The donation process is simple and every donation can help save as many as three lives. All who donate or attempt to donate will receive a free Commit for Life T-shirt.

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center’s Commit for Life program encourages all donors to give blood four times a year to help ensure a healthy blood supply is always available for those in need. Every day, The Blood Center must collect 1,000 donations to meet the needs of patients throughout the 26-county Texas Gulf Coast region.

To make an appointment online, visit giveblood.org  and click on Digital Donor. Or, call blood drive chairperson Otis Harris at (713) 534-5939 or call The Blood Center at 1(888) 482-5663.

The donation process is simple and every donation can help save as many as three lives. All who donate or attempt to donate will receive a free Commit for Life T-shirt.

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center’s Commit for Life program encourages all donors to give blood four times a year to help ensure a healthy blood supply is always available for those in need. Every day, The Blood Center must collect 1,000 donations to meet the needs of patients throughout the 26-county Texas Gulf Coast region.

To make an appointment online, visit giveblood.org  and click on Digital Donor. Or, call blood drive chairperson Otis Harris at (713) 534-5939 or call The Blood Center at 1(888) 482-5663.

Photo by Randy Kozlovski 
Shown are the Mad Hatter Spring Luncheon and fashion show attendees.

Pack to an overflowing crowd, the Stafford Center for the Performing Arts main ballroom was the place to be as the Mad Hatter Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show celebrated, “We are America,” sponsored by Fluor Corporation and benefiting Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels.

“We had so many well-known icons on stage that not only made this event successful, they also kept the audience – dressed in hats- entertained; Carolyn Farb an international icon; Jonathan Sandys, great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill; Fred Arnold with Minute Maid; Bambi Lynn national fashion icon, and Gail Best a local entertainer, and catered by the Italian Maid, all helped make this event wonderful. We cannot begin to thank everyone who participated in this wonderful event,” said Manuela Arroyos, CEO, Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels.

One of the trademarks of the event is every table is decorated by a different organization or group and a winner announced. This year, Lisa Anhaiser owner of Linens by Lisa won for best table decoration.

“Again, we are thrilled the event was so successful and we are already planning next year’s Mad Hatter and we look forward to seeing everyone there. Thank you to all for making this year’s event so success. The elderly in the community are the real beneficiaries since their plates will not go empty,” Arroyos said.

Shrek The Musical, based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life.

In a far, faraway kingdom that’s been turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre – not a handsome prince – shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Then, throw in a donkey who doesn’t know when to stop talking, a villain with a SHORT temper, a cookie with a serious attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of situation that calls for a real hero. Luckily for everyone there’s Shrek.

Please bring your headshot or a recent photo and resume. For more information, visit the FBT website at www.fortbendtheatre.com and click the upcoming auditions tab or call 281-208-3333.

One of the designers that has now joined this already amazing fashion show with designer Chloe Dao, winner of Project Runway’s season two, is Cesar Galindo.

“Cesar Galindo is amazing. He is originally from Houston and is a well-known couture designer with clients from around the world,”  said Susan Whitacre,  director, Fund Development and Volunteers, Fort Bend Seniors

Galindo has also created costumes for celebrities including Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, Joan Jett, and designed for Gwen Stefani’s clothing line L.A.M.B., the Spring 2011 collection. Recently Galindo created his new young sophisticated line, “CZAR” which was featured in the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, and also the “CZAR” spring line was featured as one of the opening shows for Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week February of 2013.

For most, to see a fashion show of this caliber one would have to attend New York Fashion Week, yet, Fort Bend Seniors is bringing it to our own back yard, to Fort Bend County, to the Stafford Center.

The other designer who will be showing fashions at the Mad Hatter is Jonathan Blake.

“Jonathan Blake’s designs are stunning and everyone is delighted that he will show his fall/winter runway collection to those attending the Mad Hatter and we will have the first glimpse of what’s in for fall from Jonathan Blake ,” said Carolyn Farb.

Bambi Lynn, Mad Hatter Fashion Show Coordinator added, “I am excited to work yet again with such high-end designers whose flawless pieces dress women from all ranges.”

For ticket or sponsorship information please call 281-633-7051 or visit the website, www.fortbendseniors.org.

The Mad Hatter Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show benefits Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels.

“Our theme this year is We Are America! This patriotic event will be a fun and moving experience for all. Our speaker will be British subject Jonathan Churchill Sandys, Sir Winston Churchill’s great-grandson. He is representing America’s beginnings, as he enjoys seeing how the colonies are faring these days! His brief talk will be inspirational and moving, something we can all take home and apply to our daily lives,” said Manuela Arroyos , CEO, Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels.

Dr. Carolyn Farb, author and philanthropist, will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

Fort Bend’s finest will be walking the runway in fabulous spring and summer fashions provided by SAKS Fifth Avenue. Make your reservations today for this sure to be sold out event. Your support will benefit the programs that offer friendship, food and other support to our homebound and isolated elderly neighbors. Visit us at www.fortbendseniors.org today and sponsor a table, purchase a ticket or decorate a table in the We Are America theme!

For those who know, the Mad Hatter trademark is having every table decorated differently by businesses, civic organizations and individuals. For more information, please visit www.fortbendseniors.org, and click on Events at the top of the page, or contact Rebecca Maitland at Rebecca@fortbendseniors.org or call 832.752.9645 or contact Susan Whitacre at Susan@FortBendSeniors.org.

Enjoy children’s and adult entertainment at its best, while profits from the event support many great charities and charitable events locally, as well as worldwide.  One of the many successful signature projects is the support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which provides free books to pre-school children throughout Fort Bend County.

For more information, please visit; www.oystercreekrotary.org/ or Oyster Creek Rotary on Facebook.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and to learn more, please contact Trever Nehls at 713-557-1243 or Troy Nehls at 713-419-5994.

If you would like to contribute an auction item, please contact Cindy Fauvelle at 713-829-0550 or Wanda Kras at 717-854-6772.

Tommy Fruge’ is a United States Military Veteran and is the Director of Veteran Programs for Recovery Is Possible.  His experience with veterans gives him a very personal and unique perspective on veterans suffering from losses associated with the return of today’s military personnel.

Bring Everyone in the Zone peer support groups and training opportunities are offered the second and fourth Thursday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the United Way Building, 10435 Greenbough Dr., Stafford.

For more information please call Tommy Fruge’ at 409-550-0538 or visit www.recovery-is-possible.com

The “MS Word Survival Basics” class for version 2007 will take place on Thursday, April 18, beginning at 10:00 am.

The “MS Excel Survival Basics” class for version 2007 will take place on Thursday, April 25, beginning at 10:00 am.

The classes are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, and reservations are required. To register online at the library’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), click on “Calendar,” select “Mamie George/Stafford,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling the library at 281-238-2880, or by visiting the library.