Grand Champions for TEACH Wrangles Big Win for Public Education

TEACH’s tenth annual fundraising gala raised a record $1.9 million toward creating positive learning environments for all children!

A sold-out crowd and a special appearance by country-music superstar Cody Johnson at the 10th annual Grand Champions for TEACH fundraising gala on Tuesday, Nov. 15, helped raise a hefty $1.9 million for Houston-based nonprofit To Educate All Children (TEACH).

More than 700 guests attended the event, held at The Post Oak Hotel, to support TEACH’s mission. Co-founded in 2005 by Susan D. Sarofim and Mary Yenik, TEACH provides educators with ongoing coaching and comprehensive professional development in nonverbal classroom management techniques to create positive learning environments for all children.

Special guest, CMA-award winning Texan singer-songwriter, Cody Johnson, delighted TEACH supporters with an intimate performance of some of his most chart-topping songs, for which he was most recently nominated for a Grammy Award.

This year’s event Honoree, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, was recognized for their tireless contributions to public education, and received the inaugural annual “Fayez Sarofim Champion for TEACH” 2022 award. As an avid, longtime supporter of TEACH, the late Fayez Sarofim generously underwrote this year’s gala, making it possible for all funds raised to directly support TEACH’s mission.

TEACH’s Executive Director Alvin Abraham also presented the inaugural annual “Champion for TEACH Educator” 2022 award to HISD’s Robinson Elementary School’s Jennifer Silva, for going above and beyond in utilizing TEACH’s strategies in her classroom and embodying what it means to be a “great teacher.”

The Cowboy Auctioneer led the appeal portion of the two-hour program, helping raise a record-breaking $1.9 million to support educators and students.

DeeDee and Wallis Marsh and Carol and Mike Linn served as Chairs of Grand Champions for TEACH, an event made possible by the support of more than 700 generous donors.

In the 2022-2023 school year, TEACH reached more than 20,000 students through its work with more than 1,800 educators across more than 32 Houston-area schools. To learn more about TEACH’s impact and find other ways to give, visit ToEducateAllChildren.org.

Silver Spur

Jennifer and Scott Allison / Julie and Stephen Chen
Alumni Molds
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
Commerce Bank
Jacquelyn and Collin Cox
Julie Dokell and John Cogan
Sidney Faust
Becca and Adam Hines
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Chuck Jenness / Alice and Keith Mosing
Edna Meyer-Nelson
New Orleans Auction Gallery
Gary Petersen
River Oaks District
Melissa and Doug Schnitzer
Texas Mattress Makers
Beth Wolff / Cheryl Byington

Couple Sponsors

Cissy Abel
Denise and Philip Bahr
Shelley and Lee Boyer
Pamela and Ryan Castleman
Ann and Clarence Cazalot
Lesha and Tom Elsenbrook
Ibtissam Ezzeddine
Ellie and Michael Francisco
Isela and Juan Garcia
Cyndy Garza-Roberts and Thomas Roberts
Debra and Mark Gregg
Legacy Community Health
Kelley and Steve Lubanko
Ed McMahon
Denise Monteleone
Bobbie Nau
Nicole Rose
Sue and Randy Sim
Elizabeth and Alan Stein
Stephanie and Frank Tsuru
Kelli and John Weinzierl
Sarah Young
Robin Ellis-Young

Other Generous Donors

Adeeb Barqawi
Donatella Beckenstein
Robert Clay
Lindsay Derman
Mary Dowe Boyles
Jo Lynn Falgout
Lily and Charles Foster
Fuller’s Guitars
Marilu Garza
Diane and Harry Gendel
Melinda Hildebrand
Grace Kim
LoveShackFancy
Jocelyn Mouton
Valeria Palmertree
Regina Rogers
Tenenbaum Jewelers
Kim and Dan Tutcher
Lisa Wallace