Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Balls

Black Tie & Boots 2013 was held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center on the Potomac at National Harbor Maryland, January 19, 2013. The Sponsor Dinner was held January 18. Ward & Ames Special Events was responsible for the production of sound, lighting, video, labor and décor as well as the coordination of Texas Fair held in the Potomac and Maryland Ballrooms and the National Harbor, Cherry Blossom rooms as well as the Chesapeake hallway. Ward & Ames designed the event template for and produced five of the Balls at the Marriott Wardman Park during the Reagan/Bush, Bush/Quayle and Bush/Cheney inaugurations.

DISCOVERY GREEN

Discovery Green Conservancy, Houston’s own “Central Park,” located in the heart of Downtown, was the setting for this extraordinary soiree. Ward & Ames managed the construction of the custom built 28,000 square foot tent on the park’s Jones Lawn along with producing the night’s festivities. Inside the massive tent, dozens of antique chandeliers with vibrant greenery, hundreds of flowers and a beautiful gazebo greeted the guests. Ward & Ames engineered the 26,000 square foot tent on the park’s Great Lawn located on the deck lid of a subterranean parking garage. Coordinating all of the event logistics for the sub-contractors required to implement the project inside the massive tent, we manage the installation and timelines for theme decor, experiential lighting, climate control, a seated dinner and a great dance band all of which provide a magical evening for guests.

Rendezvous with
Houston Methodist

Houston Methodist celebrated its first ever fundraising gala with Jenna Bush Hager and Marc Vandermeer, the voice of the Houston Texans served as emcees. We designed an evening that took guests on a journey through the history of the institution as it honored six legacy families, then focused on the “future” with an interactive entertainment experience featuring dancers in illuminated costumes, centerpieces that glowed and pulsed to the beat of the music and video on 6 LED panels all with custom content.

MD Anderson Cancer Center

On May 5, 2011 Ward & Ames produced this 70^th Anniversary milestone event at Minute Maid Park Houston. Over 2,000 guests attended dinner and were entertained by the Houston Symphony Orchestra with a festival billing of performers including world renowned mezzo soprano Susan Graham, violin virtuoso Sarah Chang, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Barbara Padilla with the University of Texas- Pan American Mariachi Aztlan and Ballet Folklorico Luz de Luna.

We designed and built a custom stage positioned on the north wall under the new LED video screen at Minute Maid Park. CBS Evening News Anchor Scott Pelley was Master of Ceremonies, along with Good Morning America’s Weather Anchor Sam Champion.

Program remarks were made by Former Secretary of State James A Baker, III, his wife Susan who delivered the invocation. Chancellor of The University of Texas System, Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, Chairman of The University of Texas Board of Regents, William Eugene “Gene” Powell, Luci Baines Johnson and three emotionally stirring cancer survivors saluted the retiring MD Anderson president, Dr. John Mendelsohn and wife Anne.

Ward & Ames also had the privilege of planning, managing, and producing MD Anderson’s 50th Anniversary in 1991 and 60th in 2001 that featured dinner for 2,000 guests on the field of Minute Maid Park. The night included performances from the Houston Symphony, Lyle Lovett, Ronan Tynan, Diahann Carroll and Joan Lunden was Master of Ceremonies.

Ronald McDonald House Boo Ball

Ronald McDonald House’s bi-annual gala took place on the eve of Halloween, so it seemed appropriate to celebrate the season with a ghoulish theme. The evening included performances, designed by our in-house choreographer Tony Smith, to classic seasonal hits including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”