Nearly 400 guests celebrated AAMA’s 44 years of helping Latino youth and families at the annual Tacos y Tacones gala on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Bayou City Event Center.

Gala Chairs Lisa and Juan Alonso plannedthe evening with a colorful and elegant gold, fuchsia and orange ballroom, featuring sprays of matching florals and the lively sounds of Rice University’s Mariachi Luna Llena. Juan Alonso is regional vice president for H-E-B/Mi Tienda Stores and H-E-B was underwriting sponsor of the event.

Emcee, ABC-13 Vice President of Community Affairs Cynthia Cisneros, and AAMA President and CEO Beatrice Garza spoke of the importance of AAMA’s education and leadership development programs that help at-risk Latino children and families succeed.

Highlighting the evening were stories from four students who have benefited from AAMA’s programs. Following their stories, guests pledged more than $50,000 to support AAMA, a sum matched by Fund a Dream Underwriter Starbucks Coffee Company. In total, through the generosity of sponsors, auction donors and bidders, the gala raised more than $410,000 to fund AAMA’s programs.

In what is becoming a Tacos y Tacones tradition, Ernesto Moreira dazzled guests with his display of fine couture jewelry, donating a percentage of the sales to AAMA. Moreira also donated an unusual 23 carat green amethyst, which was auctioned to one lucky bidder.

When the bidding was done, high energy band Grupo Kache kept the beat going as guests danced until midnight. 

Mil gracias,