Shades of Roses to Benefit The Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation

Beautiful ladies in various shades of rose color showed up for this fancy dinner gala event. Sticking with tradition, the sold out annual dinner fundraiser benefiting the Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation raised close to $100,000 Sunday night at the 9th Shades of Roses.

Alex Martinez, Diane Caplan and David Arpin

Led by Foundation CEO Cindi Rose, the dinner was expanded to fill Fleming’s Steakhouse. The Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation also received a proclamation from Mayor Annise Parker marking September 14th the “Houston Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation Day”, for addressing all cancers for all ages and genders.

Chairs extraordinaire John Evatz, Kim Padgett, and Jessica Rossman welcomed the pretty in pink guests honoring Alex Martinez and Diane Caplan with the prestigious Tracey Hilfman award. David Hilfman, Senior Vice President of World Sales for United Airlines, not only donated two First Class unrestricted United Airlines tickets anywhere United flies, he also purchased a $5,000 table and flew his family in from California to attend. Hilfman’s generosity did not stop there, as the live auctioneer again this year, he kicked off the auction by purchasing the gorgeous diamond earrings and necklace donated by Rex Solomon of Houston Jewelry. Live auction items included a luxury vacation to Puerto Vallarta, a year of fine dining, a Parvizian rug, David Fink mosaic art, Jewels by Elizabeth Frost, crystal clutch by Connie Kwan-Wong and all went for top dollar. Guests also had the opportunity to bid on 36 items in the silent auction on the patio while enjoying a fun photo booth and jazz music by siren Kristine Mills.

Tina & Sam Governale

Operating partner of Fleming’s Sam Governale closed the restaurant as he and his wife, Tina, joined the festivities. Recipient patient, Michel Eter, shared with the crowd how her reconstruction (normally costs $250,000) made her feel well, whole, and healthier. Scholarship recipient to the University of Houston Ihtesham Imran, who lost his mother to cancer when he was 4, expressed his heart felt gratitude for the financial support of his education from The Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation.

Following dinner and the live auction, the event took a surprise turn. Hilfman lead the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Charlie Padgett, who turned 18 on Sunday, while Sam Governale presented a life size cake in the shape of a guitar playing tribute to Charlie’s musical interests. The cake was fashioned by For Heaven’s Cake of Houston. Mister French’s Gourmet Bakery provided logo’d custom cookies for all attendees. There was no shortage of sweets.

Cindi Rose and Connie Kwan Wong

Following dinner, many guests retreated to the patio to enjoy the cold front with cognac and cigars provided by Lucho, while Michael DeMarse performed his original music.

The cocktail attired crowd, mostly in rose and red hues, included Dr. Franklin Rose, Charlie Padgett, Connie Kwan-Wong, Gordon Bethune, Jeff Shell, Nixon Wheat, Carolyn Farb, Jacquie Baly, Bruce Padilla, Hershey Grace, Gus Parisian, Lysa Elkins, Jonathan Blake, David Bequest, Debbie Festari, Michael Caplan, Laura Max Nelson, Dayna, Mark, and Emory Skolkin, Patricia and Mark Rauch, Laurette Veres, Erica Rose, Ben Rose, Leisa Holland Nelson, Azar Telephony, Alicia and Lance Smith, Hilary and Mary Rosenstein, David Alpine, Beth Bryant, Mandy Kao, Dr. Monica Patel, Rachel Suliburk, and David Peck.

Photo credit: Herb Hochman