Crime Stoppers of Houston Honors Heroes in the Community

(From left) Austin Arceneaux, Constable Ted Heap, Donae Chramosta, John Whitmire, Linda Adkins, Fenner Weller, Alan Helfman, Scott Aronstein (Photo: CatchLight Group) 

More than 430 guests gathered at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Thursday, May 3 for Crime Stoppers of Houston’s annual Houston’s Heroes Award Luncheon. The event honors and celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to help make the community a safer place. Crime Stoppers’ luncheon raised more than $145,000 to directly fund crime prevention programs and public safety initiatives.

Dana Tyson, host of Sunny 99.1 Morning Show, was a lively emcee for the event. Honorees were: Constable Ted Heap, Harris County Precinct 5 (The Johnny Klevenhagen Crime Stoppers Award); Sen. Joan Huffman (The Leon Goldstein Award); Fenner Weller, former Crime Stoppers Chairman (The Leon Goldstein Award); Sen. John Whitmire (The Leon Goldstein Award); Rep. John Zerwas, M.D. (The Leon Golden Award), Alan Helfman, President of River Oaks Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Ram Helfman Ford Helfman Fiat Alfa Romeo Maserati (The Leiv Platou Award); Scott Aronstein, President of Connectivity Source, and Sprint Corporation (The Corporate Partnership Award); Donae Cangelosi Chramosta, The Vintage Contessa (The Safe School Award).

Honoree Alan Helfman announced that he was gifting Crime Stoppers of Houston with a brand-new 2018 Dodge Ram. Pictured: Alan Helfman, emcee Dana Tyson and Crime Stoppers' executive director Rania Mankarious. (Photo: CatchLight Group) 

A stand-out moment of the day was when Alan Helfman, on stage to be honored for his contributions, announced that he was gifting the organization a brand-new 2018 Dodge Ram, which will allow their Safe School Institute team to serve more kids in the community.

Supporters included Russell Gordy, Fred Zeidman, Dave and Laura Ward, Crime Stoppers Chairman Hazem Ahmed, Lauren and Reese Weller, Hillary and Blake Helfman, Steve Mach, Jerri Duddlesten Moore, Charlene Slack, Vicki Rizzo, Brigitte Kalai, Sippi Khurana, Maha Rasheed, Susan Boggio, Tama Lundquist, Tena Faust, Mandy Kao, Joy Sewing, Ugo Tombolini, Twila Carter, Jeff Vaden, BJ and Joe Hudson, Sherri Zucker, Brittany Zucker, Melissa Davis, John Crapitto, Yvette Webb, Linda Adkins, Austin Arceneaux and Jacquie Baly.

Tune in to Sunday Mornings with Rania, a blog written by Rania Mankarious, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Houston in partnership with The Buzz Magazines, each Sunday morning on important, timely topics.