‘Latin Women’ award $300,000 to Hispanic-serving charities
Is a holy man’s outfit important? It is if he’s delivering the invocation at the Latin Women’s Initiative Luncheon.
“Let me tell you what I’m wearing,” quipped Father Juan Torres of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. “I’m wearing what Dominican friars have been wearing since we were founded in the year 1216.”
He paused for dramatic effect, lifting layers of fabric and sharing the rich history behind his robe with tails.
“Let’s go on to the jewelry I’m wearing: It’s a rosary,” he continued, much to the delight of his giggling audience. “And my shoes? They’re (Salvatore) Ferragamo, courtesy of my mother.”
Gussying-up is part of the annual luncheon’s charm. For the 17th installment, some 700 Latin women (and a few stylish gents) shimmied into their highest heels and most festive frocks for the revelrous day party on May 17 downtown at Hilton Americas Houston.
It’s the kind of fundraiser that starts at 10 a.m. and ends when the last (wo)man standing leaves. With cocktails in hand, eventgoers shop a selection of pop-up marketplace boutiques before and after the program. A number of early birds flocked to Two 2 Tango — try saying that three times fast post-mimosas — for those trendy, shoulder-dusting earrings that all the influencers are wearing and immediately clipped them on for a real-time outfit upgrade.
Then LWI president Daisy Mendoza joined fashion show co-chairs Michele Leal Farah and Maritza Gonzales onstage after Father Torres. An admittedly tough act to follow, though the power trio had big news to share. They announced which six local charities would receive slices of the $300,000 raised: Bayou City Blessings in a Backpack, Chinquapin Preparatory School, L.I.F.E. Houston, the Kid’s Reading
Room, Undies for Everyone and University of Houston’s Center for Mexican American Studies’ Academic Achiever Program were named 2019’s beneficiaries.
“Charities are invited to apply each year, and this year we had 20, the most ever,” explained Mari Trevino Glass, incoming LWI president. When her term begins this fall, she’ll become the organization’s youngest commander in chief. “We look for applicants that primarily serve women and children in mainly Hispanic communities.”
They also consider mission advancing honorees and onbrand meal planning. San Antonio native and honorary chair Trini Mendenhall was recognized for her many contributions to the community as president of Fulton Shopping Center and former principal of Fiesta Mart, Inc., which she co-founded.
Later, fellow patrons dug into seafood ceviche salads, Casado (a traditional Costa Rican meal with beef short rib, arepas, black beans and fried plantains) and vanilla bean tres leches cakes — and mind you, each was served with wine pairings. As has become tradition, the hotel’s catering staff prepared dessert from a recipe featured in LWI’s “Latin Flavors: A Taste of Our Heritage” cookbook.
Next came the runway show. Tootsies sent 53 bold spring/ summer looks by predominantly Latin designers including Alexis, Borgo De Nor, Carolina Herrera, PatBo, Oscar de la Renta, Robert Rodriguez and Silvia Tcherassi down the catwalk. For the grand finale, Casa de Novia Bridal Couture showed six wedding gowns by de la Renta and Francesca Miranda.
The luncheon concluded as it always does, with a ballroomwide tequila toast.
Well, technically, a horde of shoppers raced back to the marketplace for more shopping and margaritas. Because as Friar Torres proved, “What are you wearing?” is a question that warrants a measured response in such stylish company.