Houston Chronicle Sunday

Diamond Winter Ball cracks $1 million mark

- By Amber Elliott amber.elliott@chron.com twitter.com/amberjelli­ott

Winter Ball chair

Franelle Rogers decided to err on the side of elegance for the 30th anniversar­y Diamond Winter Ball benefiting the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

While past balls — namely, 2015’s “A Night on the Nile” and last year’s “Age of Aquarius” were over the top, Saturday’s Winter Ball at Hilton Americas-Houston felt decidedly more subdued.

Gone were the shirtless men, signature cocktails and acrobatics that had become synonymous with the soiree. Sure, there were some constants: What’s a Winter Ball without a donated Mercedes-Benz convertibl­e or two?

The bejeweled evening — no, really, Tenenbaum

Jewelers’ estate bling was on prominent display inside the makeshift cocktail lounge, and

Franco Valobra’s custom necklace fetched high bids during the live auction — raised a cool, recordbrea­king $1 million.

Looks like Rogers made the right call.

A Marilyn Monroe impersonat­or, the night’s opening act, set the tone by shimmying up and down the runway to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Next, more than 50 previous ABC13 Women of Distinctio­n honorees hit the catwalk before emcees

Melanie Lawson and Tom Koch introduced the 2017 class: Jo Furr, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Shawntell McWilliams, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Jessica Rossman, Susan Sarofim, Kim Tutcher, Kelli Weinzierl, Vivian Wise and ambassador Judi McGee.

Videos revealing how friends and family surprised each award recipient with the news of their honor streamed overhead, while the 650 attendees schmoozed over dinner. A few honorees, including Wise and Roberts, were ambushed at Tootsies; other unveilings went down at the St. Regis and Hotel Granduca.

Danielle Ellis, crowned a Woman of Distinctio­n in 1997, explained that past honorees suggest new names every year, though the final nomination­s are decided by secret voters.

The next day, over brunch at Cuchara, Roberts and her extended family swiped through iPhone photos from the Winter Ball.

Apparently, a mob of galagoers had moseyed down to the hotel’s lobby bar where the black-tie set and a KISS cover band merged for an impromptu after-party.

Perhaps the 2017 fete wasn’t so tame after all.

 ?? Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation ?? The 2017 Winter Ball honorees are, from left: Susan Sarofim, Kelli Weinzierl, Vivian Wise, Shawntell McWilliams, Judi McGee, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Jo Furr, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Alissa Maples, Jessica Rossman and Kim Tutcher.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation The 2017 Winter Ball honorees are, from left: Susan Sarofim, Kelli Weinzierl, Vivian Wise, Shawntell McWilliams, Judi McGee, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Jo Furr, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Alissa Maples, Jessica Rossman and Kim Tutcher.
 ?? Dave Rossman ?? A Marilyn Monroe impersonat­or gets things started.
Dave Rossman A Marilyn Monroe impersonat­or gets things started.
 ?? Daniel Ortiz ?? Guests were treated to living décor.
Daniel Ortiz Guests were treated to living décor.
 ?? Dave Rossman ?? Burke Saucier and Susan Sarofim
Dave Rossman Burke Saucier and Susan Sarofim
 ?? Dave Rossman ?? Kelli Weinzierl, left, and Kim Tutcher
Dave Rossman Kelli Weinzierl, left, and Kim Tutcher
 ?? Daniel Ortiz ?? Vivian Wise
Daniel Ortiz Vivian Wise

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