselen, Steve Pate at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Legacy's Chree Boydstun, Shafik Rifaat & Shelby Hodge at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

George Hawkins, Jim Hazen at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jael Greene, Kristen & Eric Howard, Hani Barazi & Serene Wafai, Todd Greene at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Glorious holiday decor at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Legacy Schmooze hosts Gerry Heard & Tylor Hearn flank Legacy's Chree Boydstun at the annual holiday fundraiser at the Heard/Hearn River Oaks home. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

A party tent with crystal chandeliers, a handful (that would be five) gloriously dressed Christmas trees and a River Oaks home bustling with jolly good spirits — those would be the festive elements of Legacy Community Health’s annual “Holiday Schmooze.”

Three cheers for hosts Gerry Heard and Tylor Hearn who left no tree ornament unturned in their quest to create a very merry environment for the 150 guests. The exceptional decor (a serious investment) made good sense as the duo planned to host at least two more full-tilt Christmas parties before season’s end. Dignity Memorial‘s holiday party was the next on tap.

Dr. Bobby Hilliard, Colby Hilliard, Greg Fown at the Legacy Community Health 'Holiday Schmooze' (Photo by Daniel Ortiz) — Dr. Bobby Hilliard, Colby Hilliard, Greg Fown at the Legacy Community Health ‘Holiday Schmooze’ (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Proceeds raised on this evening support the Jackson Hicks Endowed Fund for the Awareness, Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS at Legacy Community Health.

Adding to the holiday ambience were large flat-screen TVs streaming images of beautiful snow-covered forests and wintry scenes. Of course, the crackling from the fireplace on the outdoor hearth contributed a certain authenticity to the holiday mood. And Mother Nature cooperated by delivering just the right amount of chill for the evening.

Kevin Gilliard, Ed Finger, Gerard Pollard, and Jim Sikorski (Photo by Daniel Ortiz) — Kevin Gilliard, Ed Finger, Gerard Pollard, Jim Sikorski at the Legacy Community Health ‘Holiday Schmooze’ (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

In addition to Heard and Hearn welcoming the the partygoers, most dressed in holiday finery, Legacy CEO Dr. Bobby Hilliard and Legacy chief development officer Chree Boydstun helmed the welcome committee.

Milton Townsend, Ceron, Don Mafrige Jr., and Heidi Vaughan (Photo by Daniel Ortiz) — Milton Townsend, Ceron, Don Mafrige Jr., Heidi Vaughan at the Legacy Community Health ‘Holiday Schmooze’ (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

PC Seen: Greg Fown, Ed Finger, Shannon Hall, Tripp Carter, David Kelley and Tom Cordell, Gary Hammett and David LaDuke, Leisa Holland Nelson-Bowman, Ceron, Jo Furr, Kirk Kveton and Daniel Irion, Karen Payne, Steve Pate and Eric Van Haselen, Debra Rockman, Milton Townsend, Hani Barazi and Serene Wafai, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, Mike Holloman and Juan Querol, George Hawkins, Kashay and Steve Crawford, Sharon Land and Linda Gibbs, Linda Cantu, Rebekah and Hao Le, Naveen Pinglay and Lynn Nazareth, and Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees.