Rob Giardinelli
Important Work To Help End Domestic Violence In The Houston Area Is The Focus
By Rob Giardinelli Photography By Daniel Ortiz
THE SCENE: The Thompson Houston was the setting for an incredible night of fun and fundraising, celebrating a tremendous milestone for one of the city’s most beloved nonprofit organizations. Nearly 300 of the area’s top community leaders, advocates, sociables, and philanthropists attended the Home Safe Home Gala. Benefiting AVDA, the event also celebrated the organization’s 45th anniversary.
THE VIBE: The cocktail-attired crowd featured a fun, eclectic mix of ensembles that added to the fun, celebratory spirit of attendees. Looking around the room, one could spot women sporting pastel, jewel-toned, and bold-print dresses, while men wore a mix of open-collared and traditional cocktail-suit wear.
The festivities kicked off with a lively cocktail hour. Guests sipped their favorite spirits against the backdrop of the Houston skyline, while music from a Steinway Spirio Player Piano added a layer of sophisticated elegance. During the cocktail hour, guests also cuddled up with a puppy and an adult Cavapoo, which was among the live auction items up for bid later in the evening.
The festivities then began in the ballroom for the dinner, and the program with ABC13 anchor Mayra Moreno, who served as emcee, kept the festivities flowing at a fun, brisk pace. As guests dined on a delectable, multi-course meal, they were treated to words from event and organization leaders thanking them for being a part of such a special, milestone evening.
Julia and John Stallcup
Next came a spirited live auction where the paddles and fundraising continued to climb. In addition to the puppy and adult Cavapoo, guests also bid on an array of other luxury experiential and travel packages, including wine-and-dinner pairings with Chef Chris Shepherd and sommelier Antonio Gianola, and the chance to attend a Houston Astros batting practice, which emerged as the most popular. The night concluded on a high note with the announcement of a $250,000 gift from the NCJW Client Emergency Endowment Fund that will allow AVDA to continue offering more resources for the vital work they do in the Houston community.
and Nelly White
THE NON-PROFIT: The Home Safe Home Gala raised over $685,000 for AVDA. Proceeds raised will support programs and services aimed at fulfilling the organization’s mission to end family violence by advocating for the safety and self-determination of victims, emphasizing accountability for abusers, and cultivating a community response to abuse. Since AVDA’s founding in 1980, the organization has provided free advocacy, safety planning, and legal representation for over 100,000 survivors of abuse and counseling for 10,000 abusers focused on personal change to end the cycle of abuse.
