SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 18th ANNUAL
LUNCHEON
WILL FEATURE GUEST SPEAKER LAUREN
BUSH LAUREN
HOUSTON, TEXAS – Society
for the Performing Arts (SPA), Bringing the World’s Best
to Houston, is thrilled to announce that its 18th Annual
Luncheon will feature guest speaker, Lauren
Bush Lauren. This year’s luncheon is being chaired
by Christie Sullivan. The
luncheon will take place on Wednesday, October
8, 2014 on
the Jones Hall Stage, beginning at 11:00 am.
In 2009, Society for the Performing Arts established the
annual Ann Sakowitz
Performing Arts Advocate Award to present at its
Fall Luncheon each October to commemorate National Arts
and Humanities Month. The Award was named in memory of
SPA Founding Board Member Ann
Sakowitz for
her dedication to the performing arts and her devoted
commitment to Society for the Performing Arts. SPA
presents the award each year to an individual who,
through their support and advocacy, champions the
performing arts. Past recipients include Mrs. Sakowitz’s
daughter, Lynn
Wyatt, Patricia
Hubbard, Patsy
Fourticq, and Mariquita
Masterson. This year’s award will be presented to
Mark Wawro and Melanie Gray, whose devotion to the
performing arts and Society for the Performing Arts is
legendary.
Lauren Bush Lauren is
widely celebrated for her incredible commitment to
charity and philanthropy. Many honors that she received
over the years include the 2008 Marie Claire Prix De La
Moda Humanitarian Award, the 2010 Accessory Council’s
Humanitarian Award, being named on Inc.’s “30 Under 30”
List, and being designated as one of the 2013 Fortune
Most Powerful Woman Entrepreneurs. Ms. Lauren also
serves as an Honorary Spokesperson for the United
Nations World Food Program (WFP) with whom she travels
to impoverished countries around the world. Her husband,
David Lauren describes her as a woman that has a lot of
passion, fully committed to her philanthropic causes,
and is always thinking of the next way of connecting her
charities to the public.
The proceeds from the
luncheon provide the necessary funds needed for SPA’s
Education and Outreach Program, Beyond
the Spotlight that
takes the performing arts into the community topresent
unique learning experiences enriching the lives of more
than 120,000 underserved children and adolescents in the
greater Houston area annually. SPA’s educational
programming includes Master
Classes, Residencies, Teacher
Workshops, Lecture/Demonstrations, Creative
Writing/Choreography Programs, Student Matinees and
Transportation Funding, plus performance tickets
free of charge to Houston’s most underserved students.
Research shows that academic performance improves and
dropout rates decrease when students are involved in the
arts.
Since 1966, Society for
the Performing Arts has built a reputation as the most
innovative community-oriented nonprofit presenting
organization in Houston. Last season, more than 100,000
Houstonians enjoyed SPA’s performances. Luncheon
underwriter opportunities for tables of ten begin at
$3,000. Individual tickets begin at $300. For
underwriting opportunities and ticket information,
please contact Ashley Coffey at 713-632-8117 or email acoffey@spahouston..org.
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