Tiger Ball Guests Toast Brilliant First Year in Asia Society Texas Center’s New Home
A few of the members of the desi community who attended the Asia Society’s Tiger Ball 2013 on Friday, April 26. Photos: Jenny Antill
HOUSTON: First anniversaries are always special. Supporters of Asia Society Texas Center, marking one year since the grand opening of the organization’s spectacular home in the Museum District, celebrated Tiger Ball 2013 on Friday, April 26 in grand style and amid lavish surroundings.
More than 500 of Houston’s social and civic worthies, many in gorgeous national dress, crowded into the Yoshio-Taniguchi-designed Center for scrumptious food by Jackson and Company and good conversation. Tables were arrayed over both floors in intimate groupings while musicians—representing the diversity of Asia, from Indian sitarists to Vietnamese folk singers—entertained guests. Golden limestone and rich cherrywood walls formed the backdrop to elegant décor by AJ’s Urban Petals.
The evening started in style with cocktails and sushi in a lighted pavilion in front of the Center. After brief remarks, guests moved into the building for the seated dinner. Following dessert DJ Sun cranked up the sounds for post-dinner dancing in the expansive Fayez Sarofim Grand Hall.
The annual gala raised $650,000 to support programs, exhibitions, educational activities, and operations of the Texas Center, all designed to further Asia Society’s mission of bringing Asians and Americans together for a shared future.
Welcoming guests were gala chairs Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia and the Texas Center’s Acting Executive Director, John Bradshaw, Jr. Honorary chairs were Muffet Blake and Sheela and Ashok Rao.
Seen in the crowd: Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Sima and Massoud Ladjevardian, Annette and George Strake, Tony and Isaac Arnold, Jr., Marian and Dr. Robert Stasney, Sushana and Jack Castle, Anu and Dr. Nat Bala, Monjula and Ravi Chidambaram, Dr. George Yang, Lily and Hamid Kooros, Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron.
Since its April 2012 opening the new Asia Society Texas Center has hosted internationally recognized performers, statesman, writers, and scholars. As it enters its second year, it continues to present wide-ranging public programs across the fields of business and policy, arts and culture, and education. A nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization, it promotes mutual understanding and strengthens partnerships among the peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States.