About this Event
Come and honor our veterans at our fundraising luncheon with guest speaker Michelle J. Howard, US Navy Admiral, Retired. Our entertainment will be the highly talented Texas A&M Singing Cadets.
- This is a very special event. All veterans will be recognized during the program.
- 100% of the net revenue will stay in Houston to directly benefit Houston veterans.
- Tables available for sponsorhip. See below.
- Dress is business.
Premiere Beneficiaries
- Camp Hope - Houston
- Honor Flight - Houston
About our guest speaker
Michelle J. Howard served 35 years in the United States Navy. She led Sailors and Marines multiple times in her career as the Commander of: a ship, an Expeditionary Strike Group, Task Force, and a Naval theater. Her last command was from 2016 to 2017 as U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa. She simultaneously led NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Naples with oversight of missions from the Western Balkans to Iraq. Operations in her career include NATO peacekeeping, West African Training Cruise, Indonesia Tsunami Relief operations, and the rescue of Maersk Alabama from Somali Pirates. Michelle is a Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran.
Accomplishments
In 1999 Michelle J. Howard became the first African American woman to command a ship in the Navy. In 2014, she was the first woman to become a four-star Admiral in the U.S. Navy and the first woman to be appointed to the position of Vice Chief of Naval Operations (number two in a Military Service). She is the first African American woman to reach the rank of three-star and four-stars in the Armed Forces.
Michelle J. Howard was the Shapiro Visiting Professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University from 2018 to 2020. She taught courses on cyber and policy. She is on the board of directors for IBM. She is on the board of directors for the STIMSON CENTER, and on an advisory panel to the US Institute of Peace. Michelle was the Chair of The Naming Commission from March 2020 to October 2022. The congressionally mandated Commission identified and made recommendations to remove, rename or modify Department of Defense Assets that commemorated the Confederacy or individuals who voluntarily served the Confederacy.
Education
- U. S. Naval Academy
- Bachelor of Science 1982
- U. S. Army Command and General Staff College
- Masters Military Arts and Science (History) 1998
TICKET POLICY
Downtown Rotary Club of Houston members are entitled to one (1) free ticket per paid member.
Corporate members are entitled to five (5) tickets. Visitors and guests must purchase a ticket at $75.
*** If you are ordering more than one (1) ticket, please ENTER EACH ATTENDEE'S NAME for faster event check in. ***
All credit cards and PayPal accepted. Valet parking included.
Ticket and sponsorship opportunities
Donate a Ticket for a Veteran to Join Luncheon ($75 each)
You may donate a seat for a guest veteran for $75. We will invite veterans from WW II, Korea, Vietnam, and Gulf War Era.
Please be generous so that we may honor as many veterans as possible.
Charitable Donations Are Welcome
I f you would like to make a charitable donation instead of purchasing a table or veteran ticket, please contact Kittie Gugenheim ([email protected]) or Robert Castle ([email protected]).
Tables Available for Sponsorship
Please contact Kittie Gugenheim ([email protected]) or Robert Castle ([email protected]) to learn what each level provides, ie. program advertisement, recognition, event coverage, etc.
- $1,500 - Supporter Table
- $2,500 - Featured Table
- $5,000 - Underwriter Table
You will need to provide the names of your table guests. You can also use any of the seats at your table to host one of our invited veteran guests.
Each table, regardless of sponsorship level, comes with 8 event tickets. If the table isn't filled by the sponsor, any open seats will be filled by Veterans.
Featured Table In addition to their 8 tickets, you will be sponsoring 10 additional Veterans, for a total of 18 tickets. We can provide transportation to get them to the event if needed. We will also recognize the Featured Table sponsors during the program.
Underwriter Table In addition to 8 tickets, you will be sponsoring 10 additional Veterans, The Underwriter sponsor will receive special recognition during the program and on the Downtown Rotary Club of Houston’s website for a year as the 2024 premier event sponsor.
Accepted Payments
W e accept cash, credit cards, or checks. Please contact Kittie or Robert to make a table payment.
Please remit checks made payable to:
The Downtown Rotary Club of Houston Veterans Committee
Mailt to: 9333 Memorial Dr., #301, Houston, TX 77024
For any questions, please call Kittie Gugenheim at 713-582-6863 or Robert Castle at 713-894-5068.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Ballroom at Bayou Place, 500 Texas Avenue, Houston, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 81.88