Go Inside The Out-Of-This-World Fundraising At The St. Jude Houston Gala

“Breakthroughs On The Bayou” Theme Is A Huge Success

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography Priscilla Dickson Photography and Jacob Power Photography

THE SCENE: The Revaire in Houston was the setting for an unforgettable night of fun and fundraising with guests talking about the special night long after the festivities had ended. Over 500 of Space City’s most notable medical advocates, community leaders, sociables, and philanthropists attended the annual St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Houston gala. This year’s theme, “Breakthroughs on the Bayou,” broke through in more ways that included the honoring of astronauts and smashing fundraising records that took the event to incredible, new heights.

THE VIBE: The black-tie crowd featured a dazzling mix of classic and festive ensembles. As one entered the room, they could spot colorful dinner jackets and evening gowns in bold colors, metallics, and sequins that perfectly complemented the classic black tie. This created a warm, welcoming environment for all who attended.

The high-octane energy could be felt when guests walked inside The Revaire for cocktail hour. Partygoers sipped on their favorite spirits, including the event’s signature cocktail: the purply and sparkly Miracle Mule. Others in the audience could be spotted perusing the impressive lot of silent and live auction items. All of this was done against the backdrop of a string quartet playing whimsical, Bridgerton-style covers of popular contemporary hit songs.

Revelers then took to their seats for the main program. Emcee Lo Sessions effortlessly kept the evening’s events flowing at a fun, brisk pace. As guests dined on delectable, multi-course meals, they were treated to words from organization and event leaders. Next, Amal Zakhem Nassar was honored with the Mission Maker Award for her tireless support of St. Jude.

Next came a testimonial from a St. Jude family about their four-year-old son, Slater, diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. This tribute connected to the evening’s honorees, the Polaris Dawn Crew, who had met Slater before and bonded with him over their shared love of space. Slater had watched rocket launches from Cape Canaveral before his cancer diagnosis. The result was an audience moved to tears by this incredibly impactful story.

The evening continued with a dazzling live auction by Trey Morris of Morris Auctioneers. The paddles…and fundraising continued to climb as donors bid on various luxury items and experiences. The two most popular items included a Polaris Dawn Jacket designed for Astronaut Scott Poteet featuring St. Jude Patient Art Work and an Exclusive IWC Watch and Luxury Watchmaking Class Experience for four. Each item went for $30,000.

After the auction ended and the record-breaking fundraising total was announced, revelers stormed the dance floor at rocket speed for a lively after-party. Revelers could be seen taking photos capturing the essence of this magical night in a photo booth while others danced the night away to the tunes of Infinite Groove.

THE NON-PROFIT: The 2025 St. Jude Gala, chaired by Erika and Neil Billingsley-Michaelsen, raised a record-breaking $1.65 million for St. Jude Research Hospital. Proceeds from the event will provide critical funds for groundbreaking research and treatment regimens to help skyrocket survival rates, giving hope to children and families worldwide. Since its founding in 1962, the work of St. Jude has been instrumental in helping increase the childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to over 80%.