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A Tiger in the House Speaking in Volumes at Society for the Performing Arts Luncheon June Christensen CATHERINE D. ANSPON REPORTS ON A PAGE TURNER. PHOTOGRAPHY PRISCILLA DICKSON. Arvia Few, Gina Gaston Amy Chua Title, Chapter, Verse Society for the Performing Arts re-imagined its fall fund-raiser this season. For the 15th annual afternoon, chair Karen Pulaski appropriately moved the benefit to a realm where SPA often performs — the stage of Jones Hall for a Jackson and Company–catered seated luncheon — and tapped controversial, in-the-news authoress Amy Chua as guest speaker. Chua had the audience spellbound as she recounted the story of her true-life volume, The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, which relays multigenerational tales of strict parenting in the Asian-American community, which the best-selling Yale Law professor/world-affairs expert then expanded upon, offering an opinion about 21st-century child rearing. Adding to the energy of the day, philanthropic lady Patsy Fourticq received the Ann Sakowitz Performing Arts Advocate Award, presented by the late Sakowitz matriarch's son, Robert Sakowitz. As the final chapter, more than $155,000 was raised for SPA's education and outreach arts programming. Frann Gordon Lichtenstein Jill Deutser Katie Brass Chairman Karen Pulaski Anita Smith, Eileen Lawal Julia Frankel, Jackson Hicks Party Query What book do you want to write? "Although I have been asked Katherine Murphy, Stephanie Cockrell Headliners The honoree's husband and son, respectively, Greg Fourticq Sr. and Greg Fourticq Jr. Patty Hubbard SPA's June Christensen Katherine Murphy Anita Smith Tana Wood Dena Prasher Eileen Lawal Patty Hubbard, Mary Ann McKeithan Frann Gordon Lichtenstein and daughter Jill Deutser Laura Casey Greenberg Arvia Few Bill Caudell Katie Brass Shayna Melcher Soraya McClelland Rosemary Schatzman Julia Frankel Debra Grierson Greg Fourticq Jr. Robert Sakowitz more than once to write my own story, I decline because to make it good, I would have to share what I know about some really famous people and ... they'd simply never speak to me again! Most of those stories will go with me to the grave — however, I have been known to tell some of the funnier ones to pals!" — Neal Hamil Neal Hamil, Bill Caudell Honoree Patsy Fourticq Dede Weil, Greg Fourticq Sr. Making Merry Good gifting at Holiday Schmooze and Trees of Hope CATHERINE D. ANSPON CHECKS IN ON THE CHEER. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL, SHAU LIN HON, CORVIN ALSTOT. Fa La La, Mistletoe and Moola for Center for AIDS Gifting: Holiday Schmooze Benefitting the Center for AIDS Information and Advocacy. Winter wonderland: A private home in River Oaks, garlanded and covered in white lights. Santa's helpers: Hosts and chairs Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro, and fellow chairs Steve Loden and Larry Lovins, joined by 170 schmoozers including Jackson Hicks and Milton Townsend (whose Jackson and Company provided bites and made merry cocktails), Kathryn and Jim Ketelsen, Susie and Sanford Criner, Alton LaDay and Houston Arts Alliance's Jonathon Glus, Jo and Jim Furr, Randy Powers, Bill Caudell, Franci and Jim Crane, antiquarians Carl Moore and Bert Melnick, Nora and Bob Ackerley, painter Michael Collins and wife Gayle, Sir Mark Haukohl, Jay Moore, Ginni and Richard Mithoff, Victor Juarez and Wayne Blosat, Julie and Wayne Eberly, CFA director Paul Simmons, and Anne Farish with son Stephen Farish III. Unwrapped: $200,000 for CFA's invaluable community services. All the Trimmings at Trees of Hope Gala Gifting: Children's programs at Star of Hope, our town's oldest and largest nonprofit serving the homeless. Winter wonderland: An evening illuminated by towering arbols and dramatic wreaths at the historic Corinthian; Jackson and Company did culinary magic, and 500 blacktie guests went wild over beautiful holiday decor offered in a festive silent auction. Santa's helpers: Co-chairs Candace Dickerson and Jennifer Ducote with respective husbands Craig and David; honorees Marty and Denny McGuire; honorary chair Lynn Wyatt, who's one of Star of Hope's main angels, with son Brad; Marita and J.B. Fairbanks; Stephanie and Julian Fertitta; Tootsies' Shelley Taylor Ludwick and Fady Armanious, hosting a table; Trees of Hope board prez Mary Rothwell with husband Mark; lifetime Trees board member Jo Ann Petersen with Mike King; Kirby and Scott McCool; Star of Hope's CEO/prez Hank Rush and wife. Elisabeth; and a poignant PA by the children of Star of Hope, crooning holiday standards. Unwrapped: More than $800,000, including a record-raising $240,000 from the auctions. Steve Loden, Gayle Collins Milton Townsend at Schmooze Leigh Smith at Trees of Hope Larry Elliott, Beau Bisso, Dis Netland, Ernie Cockrell at Trees of Hope Honorary chair Lynn Wyatt Brad Wyatt at Trees of Hope David Ducote & co-chair Jennifer Ducote Co-chair Candace Dickerson & Craig Dickerson at Trees of Hope Honorees Denny and Marty McGuire at Trees of Hope Kathryn & Jeff Smith at Trees of Hope Jonathon Glus & Alton LaDay at Schmooze Jim & Franci Crane at Schmooze Host and co-chair Mark Wawro at Schmooze Laura & Mike Sweeney at Trees of Hope Anne Farish, Stephen Farish III at Schmooze Kathryn & Jim Ketelsen at Schmooze Susie & Sanford Criner at Schmooze MARCH | PAGE 30 | 2012 Sir Mark Haukohl Jay Moore at Schmooze Jackson Hicks Host & co-chair Melanie Gray at Schmooze Co-chair Larry Lovins at Schmooze