Society

Catrina Ball

The Third Annual Catrina Ball celebrated Día de Muertos in support of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation (SAPLF). Guests of honor La Catrina and Andi Rodriguez led a night of festivities and offerings including a Neiman Marcus VIP lounge, Mexican street food, libations, a community altar to honor those souls that have passed, Urban 15 dancers, Catrina dolls, photo ops, face painting, and the famous Todas Las Almas after-party around Dale Chihuly’s Fiesta Tower. El Catrin, Guillermo Nocolás was also a guest of honor but was unable to attend. As usual, the costumes were over the top, and often you wouldn’t have recognized your friends, which happened to me twice that night – Tawana Timberlake and Maria Antoniette Joeris. Catrina Ball chairs, Ruth Agather, Magdalena Gaona, and Mari Tamez, succeeded in hosting the coolest party in October. Guests spent hours perfecting their makeup and costumes, adding lights to their masks and clothing, donning extravagant headpieces with lush flower crowns, and matching it all with perfect accessories. A few attendees included Ana Montoya, Cari Hill, Diana Barrios Trevino, Carole and Scudder Miller, Heather and Jeff de Rojas, and Melissa and Thomas Aguillon, Becky Reina, Arturo Infante Almeida, Espitacio Resendez, Jimmy Tawil, Erika Prosper, Kerry and Chris Quinn, and Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark.

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Opening German

Twenty-six beautiful debutantes dressed in flowing white ball gowns made their debut at the San Antonio Opening German at Venue Villita at La Villita in early November. Chair David Aycock and president Blake Stouffer supervised the soirée, which included catering by Rosemary and the RK Group, flowers and décor by Danny Cuellar, Trinity Flowers & Events, and Illusions Rentals & Designs. Ramiro Cervera and His Orchestra, Al Gomez – trumpeter and The Georgia Bridgewater Orchestra provided the evening entertainment. Following the presentation, the debs and their fathers danced the first dance, followed by a reception and celebrating into the wee hours. Debs included (in alphabetical order) Margaret Moody Archer, Nancy Lee Archer, Ian Parker Brusenhan, Emily Alice Carrington, Alice Wheeler Cochran, Elizabeth Lee Curren, Kathryn Wynter Dehlinger, Kathryn Kerr Ellwood, Griffin Beall Foultz, Jenna Belle Fuhrmann, Caroline Hollis Herbold, Sophie Aliece Falvey Garland Hollis, Camilla Ann Kampmann, Elizabeth Parker Long, Patricia Steele Long, Martha Cecilia Newsom, Virginia Augusta Noble, Christian Renate Olson, Isabel Alicia Rosser, McKenzie Elizabeth Schultz, Mary Hannah Shaeffer, Marguerite Holton Stewart, Molly Clara Strange, Melanie Marie Vaughan, Kelsey Bates Wallace and Christine Alexandra Young.

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Raising Digital Natives

The DoSeum’s annual Outside of the Lunchbox Luncheon featured special guest keynote speaker Dr. Devorah Heitner, a leading expert on youth’s relationship with digital media and technology and the author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in their Digital World. She is also the founder of Raising Digital Natives, a resource for schools and organizations wishing to cultivate a culture of responsible digital citizenship. Dr. Heitner shared insight and what it’s like to grow up in the digital age. She addressed common feats and concerns with research-based, realistic approaches, and a developmentally focused, tech-positive mindset. Now in its tenth year, The DoSeum’s Outside the Lunchbox Luncheon series brings distinguished authors and leaders in the field of education to San Antonio to discuss today’s most relevant topics in the field of education, parenting, and issues affecting families. A few attendees included: Emilie and Chris Petty, Stacy Hoyt, Emily Catalani, Carla Brozovich, Jolie Berndt, Clint DuBose, Sara Pfeifer, Suzanne Goudge, Board Chair Frank Almaraz, Chris Cho, Katie Cigarroa, Elise Boyan, and Kendall Mazurek.

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Legacy Luncheon

For 72 years, Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children has been teaching deaf children to listen and talk. Dela and John White, Sr. dared to dream their daughter Tuleta, born with a profound hearing loss, would live successfully in a hearing world.  Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children honored The Texas Cavaliers and the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation at the eighth annual Legacy Award Luncheon. Proceeds from The Legacy Luncheon support diagnostic hearing tests for babies when a hearing loss is suspected, programs for children who have hearing impairment, therapy programs for babies who are birth to three years old and their parents, audiology services, speech-language therapy and the educational program.

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Witte Game Dinner

Branded by time – this year’s theme for the 49th Annual Witte Game Dinner, presented by Naylor Ranch, was once again a huge success due to Game Dinner co-chairs Kathy and Jeff Bolner and Anna and Robert Sigman. Texas Heritage Award chair Susan Naylor recognized Mary West and Richard Traylor along with Valero, as the Texas Heritage Award honorees. Wild game cuisine and auctions took center stage at this years event. A few auction prizes included a trip to Napa Valley, a trip of a lifetime to the Big Easy, and an opportunity to name the baby Agujaceratops, and dinosaur programs for a year. Auctioneer Joey Tomlinson and master of ceremonies Rick Cavender made sure that the night raised a million dollars to continue inspiring people to shape the future of Texas through transformative and relevant experiences in nature, science, and culture. A big Texas size thanks went to Susan Naylor and Naylor Ranch for being a presenting sponsor of the Game Dinner and Bolner’s Fiesta Products as the first culinary sponsor. And what would the Game Dinner be without the great foods sponsored by Bolner’s Fiesta Products and The RK Group? A bit of south Texas cuisine included gorditas, paella, sliders, quail, Kahlúa milkshakes, bread pudding and a few other favs. Musical performances by Matt Caldwell, and the Josh Abbott Band rounded out the shindig. Make plans for next year’s 50th Game Dinner, Monday, October 19, 2020.

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Save the Date

January 18
Let’s Rodeo Ball
FREEMAN COLISEUM
6:30 – 11:30 PM
This 21 and up celebration is a significant fundraising event that supports the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Scholarship Fund. There will be plenty of entertainment with performances by Gary Allen and David Lee Murphy. Enjoy dancing and delicious food. The attire for the evening is Western Glitz.
sarodeo.com

January 15 – 19
San Antonio Cocktail Conference
VARIOUS VENUES
Houston Street Charities hosts this one-of-a-kind conference and donates 100% of the profits to local children’s charities. This unique conference offers educational seminars, guided tastings, paired dinners, and cocktail parties that bring together top bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts.
sanantoniococktailconference.com

January 25
Love Run 5k
CITY CHURCH BANDERA ROAD
8 – 11 AM
This family-friendly walk/run helps bring together the community to support the Social Action Fund. All of the profits from this event aid in poverty relief efforts and create long-term solutions for communities in San Antonio, Mexico, and Liberia. This community event will have a pre-race stretch, special performances, and food trucks.
loverun5.com

February 27
Menagerie of Marvels Gala
THE ARGYLE CLUB
7 PM
The theme for this year’s annual gala by Mind Science is Menagerie of Marvels: Carnival of Wonders. Experience an evening of carnival foods and games, a “Tom Slick Treasure Hunt”, and much more. All proceeds from the evening support the programs of the Mind Science Foundation.
mindscience.org

February 29
Reunite at Heights
ALAMO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
11 – 2 PM
Alamo Heights School Foundation is inviting guests to celebrate all alumni and volunteers in the community.
ahschoolfoundation.org

 

 

By Leslie Foley