Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1420847
T he city of Houston lost beloved caterer, event planner, and social icon Jackson Hicks in 2020 when he unexpectedly passed away in April of that year. Jackson earned the title of "Prince of Parties" over his 35-year career, as he perfected his craft and made Jackson & Company the go-to choice for parties of all sizes. When he retired in 2017, Jackson estimated that he had overseen 15,000 events during his storied career, from intimate dinners to galas that filled the biggest ballrooms Houston has to offer. While he could claim to have entertained Presidents, celebrities, and even royalty, Jackson also made sure his services were available to Houston's non-profit organizations. He was especially passionate about working with HIV/AIDS-related causes, and raised millions of dollars for these organizations over the years. Legacy Community Health was an early beneficiary of Jackson's philanthropy, as was The Center for AIDS (CFA), an organization that empowered people living with HIV to make informed decisions about their healthcare by providing the latest research and treatment information and by advocating for accessible, affordable, and effective treatment options. Jackson created Holiday SCHMOOZE, an evening of cocktails and conversation, more than a decade ago specifically to support CFA. Jackson was committed to helping CFA any way he could, and that dedication carried over when the CFA merged with Legacy in 2012. For several years Jackson and Legacy made Holiday SCHMOOZE an event to remember. This year's Holiday SCHMOOZE will be in Jackson's honor with proceeds going to The Jackson Hicks Endowed Fund for the Awareness, Prevention & Treatment of HIV/AIDS Legacy began as an organization that helped people who had nowhere else to turn to for HIV testing, treatment, and care in 1981, the same year Jackson Hicks founded Jackson & Company. Creating The Jackson Hicks Endowed Fund for the Awareness, Prevention & Treatment of HIV/AIDS is one way to ensure that Jackson's legacy lives on, while ensuring that everyone who walks through Legacy's doors gets the care they need. This resource will help HIV/AIDS patients receive affordable care for as long as Legacy's doors are open, just like Jackson would have wanted.