Houston’s Best Dressed Winners Join the Quest for a $2 Million Windfall

Once again, Sue and Lester Smith are giddily poised to blow the roof off of charitable fundraising with a challenge to supporters of the Houston Chronicle Best Dressed luncheon, benefiting the March of Dimes, to raise an unprecedented $1 million. Last year, the event raised $638,000, placing the uber generous Smiths‘ goal within reach.

The bonus is that if the luncheon does in fact raise that seven-figure windfall, the Smiths will match it with a $1 million grant. And the race is on.

The enviable milestone was underscored Wednesday night when the duo hosted the Best Dressed announcement party, traditionally held in the couture salon of Neiman Marcus, at their swank Memorial area home. Their second floor ballroom served as the setting for the announcement of the 10 women who will be honored at the Best Dressed Luncheon and Neiman Marcus Fashion Presentation at the Post Oak Hotel on March 28. Carolina Herrera will present her fall collection in the Neiman’s presentation.

The luncheon is being presented by the Lester and Sue Smith Foundation and the Woman’s Hospital of Texas.

The Smiths are chairing the luncheon, another first as no couples have previously chaired the event. Joining the Smiths in their efforts are raffle chairs Shelly Hendry and Limor Smith, their daughter and daughter-in-law respectively, and underwriting chair Rosemary Schatzman.

Houston Chronicle honcho Jack Sweeney introduced those earning the coveted status of Best Dressed. Those taking bows on this dark and rainy night as Best Dressed honorees, recognized not only for their great sense of style but also for their personal fashionable  presentations — Gina Bhatia, Kristi Bradshaw, Denise Castillo-Rhodes, Gracie Cavnar, Valerie Dieterich, Gayla Gardner, Heidi Smith, Kristina Somerville, Stephanie Tsuru and Vicki West. 

At the moment, the luncheon is beyond halfway to raising that $1 million to be matched by the Smith foundation. Total raised as of the announcement party was $550,000.