Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/184605
Two Roaring Good Zoo Bashes Penny Bailey, Marilyn Bailey Michelle Farley at Frankel Co-hosts Jim & Carol Frankel Jennifer Cunningham at Frankel A Fiercely Fun Gala Kickoff Hosted by Frankel Building Group, Followed by the Zoo Ambassadors' Big Night Co-hosts Kevin & Kristina Frankel CATHERINE D. ANSPON REPORTS FROM THE SOCIAL JUNGLE. PHOTOGRAPHY FULTON DAVENPORT, STEPHANIE ADAMS. Chair foursome Steven & Jennifer Vaughan Posey & Lawrence Saenz at Zoo Where the Wild Ones Are Every cause needs a specially crafted kickoff party, and so it was when bighearted Frankel Building Group paired with PaperCity magazine to co-host some clever revelry for the upcoming Houston Zoo Ambassadors Gala. Where? At one of FBG's gorgeous show homes, of course — a gracious country-French-styled residence along a tree-lined street in West U. Guests heeded the invitation's call to don beastly chic, and plenty of zebra, cheetah and other animal prints were on parade. Presiding over the lively herd were hosts Carol and Jim Frankel, joined by sons Kevin Frankel with wife Kristina and Scott Frankel with fiancée Dara Cohen (the couple recently engaged). Also getting into the fierce spirit were gala chairs Posey and Lawrence Saenz and Jennifer and Steven Vaughan, while Viking's top toque Scotty Campbell took over the kitchen kingdom to cook up bites. Kristen Cannon, Elizabeth Koval at Frankel Jude Rolfes, Danielle Markey at Frankel Aimee & Greg Taylor at Frankel Jungle Jammin' Chair couples Posey and Lawrence Saenz and Jennifer and Steven Vaughan again reigned over a plethora of nocturnal creatures, this time at the Houston Zoo itself for the Zoo Ambassadors' third annual gala. A tented space inside the lauded African Forest exhibit became the stage for cocktailing and fund-raising, with animal-encounter opportunities — from a photo session with a great horned owl to giving an elephant a bath — attracting brisk bidding from Ambassador members including Gloria and Jesse Bounds and Kristina and Kevin Frankel. Paul Pettie, Grady Huron at Zoo Co-host Dara Cohen Co-host Scott Frankel Denise Furlough Ebony Goudeau at Frankel Party Query: What creature would you like to be? "A red panda, sleeping in the corner." — Jesse Bounds "The porcupine at the Houston Zoo. His name is Ernie." — Carlos Meltzer Jr. "The cheetah." — Wade Sadler "A meerkat, because of their personality." — Gloria Bounds Gloria & Jesse Bounds at Zoo Jennifer Lipinski, Erika Breen at Frankel Sam Parikh at Frankel Carlos Meltzer Jr. at Frankel Remembering, Teaching, Honoring Nancy & Jack Dinerstein at Moral Courage Prescient Messages, Inspiring PAs at Martin & Kelli Cohen Fein, Naomi Warren Benjamin Warren at Guardian CATHERINE D. ANSPON REPORTS. PHOTOGRAPHY KIM COFFMAN, ANTHONY RATHBUN. Moral Courage: Mia's Mission Each year, Holocaust Museum Houston salutes someone on the world's stage who has made a difference as a statesman and/or activist. This past season's honoree, actor and humanitarian Mia Farrow, received the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award for her hands-on role as an advocate for women and children in Darfur and other global hot spots, including service as a UNICEF Good Will Ambassador. Farrow humbly accepted her award at the seated dinner at Hilton Americas–Houston in front of a crowd of 850, including co-chairmen former first lady Andrea White and Alan Crain of Baker Hughes, then-museum chairman Michael Goldberg, stalwart supporters Peter Berkowitz and Fred Zeidman, Sue and Lester Smith, Heidi and David Gerger, Eric Pulaski, Joan and Stanford Alexander, Regina Rogers, Isabel and Danny David, Punkin and Walter Hecht, Lorraine and Ed Wulfe, Lily and Charles Foster, Bill White, and survivors including past dinner co-chair Walter Kase and wife Chris, Helen Colin, and Stefi Altman. (Major underwriters and honorary chairmen Shahla and Hushang Ansary were unable to attend.) The bottom line: More than $1.1 million was raised to further the museum's mission of ending genocide and promoting tolerance and understanding. Isabel David, Heidi Gerger at Moral Courage Michael Goldberg, honoree Mia Farrow Chairmen Alan Crain, Andrea White at Moral Courage Scott & Soraya McClelland at Moral Courage Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff at Moral Courage Arthur Schechter Mayor Annise Parker at Guardian An Afternoon of Purpose: KIPP KIPP Hooray , Another pinnacle in the museum's calendar is the Guardian of the Human Spirit Luncheon, saluting game changers in our community. This fall's honorees, educational revolutionaries Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, were applauded for forging a new model with their innovative creation of KIPP Academy. Joining the nationally recognized educators on the dais at the Hilton Americas were chair couples Tracy and Gary Stein and Sallie and George Alcorn, as well as notables Arthur Schechter, past honoree Mayor Annise Parker, Kelli Cohen Fein and Martin Fein, survivor Naomi Warren and son Benjamin Warren, Ellen Cohen, Sunni and Gary Markowitz, Carol and Michael Goldberg, ardent KIPP supporter Jim McIngvale (who presented the award to the schools' inspiring co-founders), survivor/museum co-founder Bill Morgan, board chair Tali Blumrosen and husband Eric, and, via video, Bill Gates, addressing the rapt audience of 800, who contributed $370,000 towards keeping HMH open and free for all, year-round. Tali & Eric Blumrosen at Guardian Honorees Mike Feinberg, Dave Levin Co-chairmen George Alcorn, Gary Stein at Guardian Malinda Crain & co-chair Alan Crain at Moral Courage "How can you not do anything. The virtue of patience is highly overrated." Jim McIngvale at Guardian APRIL | PAGE 51 | 2012 Co-chairs Tracy Stein Sallie Alcorn at Guardian Gary & Sunni Markowitz at Guardian — Mia Farrow