Operation Smile Houston Gala Raises Over $465,000 to Transform Children's Lives

Houston’s most anticipated glamorous gala, the 8th Annual Operation Smile Houston Gala, hosted at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, was a spectacular evening of philanthropy and glamor, raising more than $465,000 to provide life-changing surgeries for children across the globe. Houston Gala Co-Founders and Gala Co-Chairs, Viet Hoang and Sneha Merchant, proudly shared their success in raising $2.4 million over the past eight years in Houston. Their leadership has been instrumental in advancing Operation Smile’s mission in the city.

Operation Smile is a global nonprofit providing free, safe, and effective surgeries for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate. Since 1982, Operation Smile has transformed lives in more than 60 countries, offering children brighter futures through medical care, education, and long-term support.

This year, Viet and Sneha were joined by their dear friends, Stacey & Al Lindseth and Carrie & Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl, as co-chairs, contributing to yet another remarkable year for the Houston gala. The evening honored Houston’s philanthropic leaders who are making significant contributions to the city’s charitable landscape:

Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell & Derrick Mitchell received the Wallis Annenberg Public Service Award for their impactful support of Operation Smile.
Dr. Katie To & Dr. Bar Nguyen were honored with the Medical Visionary Award for their dedication to improving children’s health worldwide.
Melissa Holman Juneau received the John Connor Humanitarian Award for her outstanding commitment to Operation Smile’s mission.

The evening’s highlight was the presentation of the Universal Smile Award to Julianne Hough—actress, singer, dancer, Emmy Award-winning choreographer, and global entertainment icon. Julianne, who recently made the USA Today Best Sellers List with her debut novel Everything We Never Knew, generously gifted each guest a copy of her book. She also surprised attendees with a last-minute addition to the live auction: four tickets to a live taping of “Dancing with the Stars,” a meet-and-greet with Julianne and the celebrity judges, a hotel stay, dinner at Hideaway—the chic Rodeo Drive restaurant owned by Evan Ross and Ryan Phillippe—and a dance class at Kinrgy.

The live auction added even more excitement with high-value items, including a $90,000 necklace. Auction Co-Chairs Tiffany Le and Zeb Mamsa, along with Dr. Hoda Sana, helped raise additional funds with luxury auction items donated by Lladro, Valentino, Gucci, Chanel, Valobra and exclusive experiences like a getaway to Aspen, Lake Conroe, Galveston and a staycation at Houston’s Thompson Hotel.

The guests enjoyed a delectable three-course steak dinner followed by an indulgent sampling of chocolates from Cocoa and Cardamom. As a parting gesture, attendees received gift bags filled with treats from Nothing Bundt Cakes. The perfect blend of fashion and philanthropy made this evening both glamorous and deeply meaningful, as each smile created by the event is life-changing for a child.

One of the most cherished moments of the night was the beloved Teddy Bear Auction. Children in attendance distributed teddy bears to the adults, symbolizing the act of giving back something they love to help another child receive the surgery they need. Gala Chairs Sneha Merchant and Viet Hoang noted, “This teaches children to give back, even something so dear to them, all to help a child in need.” The act resonated deeply with attendees and underscored the evening’s heartwarming impact.

Among the notable guests were Nick Merchant, Henri Merceron, Ajay & Sippi Khurana, Nina & Karun Magon, Habiba & Aly Dhanani, Donae & Rob Chramosta, Fady Armanious & Bill Baldwin, Amalia Stanton, Maria Moncada Alaoui & Omar Alaoui, April McGee & Laura Escalona, Stephanie Marchand, Dr. Yvonne Cormier, Sandra Smith, and Kristen Collins.