Rob Giardinelli
“Vibrant Taiwan” Theme Was Part Of The Gala’s Chic Vibe
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Alida Bonifaz and Daniel Ortiz
THE SCENE: The Asia Society Texas Center in Houston was the setting for one of the state’s most fun, beautiful, and impactful annual signature fundraising events. It was a sold-out crowd featuring 625 of the city’s most notable community leaders, sociables, and philanthropists who arrived for the 2026 Tiger Ball. Benefiting the Asia Society Texas Center, the night featured a Vibrant Taiwan theme, celebrated the country’s global impact, and resulted in a record-breaking fundraising haul for the organization.
THE VIBE: The black-tie crowd featured a stunning array of formal looks. Walking through the room, one could spot patrons in a rainbow of bold colors and beautiful prints, creating a warm, celebratory environment for all who attended. Additionally, many leaned into purple shades in honor of the event invitation and the décor spotted throughout the event space.
As revelers entered the custom-constructed tent on the Asia Society Texas Center grounds for cocktail hour, they were wowed by the stunning décor, matched by the vibrancy of the guests. Anchoring the space was a jaw-dropping canopy of greenery and florals in pink and purple hues, complemented by traditional Taiwanese Meinong oil-paper inverted parasols.
Guests then made their way to the bar to grab their favorite spirit of choice for a lively cocktail hour. As guests sipped on their favorite spirits, they perused an impressive live auction full of curated, luxury items with two round-trip Delta One tickets, a five-night stay for up to 20 guests at a 10,000 square foot home in Telluride, and two tickets to the Zang Toi runway show during New York Fashion Week, emerging as the most popular among guests. Additionally, others could be seen at the lush step-and-repeat, taking photos to commemorate the evening throughout the night.
The crowd then moved into the dining room for a delectable, multi-course meal catered by City Kitchen Catering. Underneath a canopy of real trees, partygoers engaged in conversation while enjoying an array of Taiwanese-inspired dishes. Following dinner, the action returned to the reception room of the tent, where a jam-packed dance floor grooved to their favorite tunes courtesy of DJ Alx of Karma DJs and capping off another beautiful night for one of Houston’s most beloved organizations.
THE NON-PROFIT: The 2026 Tiger Ball: Vibrant Taiwan, chaired by Theresa and Peter Chang, Alice and Ken Yang with Molly and Jim Crownover, Lily and David Harvey, Tracy and Rocky Lai, Anne-Laure and Steve Stephens, & Gordon Quan raised a record-breaking $1.85 million for the Asia Society Texas Center. Proceeds from the event will support programs, services, and exhibitions that advance the organization’s mission to bring the world closer to Asia by focusing on three pillars: art and culture, education, and policy.
