Social Seen - San Antonio society through the looking glass PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 28 March 2007

Carole Miller
Carole Miller
Story & photos by Carole Miller

Spring has sprung in the world of San Antonio society. And what better way to celebrate spring than with several events to benefit children. This week I felt as if I was on a storybook trip through Wonderland just like Alice chasing that darn white rabbit. From a fanciful black-tie gala complete with circus performers to a whimsical tea party, these were my adventures.

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Gordon and Martha Smith, Jan and Stan Studer, Tripp and Chaney Stuart, and Brian and Melinda Biggs enjoy the Spring Fling to benefit the Healy-Murphy Center.
As my fairy-tale week began, I attended the Spring Fling to benefit the Healy-Murphy Center. The event was held at the First Presbyterian Church in historic downtown San Antonio. The mission of the Healy-Murphy Center is to provide compassionate service to youth-in-crisis by focusing on individualized education in a non-traditional setting, early childhood development and essential support services.

Brian and Melinda Biggs were my generous table hosts for the evening. I laughed the evening away with Gordon and Martha Smith, Stan and Jan Studer, Tripp and Chaney Stuart, Kady Naumann and my “date” for the evening, Charlotte Milner. The delicious dinner was provided by the First Presbyterian elders.

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Lyndon and Nicole Nugent, former Gov. Dolph Briscoe, Jon Hess and Jennifer Shemwell at the benefit for Respite Care.
Then that white rabbit led me to a circus at the Municipal Auditorium that included magicians, clowns, a ringmaster on stilts, caricature artists and a lavish dining room filled with colors of the rainbow. This fabulous event, “A Celebration of Love and Children,” was held to honor Ed and Linda Whitacre for their years of support of the children of the Respite Care Center. Former honorees include Bill and Louree Greehey, Kenny and Sharon Wilson, Dick and Jimmie Ruth Evans and Fully and Gloria Kingman.

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Honorees Ed and Linda Whitacre with Landa Gardens Conservancy members Ann Van Pelt, Jill Torbert and Veronica Salazar-Escobedo at 'A Celebration of Love and Children.'
Respite Care of San Antonio was founded in 1987 with the goal of providing temporary respite services to families caring for a child with developmental disabilities. The Davidson Respite House Emergency Shelter is the state’s first and only agency licensed to provide temporary care for children with developmental disabilities or complex medical diagnoses who are taken into state protective custody. It is also licensed to serve as a foster placement agency for children with special needs in the state’s protective custody. After their stay of 90 to 120 days, if these children cannot return to their families or relatives, they enter the foster system. Respite Care will now be able to use the insights gained to secure the right foster home for the children, as well as training of the foster parent(s) and support through its services and programs.

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Olivia Boyce
Supporters at the party included Gov. Dolph Briscoe, Lyndon and Nicole Nugent, Jon Hess, Jennifer Shemwell, Bert Pfiester and Ed DeWees. I also got to meet Landa Gardens Conservancy members Ann Van Pelt, Jill Torbert and Veronica Salazar-Escobedo as well as Gala co-chairs Sheri Hernandez and Marilyn Taylor. And I spotted local celebrity Ernesto Ancira and Emmy-award winning news anchor Deborah Knapp, who served as mistress of ceremonies for the third year in a row.

Finally, I found myself at Mad Hatters for a tea party with the up-and-coming young ladies of San Antonio society. The party was thrown for Alamo Heights senior Olivia Boyce to celebrate her participation in the Waco Cotton Palace Pageant, which is the equivalent of being a Fiesta Queen/Duchess here in San Antonio.

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Tea party hostesses (with the mostesses) Vicki Boyce, Anne Folkes, Susan Smith, Weisie Steen, Isabelle Badouh and Susan Kerr.
The party was thrown by my old friend Anne Folkes, along with Isabelle Badouh, Cynthia Coleman, Leighton Donnell, Lori Donnell, Laura Nell Fry, Susan Kerr, Cyd Lotito, Susan Smith and Weisie Steen. All the girls, including Becca Bagby, Scarlette Barrow, Courtney Bonner, Natalen Castrejana, Lindsay Fuller, Emmaline Hawn, Jane Hollimon, Katy Morgan, Tierney Oakes, Helen Oettinger, Caroline and Sarah Peacock, Calvin Smith, Sydney Stuckey, Hayley Vaughan and Ellen Wise were looking lovely in their best hats and using their best manners.

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At Mad Hatters for a tea party with the up-and-coming young ladies of San Antonio society. The party was thrown for Alamo Heights senior Olivia Boyce.
After the tea party, I awoke sitting in front of my computer screen, desperately trying to finish my column. Oh dread! I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!

 

 

 

 
 
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