Girl power

Shelley Ludwick, Chelsea Collmer, Ellie Francisco and Danny and Iris Shaftel gathered with fellow Girls, Inc. of Greater Houston supporters for a baseball-themed fundraising luncheon. Union Station was the setting for A League of Her Own that raised more than $400,000 to help inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. The sold-out crowd included 350 guests who enjoyed the festive afternoon organized by luncheon chairs Kat Pressly and her mother Sue Rogers. Kat’s husband, Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly, attended along with many of the Astros wives and friends including Samantha Tucker, Reagan Bregman, Kara McCullers, Maria Hader, Lindsey Kessinger, Pam Espada, and Alexandra Rich. The inaugural Melanie Gray Vanguard Award, presented by Melanie Gray, a longtime supporter and philanthropist in the community, was given to licensed professional counselor Melissa Cook, who spoke to the crowd about the need for support for young girls, especially in today’s social media-driven society. Cook also spoke about her own personal experiences with mental illness and the importance of open conversations about recovery.  

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