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Dear Park Lovers,
“A Starry Night” Park Lovers’ Ball was held on February 8. The fundraising evening was a stellar success at the glitzy Post Oak Hotel with close to 700 West University friends and neighbors in attendance. Thank you to our incredible Event Co-Chairs Kristen and Scott Browning, Jordan and Andrew Jewett, and Elizabeth and Crosby Scofield who created a memorable evening full of FUNdraising. The dynamic leadership team also included Underwriting Co-Chairs Rachel Delaney, Lauren Etlinger, and Rachel Gummattira, and Auction Co-Chairs Eliza Coleman, Meagan Glover, Travis Johnson and Jennifer LaForge, plus their hard-working committees. Thank you to all!
Highlights of the evening included the popular wine pull, casino games, silent and live auctions, a starry- themed martini bar, big board auction, and the heads or tails game. The Texas Unlimited Band kept guests dancing until the wee hours while stilt walkers dressed as astronauts joined the dance floor for some elevated fun. View pictures from the event.
We are thankful for our MANY underwriters & sponsors including Baker Botts, Vinson & Elkins, Kirkland & Ellis, Haynes Boone, Greenwood King Properties, Sarah & Scott Barrett, Callahan Advisors, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Kristen & Scott Browning, Jordan & Andrew Jewett/Rachael & John Montgomery, PrinGroup Commercial, Frost Bank, Rachel & Michael Delaney/Lauren & David Etlinger/Jaclyn & Tyler Goodell/Rachel & Roshan Gummattira/Emily & John Puckett, Mitra & Josh Woody/Whitney & Marc Walsh, Emilie & Chris Dahan, Claire Day – Del Monte Realty, New Leaf Real Estate, Michele & Bobby Marandi, The Franklin Team, Yana & Matthew Rodilossos, Caroline Dudley Bean, Sami & Jud Morrison, Benjamin Roberts Law, PLLC, East River 9, Los Tios Mexican Restaurant, Crystaphase, Becky Arnold, Becca & Wes Fontana, Chea & Liam Kelly, Albarran Architects, Tami & Dave Wall, Lexi & Mike Marek, Kelsey & Matt Falcone, Chris Popov, Cristina & Creighton Smith, Elizabeth & Crosby Scofield, Jennifer & Andrew Thorington, Alston & Jordan White, Lauren & Brian Zwart, Jacqui & Varun Babbili, Jessica & Joseph Bernica, Ashley & David Bilger, Blackbuck Resources, Kelly & Tim Borden, The Burke Family Foundation, Eliza & Patrick Coleman, Elizabeth & Andrew Cordia, Mary Frances Anderson DuMay/Greenwood King Properties, Kimberly Eads/Greenwood King Properties, Courtney & Daniel Fertig, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, Melissa & David Gustafson, H/Advisors Abernathy, Catherine & Matteson Hamilton, Kathleen & Travis Johnson, KSF Orthopaedics/Dr. Mayur Kanjia, Jackie & Michael Kelso, Melissa & Bryan McDavid, Britt & Kyle McQuire, Lucy & John Moffitt, Supporter of West University Parks, Caroline & Chris Prugar, Mandy Rochelle Designs, Ashley & Todd Rushing, A Tribe Called West, Katy & Chris Starr, Michelle & Bryan Walker and Wells Fargo.
We are also very grateful for our many auction donors who donated fabulous items & packages for our auction. Without these generous donors Friends could not achieve its fundraising goals to keep our parks & green spaces beautiful, safe & well maintained. Thank you to the many other generous underwriters and sponsors who contributed to the success of the event.
A big shout out also to the many volunteers who stepped up and helped make Park Lovers’ Ball 2025 an unforgettable fundraising community event.
Save the date for next year’s Park Lovers’ Ball - Saturday, February 14, 2026. We will be back at the Post Oak Hotel. For more information on the Friends of West U Parks Fund, please visit our website, westuparks.org.
Warmest regards,
Donna LaMond
Executive Director,
Friends of West University Parks
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AUCTION CHAIRS
Eliza Coleman, Meagan Glover, Travis Johnson, Jennifer LaForge
UNDERWRITING CHAIRS
Rachel Delaney, Lauren Etlinger, Rachel Gummattira
2025 PARK LOVERS' BALL SUB-COMMITTEES
Andria Berman, Stephanie Braun, Lindsay Brett, Amanda Commons, Erin Fazio, Victoria Greendyke, Disney Harris, Jessica Jones, Chea Kelly, Lexi Marek, Christine Murdock, Ashley Partridge, Lakshmi Picoli, Natasha Roller, Alley Steele, Elise Swann, Jennifer Thorington, Arianne Walker, Michelle Walker, Alston White, Tamara Woods, Katy Wyatt, Christi Young, Lauren Zlotnick, Lauren Zwart
2025 PARK LOVERS' BALL HOST COMMITTEE
Angela & Daniel Androphy, Jacqui & Varun Babbili, Jennifer & John Barron, Ashley & David Bilger, Kelly & Tim Borden, Courtney & Austin Brooks, Whitney & Trey Burke, Sarah & Travis Covington, Claire & Tyler Day, Mandy & Rafael Diaz, Dr. Neda & Marko Dodig, Margaret & Eric Doyal, Annina & Jordon Emmott, Kelsey & Matt Falcone, Becca & Wes Fontana, Callie & Andy Gaines, Lynn & Graham Gordon, Kendall & Chris Hanno, Dr. Taiwo Adesoye & Tomiwa Igun, Kristin & George Jackson, Whitney & Marc Lawson, Stephanie & Bryan Magers, Melissa & Bryan McDavid, Brittany & Austin McDowell, Britt & Kyle McQuire, Cara & Tanner Moran, Catherine & Stephen O'Connell, Kristen & Drew Perrin, Lainey & Sam Seidel, Elise & Evans Swann, Layne & Will Torsch
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sami Morrison (Chair), Judy Cheng, Sarah Covington, Mary Frances DuMay, Kim Eads, Dan Fertig, Kelly Beth Hapgood, Katie Hill, Kelly Hill, Michelle Huth, Jordan Jewett, Megan Nicodemus, Stephen Olson, Christine Parker, Mark Prescott, Katy Turner, Mitra Woody, Christi Young
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Donna LaMond
DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION
Susan White
ADVISORY BOARD
Carol Burke, Danny Droubi, Grace O'Malley Ebaugh, Sara Edgecomb, Joni Hruska Fichter, Anne Freeman, Matthew Foytlin, Lynne Goddard, Dana Grams, Vicki Grams, Sue Hanna, Maria Elena Herbst, Stephen Jacobson, Christina Kuhl, Sarah Knysh, Chandradev Mehta, Kristine Martinez, Cece McCann, Amanda McGee, Debora Connelly Piccolo, Anna Stewart, Steve Primrose, Leah Ragiel, Kim Wilson, Reid Wilson, John T. Young, Jr.
The Friends of West University Parks Fund, Inc., is a volunteer based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising funds for the development and improvement of parks and green spaces in the City of West University Place. As a nonprofit organization, all charitable contributions to the Friends of West University Place Fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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