Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/184689
Fashion and Retail Mash Up at UH Merchandising Star Awards Luncheon CATHERINE D. ANSPON COVERS THE OPENING OF THE ENVELOPES. PHOTOGRAPHY KIM COFFMAN. Five-Star Salute What do you get when you mix three notables from luxury retail, a dynamic grocery kingdom and a top magazine with well-connected chairmen and a meaningful education cause? Add in scholarships for two sharp and focused students, and voilà! It's the 4th Merchandising Star Awards Luncheon, appropriately billed as "A Salute to Retail," which lured a throng of 300 well-wishers to the River Oaks Country Club. Dynamic duo Dancie Ware and Paige Fertitta joined by honorary chair Sheridan Williams reigned over the record-rousing afternoon that raised funds for UH's retailing and consumer science program at the university's College of Technology. Receiving crystal stars for their community contributions were Neiman Marcus' main man Bob Devlin; Scott McClelland, prez of H-E-B Houston; and PaperCity's own co-owner and editor in chief, Holly Moore. Also taking to the stage were UH seniors Calixto Mejia and Camille Simmons, the lucky recipients of this year's scholarships, awarded by Joe Williams of the Texas Retailers Education Foundation, who chairs the program's advisory board. Soraya McClelland & Honoree Scott McClellend Honorary chairman Sheridan Williams Chairman Paige Fertitta Chairman Dancie Ware Diane Lokey Farb Hailey Polzin, Ashley Pearce Liz Zaruba Honoree Bob Devlin Cindi Rose, Karen Wildenstein Chris Goins, Gloria Pearson Mary Beth Aspromonte Jessica Badger Winell Herron, Joe Williams Mary Ann McKeithan Donna Vallone Honorees Calixto Mejia, Camille Simmons Philamena Baird Party Query Your very first retail shopping memory? "In Sweden where I grew up ... a shop where they had fabulous tops ... I still fondly remember how excited I was coming into that boutique! " — Astrid Van Dyke "The, Galleria, of course! I loved the movie theater, eating at Magic Pan, taking ice skating lessons and riding in the glass front elevators in Galleria II. " — Ashley Pearce For more retail reminiscenses, peruse papercitymag.com. Phoebe Tudor, Lilly Andress, Vicki West Vicki Rizzo, Roz Pactor Jana Giammalva, Joann Crassas Supporting the Cause Chris Goins of Tootsies, a previous scholarship recipient William Fitzgibbon III, College of Technology dean, who contributed closing remarks Soroya McClelland Merele Yarborough Winell Herron Liz Zaruba and Stacey Swift of Neiman Marcus Phyllis Williams Betty Newton Cindi Rose Hailey Polzin Sabiha Rehmatulla Marta Fredricks Jennifer Roosth Janet Gurwitch Donna Vallone Cheryl Byington It's Raining Men —Hallelujah! Eloise Frischkorn, Ben Rose Gents on the Runway + Festari Fashion + Fund-Raising + Fun = Una Notte in Italia for Family Services Joyce Echols, Laura Casey Greenberg Chairmen Melissa Mithoff Elizabeth Petersen CATHERINE D. ANSPON COVERS THE SCENE. PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL ORTIZ, SETH VAUGHAN. Tiffany & Rick Smith Rocky Mafrige Parli Italiano? We do, at least one evening every year — Una Notte in Italia, Family Services' outrageously fun, over-the-top and wildly successful benefit. Every fall, honorary chairmen Debbie and Rudy Festari preside, directing more than two dozen Uomini Belli, dashingly outfitted in looks from Festari for Men, who take to the runway. This season's sizzler, chaired by well-connected lovelies Melissa Mithoff and Elizabeth Petersen, ignited the Omni ballroom as a throng of nearly 600 turned out for a seated dinner; tunes spun by DJ Gino; a lavish live auction brimming with trips, including a jaunt to Tuscany; silent-auction goodies; and a late-night lounge where Riazul tequilas flowed like wine. Who Walked the Catwalk Gents on parade: Fady Armanious, whose Tootsies cheering squad was loud and vocal from their table; chair husbands Michael Mithoff and Gary Petersen; Paul Murphy; Texan GM Rick Smith; and players including Matt Schaub, Owen Daniels, James Casey and Matt Leinart; Alex Lechin; Rocky Mafrige; Nick Florescu, bussing the emcee, fiancée Dominique Sachse; Steve Mach; Josh Espinedo; Marty Shellist; Saqib Siddiqui; Aaron Howes; Neal Hamil; Cenk Ozdogan; Ben Rose; and Matt Johnson. Rosemarie & Matt Johnson Dominique Sachse, Nick Florescu Darrell & Suzette Betts Lori & Marty Shellist Honorary chairman Rudy Festari Michael & Diane Caplan John Evatz, Phoebe Tudor MARCH | PAGE 49 | 2012 James Casey Matt Leinart Honorary chairman Debbie Festari Fady Armanious, Bridget Boggess