Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/258079
F ashion and philanthropy once again fantastically collided at Festari for Men's Una Notte in Italia, a raucous fund-raising evening headlined by a sartorial cast of hometown uomini belli who strut the catwalk in snappy threads from Festari. What makes this night great fun are the wives, girlfriends and partners who cheer the dapper gents on. The models are coaxed to walk the runway by honorary chairs Debbie and Rudy Festari, who throw out a wide social net to Y-chromosome possessors in all professional endeavors — big industry, medicine, high finance, architecture, fashion, beauty and, natch, the NFL. This year, the unbuttoned seated dinner and fashion frenzy at the Omni benefitted a new cause: Bo's Place, which counsels families through the passing of a loved one. Diane Caplan and Megan Sutton-Reed, the well- connected chair ladies, worked hard, in tandem with the Festaris, to bring in a record-breaking $380,000 for the cause. After a seated Italian dinner paired with vino and a tequila bar, fine fellows hit the stage to great fanfare, including Bo's Place prez Richard Kroger, Butch Mach, Dan Boggio, David Shine, chair husband Chris Reed, Ryan McCord, Nick Stefanakis, Cris Proler, Charles Clark, makeup impresario Edward Sanchez, rising designer Jonathan Blake, Franklin Rose, and a troupe of Texans — J.J. Watt, Kareem Jackson, Owen Daniels, Chris Myers, Duane Brown, and Matt Schaub (receiving a standing ovation), along with team COO Cal McNair. Post-runway, a live auction of luxurious trips ensued, ranging from a South African photo safari (nabbed by Siri Gilliland) to a wine-suffused weekend in Sonoma (which went to Santiago Flores and Dan Henderson). The festa concluded to the beats of DJ Gino. Gran divertimento! Model citizens: Bo's Place VP Charlie Neuhaus and wife Susan, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Susan and Mike Plank, and Jill and Calvin Schlenker. Uomini Belli Strut the Catwalk Una Notte in Italia gents walk the walk to benefit Bo's Place. EMMIE MARTIN AND CATHERINE D. ANSPON PEN RUNWAY NOTES. PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL ORTIZ. Andy Steve Mach Melissa Mithoff Susan Plank J.J. Watt Honorary chairman Debbie Festari Brian Cushing Duane Brown Nick Stefanakis Matt Schaub Charlie Neuhaus Jonathan Tinkle Cody Soutar Calvin Schlenker Jill Schlenker Richard Kroger Megan Cushing Honorary chairman Rudy Festari Joella Mach Cora Sue Mach Harry Mach Cal McNair Chairman Megan Sutton-Reed Chris Myers Owen Daniels Angela Daniels Jenny Myers Chairman Diane Caplan Shannon Kroger Kareem Jackson C U L L E N R E A LT Y G R O U P WE URGE YOU TO WATCH LONE SURVIVOR contact MEREDITH CULLEN HOUSTON'S PREMIER REALTY GROUP 713-651-8787 | cullenrealtygroup.com ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE A TRUE STORY OF BRAVERY