Rob Giardinelli
The Texas spring gala season kicks off with a bang in mid-January featuring a fun mix of beloved nonprofit events around Texas. Here are ten stellar galas and signature fundraising events we recommend you have on your radar in the Lone Star state between January 15th and February 3rd. We’ll see you there.
Austin – SAFE 50th Anniversary Gala – January 20
SAFE Gala Celebrating 50 Years Co-chairs Tiffany Stillwell and Yvette Flores
Kicking off the Texas gala festivities for 2024 is the SAFE Alliance, one of Austin’s most beloved organizations set out to celebrate its golden anniversary in style. The SAFE Gala: Celebrating 50 Years will bring hundreds to the JW Marriott for an epic evening of fun and remembrance of how this organization has successfully evolved with Texas’ capital city. Co-chaired by longtime SAFE patrons, Yvette Flores and Tiffany Stillwell, the night will include cocktails, a few tears during the main program, as well as one of the city’s most anticipated raffles with three luxury prizes offered. The epic night will be capped off with a literal encore, launching a new after-party titled Encore that will keep the fun going until the wee hours of the morning.
San Antonio – South Texas Charity Weekend – January 26
One of the most exclusive events in Texas is back for its 31st year. The invitation-only South Texas Charity Weekend is a weekend of fun and fundraising on the beautiful, open spaces of the legendary King Ranch. Being on a ranch means a weekend full of cowboy-chic attire for the various festivities set throughout the weekend. The fun starts with an opening cocktail reception on Friday, the opportunity to engage in quail hunting and a cowboy lunch on Saturday, and an epic party for 300 on Saturday night honoring an individual who works tirelessly to benefit the South Texas community. Proceeds from the event benefit several organizations including two programs at Texas A&M: the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Institute, and the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management.
Bryan – OPAS Gala – January 27
Kicking off the 2024 gala season in Bryan-College Station is the city’s social event of the year. The OPAS Encore!, benefitting OPAS at Texas A&M, will draw hundreds of the who’s who in the Brazos Valley and top alumni from around Texas to descend upon the Brazos Valley Expo Center for a splendid night of fun. This year’s theme, Under the Arabian Moon, will attract the black-tie crowd who will experience a cocktail reception, seated dinner, and a raffle where two lucky winners will receive an $8,000 shopping spree courtesy of David Gardner Jewelers. The festivities will be capped off with dancing courtesy of the Emerald City Band.
Houston – Camp For All’s Under The Big Top – January 27
Houston – Under the Big Top Co-chairs Yésely Love, Caroline Walter and Stephanie Magers
Coming soon to The Revaire in Houston is the signature fundraiser for Camp For All. This year’s sold-out event features a fun circus theme, aptly titled Under the Big Top. The night, co-chaired by Yésely Love, Stephanie Magers, and Caroline Walter will honor patrons Ginger Bertrand, Sybil Roos, and their families for their passionate support of the organization. The night will feature cocktails, a wine pull, a seated dinner, a live auction, and of course, an entertaining performance or two to dazzle children of all ages. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit programs at the organization’s 206-acre campsite in Burton, Texas which provides adaptive, barrier-free camp programs for children and adults with special needs.
Houston – Houston Symphony Ball – January 27
2024 Houston Symphony Ball Chairs Tammie & Dr. Charles Johnson and Drs. Alice Mao Brams and Matt Brams. Photo by Johnny Than
Always one of Space City’s most anticipated social events of the year, Houston Symphony’s annual Symphony Ball attracts top performing arts patrons from throughout the city. This year’s event, co-chaired by Tammie and Dr. Charles Johnson & Drs. Alice Mao Brams and Matt Brams, planned by the legendary Richard Flowers of The Events Company, is guaranteed to impress with a Vienna Fête Impériale theme that is sure to dazzle. Held at the only Forbes Five-Star Hotel in Texas, The Post Oak, the main program will start with a debutante Viennese Waltz followed by a multi-course meal prepared by Post Oak Hotel’s Executive Chef Jean-Luc Royere. This spectacular evening will be capped off with an after-party headlined by Q the Band, which boasts Grammy-nominated and Billboard-charting recording artists.
Houston – Junior League of Houston’s 76th Annual Charity Ball – February 1-3
JLH President Amanda Hanks Bayles
One of Space City’s longest-running and most successful galas, the Junior League of Houston’s Charity Ball draws hundreds of Houstonians to an array of events over three days. Each year, the organization has a new theme and has never once in the 76-year history of the event ever repeated a theme. That tradition continued this year with this year’s incredibly fun theme Enchanted: An Evening Once Upon A Time. The main event will be on Friday, February 2nd when the 76th annual Charity Ball is held at The Junior League of Houston campus. The night will feature a cocktail hour, silent auction, whiskey lounge, and seated dinner. The night will be capped off with dancing courtesy of Radio Live.
Dallas – Broadway Dallas 2024 Gala: The Tina Turner Musical – February 2
Broadway Dallas Gala Co-chairs John Quattrocchi and Joseph DeMartino
We can’t think of anything more fun than a gala and a show with one of the most anticipated musicals to hit Texas in years. Broadway Dallas’ annual gala always draws top patrons from throughout the city and this year will also be a jam-packed evening full of fun and a full performance of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical chronicling the incredible life of the late, iconic music icon. Co-chaired by John Quattrocchi and Joseph DeMartino, this epic night will include a welcome cocktail reception, a seated multi-course dinner, orchestra seating Tina Turner: The Musical, and an after-party helmed by one of Texas’ favorite DJ’s, Lucy Wrubel.
Houston – Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Winter Ball 2024 – February 3
Always one of the city’s most anticipated Winter social events, The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s annual Winter Ball has been drawing top Houston sociables since the formation of this event in the 80s. This year will be no exception as hundreds descend upon the Omni Houston Hotel in a night that is expected to be a million-dollar evening. This year’s theme, Champions for a Cure will honor eight Houstonians for their tireless support for Crohn’s and Colitis. The night will feature a cocktail party, seated dinner, live and silent auctions culminating in one of the most fun after-parties in Texas where revelers can dance the night away, or enjoy a nightcap with friends at La Reserve Whiskey Bar.
Austin – CASA of Travis County’s CASABlanca Gala – February 3
One Austin’s top and most widely attended fundraising galas each year, CASABlanca presented by CASA of Travis County back with a jam-packed night of fun. This year, the event will be held at the JW Marriott and will draw over 900 of the city’s top sociables, philanthropists, and community leaders. Co-chairs Courtney Groves and Sharon Morgan are overseeing a night that is expected to raise over $2 million for the organization, will feature which will include a VIP pre-party, an expansive silent auction, a seated dinner and program, and a spirited live auction. Capping off the night will be CASABlanca’s annual casino after-party where patrons will be able to keep the fun going well into the evening.
Austin – Dell Children’s Foundation 2024 Gala: Up – February 3
Always one of the most popular annual galas in Texas’ capital city that sells out months in advance, the Dell Children’s Ball, benefiting the Dell Children’s Foundation has a new home this year at The Four Seasons. Since COVID, the event has become more intimate while still raising record funds each year for the organization, with last year’s event raising over $3 million with 500 attendees. This year’s theme, Up will undoubtedly bring the event to new heights with an evening where the black-tie crowd will experience a cocktail hour that will spill onto the stunning al fresco terrace of The Four Seasons, a seated dinner, and paddles up. The evening will cap off with an exclusive VIP after-party where the fun will extend into the wee hours of the morning.
