2023 UNCF Houston Youth Gala

The 24th Annual UNCF Youth Gala, held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, raised more than $65,000 to benefit UNCF’s member institutions, scholarships for low-income students and the seniors who attended the event. 1100 Greater Houston youth ages 13 -17 represented organizations like the Top Teens, Jack & Jill of America, National Women of Achievement, Inc., Knights of Peter Claver, and several local churches.

The student planning committee, led by longtime UNCF Volunteers and Top Ladies members Pat Pellerin and Carol Enard, met monthly to make key decisions about night-of-program details that reflected the collective interests of the teens – and parents. A special thank you to: Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, The Fort Bend Church, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, The Fort Bend Church, Ivy League Education and Charities Foundation, Intravenous Certification Specialist – ICS, Woodside Energy – Employees Beyond Race EIG, and the National Drifters, Inc – Houston Chapter, Whataburger, Hudson, and Smoothie King.

One highlight from the night included the surprise presentation of 10 Dell laptops donated by Arca-Continental Coca Cola Southwest Beverages. Keeping in line with UNCF’s mission of helping those in need, the laptops were given to deserving students from Wheeler Ave, Fort Bend Church, Brentwood Baptist Church and Upward Bound. Gala participants heard remarks from the Youth Gala Executive Planning Committee Chairs Trinity Leslie and Dorian Gee, and several Organizational Representatives including Kim Ukpong, Jaylin Daniels, Lauren Tillman, Blair Brown, Tori Pradia, Tyeshia Babineaux, Morgan Williams, Landon Bogar, Christine Wigfall, Zoe Foster and Kaylin Daniels and UNCF Area Development Director Zarinah K. Poole before opening the dance floor.

Highlights from the Event