2025 Gala: Race for Life
2024 Gala: World of Wonder
Yearly Events
On Friday, March 21, 2025, Nora’s Home hosted its highly anticipated “Race for Life” Annual Gala at The Revaire, raising almost $725,000 to support its Adopt-A-Family program. This initiative ensures no transplant patient or family is turned away due to financial hardship.
The evening began with a lively cocktail reception, where guests could try their hand at “beating the pro” on a professional racing simulator. It was followed by an elegant dinner prepared by A Fare Extraordinaire.
Event chairs (aka “Race Directors”) Krista and Ronnie Smith opened the program by thanking attendees for their generosity and support, reaffirming Nora’s Home’s commitment to providing a safe, comfortable haven for transplant patients and their families.
Guests were treated to an inspirational testimony of courage by Co-Chair Ally Babineaux, a triple heart transplant survivor, followed by crowd favorites Heads or Tails, a raffle and an exciting live auction with prizes such as a mini cellar, beautiful jewelry from Nazar’s Jewelry & Co., a wine trip to Willamette and a beautiful labrador puppy, who the new owner named “Nora” in honor of Nora’s Home. All of this was followed with an after party with dancing and music with DJ Johnny Bravo.
The highlight of the night was a heartfelt tribute to renowned heart surgeon Dr. O. Howard Frazier, a pioneer in cardiac transplantation with over 1,200 heart transplants performed. Now serving as Co-Director of the Center for Preclinical Surgical and Interventional Research at The Texas Heart Institute, Dr. Frazier continues to shape the future of cardiac care.
Nora’s Home wants to THANK our wonderful Race Directors, Krista & Ronnie Smith, and as well as their “Pit Crew” and Co-Chairs, Ally & Mike Babineaux, Dr. Mariangela & Austen Smith, and Ashlee & Blake Williamson. We also express our appreciation for the incredible underwriters, volunteers, and staff who made this year’s event a race to remember!
And thank you to our incredible event planners at In Any Event as well as Lisa Malosky Productions for all their time and energies put into making Nora’s Home the success that it is!
