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38 AFTER THE FLOOD THE PARTY MUST GO ON, AND IT'S BETTER THAN EVER. Shelby Hodge paddles in. Photography Kim Coffman and Michelle Watson. W hen Hurricane Harvey fl ooded Wortham Theater Center, causing damage that would require nine months of reclama- tion, more than a few nonprofi ts went scrambling for new venues, including Legacy Community Health. The annual fall luncheon was suddenly without an anchor — but not for long. The powers that be agreed that a cocktail party would replace the midday fête, and Elizabeth and Gary Petersen stepped up to offer their expansive River Oaks home. "This is the best non-luncheon luncheon ever," said Jackson and Company's Milton Townsend as he sur- veyed the enthused turnout. Happily, the weather was perfect for an indoor/outdoor event, and the Petersens' Miles Redd-designed interiors provided its own element of entertainment: Every room in the house spoke to the capricious oeuvre of the popular New York designer. A trio of lovelies — Katherine Murphy, Melissa Mithoff, and Elizabeth Petersen — chaired the evening that honored much-loved retailers Shannon Hall and Marcus Sloan. With that combi- nation of high-voltage personalities, it's no surprise that the turnout of 300 far exceeded expectations. The party raised more than $300,000 for Legacy's Little Readers program, replacing books lost to Hurricane Harvey. COCKTAIL COHORTS: Legacy's Katy Caldwell and Chree Boydstun, as well as Paul Murphy, Michael Mithoff, Brian McCulloch, Yvonne and Rufus Cormier, Ceron and Todd Fiscus, Greg Fourticq, John Cone, Ginni and Richard Mithoff, John Pettiette and Keith Dodd, Tiffany Smith, Hallie Vanderhider, Diane Lokey Farb, Monsour Taghdisi, Don Mafrige Jr., and Christie and Mark Sullivan. See more Shelby Hodge at PaperCityMag.com. Sallie Sargent Honoree Marcus Sloan, chair Elizabeth Petersen Honoree Shannon Hall Ceron, Todd Fiscus, Monsour Taghdisi Derek Warburton Don Mafrige Jr. Lisa Faronda & Greg Harper Neal Hamil Diane Lokey Farb Richard Flowers Aaron Higdem Chree Boydstun Kathryn McNiel Yvonne & Rufus Cormier Tatiana Green, Stacey Soriero Tiffany Smith, Layla Salek Chairs Katherine Murphy Melissa Mithoff Milton Townsend Gary Petersen Ursaline Hamilton Mark Sullivan