Contact: Riyad Abu-Taha
713-663-7766

The Ambassadors' Club holds its Sixth Annual Toy Drive and Third Annual Halloween Gala to benefit Toys For Tots. An all star studded Halloween Gala is planned for Sunday, October 27, 2002 at City Streets, 5078 Richmond Avenue at Post Oak Blvd. The festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.

Members of The United States Marine Corps Reserve will be on hand to help collect the toys. They will also present the Color Guard and the National Anthem. The Ambassadors' Club collected over 5,000 toys last year and plans to exceed this number this year with the help and support of our Host Committee Members, our sponsors and the community at large. All guests are asked to bring unwrapped toys to the gala.
Attire is black tie or costume.

Toys For Tots program started in 1947 by the United States Marine Corps in California. They collected over 250,000 toys last year in the city of Houston alone. These toys were distributed to more than 41,000 needy and underprivileged children.

We are proud to announce that The Houston Fire Department is our major partner for this drive. All Houston's fire stations will be drop off sites for our Toy Drive. Fire Fighters will be on hand at the gala to assist in receiving the toys. Fire engines will be on a rotating basis in front of City Streets that evening.

The Ambassadors' Club invites all Houstonians to attend and support this fun filled evening. The well known Franchise band with Pat Hunt & Kimberly Smith will entertain our guest, (this is the band that played New Year's Eve party at the Hyatt Regency Down Town for the past 15 years). Along with our one of a kind D. J., Joseph A. Mire of the J. A. M. Session. He kept our guests on their feet all night long at our gala last year's.

A spectacular buffet will be served by some of Houston's finest restaurants. The list includes Champps, Sweet Mesquite, Fornos Italian and the Sands Middle Eastern Restaurants.

An exciting and fun best costume contest will take place to select the best male and female costumes. A panel of celebrity judges which includes Lauren Anderson, Lara Bell, Heidi Burge, Rachel Gage, Cindy Garza Michelle Hatmaker, Chief Raul Reyes, Jr., Cleverley Stone, Rob Todd, Laurette Veres and Brian Wice will select five finalists in each category, and the audience will decide the winners. Valuable prizes will be awarded to the winners that evening. FOX News Channel 26 Anchorwoman Melissa Wilson will help co emcee the gala this year again.

This event is by invitation only. Each invitation admits two people. Tickets are $10.00 advance purchase and $15.00 after October 10th and at the door. VIP tickets are available as well. Tickets can be purchased from any of the Host Committee Members or can be ordered directly from the Ambassadors' Club. E-mail your order to ambass.club@juno.com Checks and all major credit cards are accepted.