Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Black & White Themed LCAHouston International Mothers' Day Soirée

The LCAHouston International Society News Magazine welcomed over 250 elite guests to the 2018 6th Annual International Mothers’ Day Soirée held at the Asia Society Texas Center on May 11th. Created and hosted by LCA’s Founder and Editor Ruchi Mukherjee, now in its 6th year, the event was chaired by Egyptian American duo Brigitte Kalai and Rania Mankarious who helped promote the Soirée’s vision of highlighting prominent and philanthropic mothers from various walks of life and ethnic backgrounds.

Howard and Toni Tate

The evening also saw the release of the Summer print edition of the LCAHouston magazine with Laura Ward on the cover. “The Mother’s Day Soirée is always a very emotional affair for me. I grew up in India watching a lot of injustice in the Society towards women and today I am so proud to recognize women who are Mothers that strive to make a difference,” shares Ms. Mukherjee.

“Looking around this room tonight at all the beautiful diverse faces, I can say that Ruchi and this Soirée has certainly made great strides in her goals,” shared Co-Chairs Brigitte and Rania. KPRC’s Meteorologist, debonair Justin Stapleton, and Houston’s sweetheart Dr. Sippi Khurana, looking stunning in a white Dior dress and black and white Van Cleef jewels, served as the evening’s co-emcees.

The night’s honorees were some of Houston’s most philanthropic wonder moms, often holding down full-time careers and society positions, all while raising kids and maintaining households. Each year the Soirée chooses a new set of women to honor and to walk the ramp with their children. This year’s honorees included Mona Khan, Dr. Alice Mao, Dr. Gia Merlo, Britta Merwin, Maria Morales, Tia Neyman, Dallas Rowden, Audrey Toll, Rashi Vats, Laurette Veres, Christina Zhou, and Grammy Award Winner Yolanda Adams who, with her daughter, served as this year’s showstopper.

Rania Mankarious, Dave and Laura Ward

Event planner Nirali Shah, and Events To Attend owner Tabitha Smith, decorated the ballroom with Tiffany blue accents. Guests enjoyed a seated dinner of Tandoori Spiced Salmon with Tamarind Glaze with baby green cranberry chutney by Kiran’s Restaurant, and a Short Rib Crepes topped with Burgundy Demiglace and Mornay Sauce by Chef Claudia from Ginn’s Gourmet. Unlimited wine was poured by Pura Wines and appetizers were provided by KUU Restaurant.

Since it first began in 2013, the International Mother’s Day Soirée, with its mission to bridge the gap between the ethnic and mainstream communities, has become a staple of the Houston society event scene.

Decked in the finest Black and White looks were Hallie Vanderhider, Toni and Howard Tate, Chair Brigitte Kalai (in Akris), Merele Yarborough, Shawntell McWilliams, Maha Rasheed Khan (in a Sabyasachi Mukerjee Sari), Ursaline Hamilton, Alicia Smith, Tammy Tran Nguyen, Clifford Pugh, Shamika Johnson, Patrick Levrat, David Peck, Rob Todd, Ajay Khurana, Miya Shay, Tabitha Smith, Laura and Dave Ward, Gabriela Dror, Rania Edlebi, Vipul and Geeta Anand, Sue Habib, Mauri Oliver, Jempy Neyman, Monisha Lewis and Wayne Lewis, Dominique Sachse, and many others.