Houston’s Own Enchanted Forest Creates a $2.1 Million Night — How Dodging the Rain Paid Off For the Zoo

What: Houston Zoo “Enchanted Forest” gala

Where: The tented Masihara Pavilion

PC Moment: Only a few drops of the anticipated flood fell as a flock of more than 600 arrived via golf carts at the pavilion tucked into the heart of the Houston Zoo. The real downpour came during the After Party while The DryWater Band played on. All in all, it still turned into a promising rain for the Zoo with the night raising more than $2.1 million in support of Houston’s zoological wonderland.

The generous fundraising was in the hands of the Goossen family — Kathy and Marty Goossen , their sons and daughters-in-law Catherine and Jay Goossen and Lacey and Matthew Goossen .

The evening honored former Houston Zoo president and CEO Lee Ehmke , who oversaw Houston Zoo’s breathtaking tran