This week, we played: “Who is the most interesting person at this party?”
Christy and Ed Kargbo
Sometimes, it was a stranger. At other times, a known factor. At the Red Cross Luminaria pre-party high atop the Austonian, it wasn’t a person. It was a corporation.
Oh that’s right, they are people, too. Dell’s gift to the national HQ of the Red Cross — a social media control center — had me all atwitter. Gosh, we need one of those to help out our crack social media team at the Statesman.
Other honorees for the upcoming Luminaria gala on April 5 include jewelry goddess Kendra Scott and veteran Red Cross volunteer Bill Dorman. The re-branded benefit should be a smash, though I’ll miss it because that’s the opening night of the 360 Amphitheater at the Circuit of the Americas. Home team and all.
Diana Orozco-Lapray and Anthony Barron
During the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium reception at Allan House, the most interesting guests were Diana Orozco-Lapray and Anthony Barron. They are among the first alumni of the group that nurtures Latino students all through the process of higher education.
Orozco-Lapray is a graduate student at the University of Texas. She has a hard time convincing her undergraduates that she’s their teacher. Usually they get it when she firmly, quietly tells them to put away their smart phones and laptops for discussion time.
Barron studied geographic information systems at UT. What is that? Think of it as digital geography. For British Aerospace Systems in Virginia, he gathers digital data on geographic features then fashions them into explanatory images and texts. Totally mesmerizing. Discreetly failed to ask if drones were involved.
At the western-themed Bandana Ball at glorious Wild Onion Ranch, my first take on “most interesting” was David Rabke, a regular volunteer at Ronald McDonald House who bears a passing resemblance to Brad Pitt. His stories on the shuttle from Akins High School peaked my interest.
Other candidates included Erica and Hobbs Allison of Lost Creek, whose dad’s club sells Christmas trees to benefit the house for seriously ill children. They usually net more than $6,000, which is no small take for a grassroots effort.
But the guy most likely to be profiled is Ronald McDonald director Kent Burress, whose links out into the community are so vast, they deserve special documentation.
Kristin Fischer and Chris Martinez
At the Big Hair Country Fair, another western-themed gala the same night, this one for the deftly renamed Creative Action at the Salt Lick Pavilion. Leave to this group, formerly known by the clunky and aggravating Theatre Action Project, to stage an engaging three-ring circus to go with the gorgeous setting and tasty vittles.
Interesting folks? Try Marc and Suzanne Winkelman. Alright, yes, I’ve written more than enough on these avatars of business and philanthropy, whose three children are just as invested in saving the world. Yet hardly a social contact goes by without sharing serious and seriously fun dialogue with these guys.
Kathleen and Lou Mabley
The Heart to Heart gala reached its second year in fine form. The benefit netted almost three times what it did in 2012 for the Sacred Heart Community Clinic in Round Rock. This is about it for Williamson County galas, at least ones that include an invitation to the area’s social columnist. (We’ll let it pass with just a mention that it was held in Austin at the Domain Westin Hotel.)
Theme: “In our own backyard.” The explanatory video: Award-winning. In it, clinic founder Liz Burton-Garcia says: “Nobody chooses to be poor. Nobody chooses to be broke. … They are just down on their luck.” Wish more felt that way. Including elected officials who were present.
Heather Millhone, Sharad Mudhol and Cheryl Dipper
My search for the most interesting guest ended with the event chairs: Amber and Doug Schmitt. Doug is a VP for Dell and Amber was clearly the major force behind this classy, big-time gala. Worth a double interview?
They were nominated by an animated group of mostly Dell folks Heather Millhone, Sharad Mudhol and Cheryl Dipper as well as Kathleen and Lou Mabley. (Kathy is with UT.)
I love it when smart people go out of their way to tip me on the best future stories.