2011 Gala: The Woodlands Grows Up
Gala Co-Chair Chuck Gremillion, RDA Executive Director Linda Sylvan, and Honoree Dan Leverett
On Saturday, November 12, over a thousand people gathered at the Bayou City Event Center to celebrate The Woodlands and The Woodlands Development Co.—the company that has continued to honor the vision that founder George Mitchell had for the new town almost 50 years ago.
Guests enjoyed perusing the silent auction that featured over 100 unique designer items and art works. Bidding was hot and heavy over an eclectic gold piggy bank from ph Design and an offer of a dinner for 10 and stories by caterer Frankie B. Mandola of the Mandola, Carrabba, Butera restaurant family. Mandola’s also served a dinner of marinated rib-eye steaks and shrimp Damian that got rave reviews by guests. Following dinner, guests delighted in the live music of Doppelganger.
Dan Leverett, Vice President of The Woodlands Development Co., accepted accolades from RDA President David Harvey on behalf of his company and paid homage to George Mitchell. Leverett also recognized his associates, including Robert Heineman a 38-year veteran of The Woodlands who was part of the original Mitchell team. Gala chairs Chuck and Janna Gremillion thanked Fundraising Chair Sandy Lynch, whose committee raised nearly $462,000; architect and environment chair Dallas Felder, whose creative ceiling installation of large pink parachutes and green loops transformed the ballroom and evoked the Woodland’s own colorful canopy; and auction chair Kristin Skarbovig, who was delighted by the furious bidding going on, and whose committee work raised $50,000 for RDA’s programs and Cite.
