Dress for Success foodie gala draws big-name chefs
The slogan for Dress for Success Houston is “Going Places. Going Strong,” but its Cuisine for a Cause celebration felt more like a homecoming.
Though the event took place in the nonprofit’s new state-of-the-art facility in Upper Kirby, the evening paid homage to A Fare Extraordinaire, with special recognition to founder Karen Lerner, for 18 years of partnership. A Fare Extraordinaire has supported the organization’s mission — to provide low-income women seeking employment with appropriate interview attire — since 1998, when DFSH operated out of a small space near Acres Homes.
What’s more, the well-known catering company’s current owner and CEO, Rachael Volz, and husband Jason Volz were one-half of the fete’s event-chair quartet.
Together, with Mary and Ben Patton, the foursome raised more than $385,000 toward the agency’s goal to provide more than 13,000 units of service to 2,800 local women. Year to date, 2,500 disadvantaged Houstonians have been suited — and a commendable 54 percent have landed jobs.
“It’s so much more than a suit,” emcee and KHOU11 anchor Mia Gradney said. “Dress for Success provides needed tools to help women become employed.”
A suit may go out of season, she continued, but the resources are always in style.
A video of client success stories showed how the Professional Women’s Group network promotes job retention and career advancement through programs including financial literacy, mentoring and scholarships.
Co-founder and president Nancy Levicki spoke briefly before inviting 350 partygoers to partake of the soiree’s main event: food.
Chefs from A Fare Extraordinaire, SweetCup Gelato, Relish Restaurant & Bar, Revival Market, Coltivare, The Tasting Room Uptown Park, Peli Peli, Ripe Cuisine Food Truck, Pondicheri, Brasserie 19, Coppa Osteria, SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, Red Dessert Drive, Smith & Wollensky, Pico’s, Le Colonial, Canopy, Shade and Sweet & Mellow each donated their time and talent to the cause.
Isabel and Danny David, Kristy Bradshaw, Lindley and Jason Arnoldy, Rachel McNeill and Dr. Wayne Franklin, and Valerie Dieterich were spotted dining among the hanging suits or upstairs in the lounge, where Kristine Mills and DJ London kept the crowd grooving until nearly midnight. amber.elliott@chron.com