Here’s How The Children’s Museum Houston “Friends and Families” Luncheon Served Energy And Inspiration

May 10, 2025
1 min read
Demi McCormack, Ashley Sloan, Elizabeth Douglass, Camille Connely and Disney Harris

Spring Largesse Kicks Off The Season’s Latest Sunny Spirit Of Giving

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography by  Wilson Parish

THE SCENE: River Oaks Country Club in Houston was the setting for an afternoon of great cuisine and great company that left guests leaving refreshed, energized, and recharged to take on anything that lies ahead. Over 275 of the area’s top children’s advocates, sociables, and philanthropists turned out for the Children’s Museum Houston’s annual Friends and Families Luncheon for an afternoon of friendship and inspiring conversation.

THE VIBE: The cocktail-chic crowd featured guests wearing bright colors and floral prints, creating a happy, welcoming environment for all who attended. The afternoon began with a champagne reception where attendees mingled, making friends old and new. During the reception, guests could purchase raffle tickets to win one of several luxury experiences. The items included a weekend at Omni Barton Creek in Austin, a dream day in Round Top, a King Ranch gift card, and a gift card to one of Houston’s hottest restaurants, Il Bracco.

Patrons then made their way to their tables for the main program. KHOU Meteorologist Chita Craft served as emcee, keeping the festivities flowing at a fun, brisk pace. While guests dined on their lunches, they were treated to words from the organization and event leaders thanking them for their support.

The afternoon was capped off with a keynote and conversation by the event’s special guest Dr. Amy Shah. The best-selling author of several books including I’m So Effing Tired: A Proven Plan to Beat Burnout, Boost Your Energy, and Reclaim Your Life, Dr. Shah’s books offer people a roadmap to lead a more centered, less stressful life. Her powerful message on how to overcome stress, burnout, and fatigue captivated the audience and left them ready to conquer the afternoon after the end of the conversation…and a very special afternoon.

THE NON-PROFIT: The 2025 Friends and Families Luncheon, co-chaired by Devorah Krieger and Ashley Sloan, raised over $180,000 for Children’s Museum Houston. The event’s proceeds will go towards the nationally recognized Museum’s education and outreach programs, which serve over one million children and families from around the world each year.

Rob Giardinelli

Curated Texan Co-Founder Rob Giardinelli is an introvert who helps client-facing professionals go from nervous to confident at in-person events to grow their sales and develop deeper relationships. Over the past 15 years, Giardinelli has attended more than 2,000 events, many hosted by the world’s top entertainers, while serving as COO and Senior Social Editor of several luxury lifestyle media platforms that highlight top events in Texas and beyond. Before that, he spent 16 years in the tech world leading national and global sales and brand strategy efforts.
Rob now delivers keynotes, workshops, and consulting services to equip client-facing professionals in the legal, nonprofit, technology, and financial services/wealth management markets with the tools to host or attend any client-facing, revenue-generating event with confidence and a sense of purpose. To learn more about Rob, visit robgiardinelli.com.

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