My advisory board submitted names and we voted. I wanted people with staying power. For his book, Thayer asked the honorees to write something about what makes Houston great. This was originally going to be for a permanent venue, and I still think it will be at the Visitors' Center and in the airports for a while. According to Brown, proceeds from the events and the book The Mayor's Millennium Makers will finance the Evin Thayer Scholarship Fund of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, which will make it possible for talented young people to study the arts.
Plans are in the works for two major fundraisers for the project.
The first is the Evin Thayer Photo Happening, which is a champagne reception at the Wortham Center on Thursday, October 14, 7-9 p.m., when Thayer and Brown will unveil the first 50 portraits. Thayer will also raffle a creative family photo session and one 24x30 custom print. Tony Vallone is underwriting a dinner for the night before, at Tony's Ballroom. The seated dinner will have a silent auction and live entertainment. What's exciting about this is that it's going to go on forever once it's established and set up.