Hats Off to Houston Online Celebrity Hat Auction for Houston Greeters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Houston, Texas, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) December 4, 2010 -- Houston, TX, December 04, 2010 -- Many notable Houstonians have tossed their hat into the first online celebrity hat auction called Hats Off To Houston! to raise funds for Houston Greeters. President George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Mayor Annise Parker, Yao Ming, Bob McNair, Roy Cullen, James Baker III, Carolyn Farb, Frank Billingsley, Anthony Kim and Michael Garfield are some of the donors to the first-ever eBay auction of interesting, sophisticated and autographed hats that showcase the enthusiasm and diversity of the city.

The auction is under way and the hats available for bidding now can be viewed at www.ebay.com, search Houston Greeters. Additional hats are added each week and available for a 10-day bidding cycle until the online auction ends on Feb. 5.

Houston Greeters is a five-year-old nonprofit organization of more than 120 volunteers who provide a free service called “greets” and offer their insiders’ view to both visitors and residents of many interesting places and activities throughout the city. With more than 1,000 requests for greets so far this year, Houston Greeters serves a need in showcasing Houston’s diverse people, activities and neighborhoods.

“Hats Off To Houston! was generated by the idea that so many people ‘tip their hat’ figuratively to Houston Greeters in recognition of how we familiarize people with the city’s vast experiences and offerings,” said Naila Qureshi, CEO and executive director of Houston Greeters. “Our volunteers created this fun way to support our organization and to raise funds for operational expenses so we may continue to serve a need in connecting Houstonians with others who want to learn more about our great city.”

In addition to hats, many of the donors have offered a “great greet experience” to the highest bidder that provides an insider’s look at a local place in Houston or an individual get-acquainted meeting.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker is among the hat and great greet donors and said, “Houston Greeters is one of our city’s shining stars and a true extension of our positive reputation as an international city with gracious and friendly people.” The mayor donated a straw cowgirl hat and a meeting with her at city hall.

Bidding for hats begins at $50 and hats that accompany a great greet experience begin at $250.

Among the hats and great greets currently or soon posted on eBay are:

• Original hand-painted straw sun hat by artist Sandi Seltzer Bryant autographed by her and gallery owners and directors of seven of art galleries along Gallery Row in the Upper Kirby District, along with a personal two-hour tour of Gallery Row in the Upper Kirby District

• Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s straw cowgirl hat and a meeting with the mayor at Houston City Hall

• A felt fedora from Chef Monica Pope and tour of the Farmers’ Market with her

• Official Houston Rockets NBA licensed cap signed by Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets

• 41st White House Baseball cap signed by President George H.W. Bush and another cap signed by Barbara Bush

• Fashionable autographed straw hats from Carolyn Farb

• Houston Astros authentic baseball cap signed by former Houston Astros Jose Cruz

• Stylish black straw hat from Joanne Herring Davis

• A signed cowboy Stetson from Michael Garfield, The High-Tech Texan® and radio talk show host, KPRC-AM

• NFL Texans man’s straw fedora signed by Houston Texans’ Owner Bob McNair

• KPRC-TV cap signed by Meteorologist Frank Billingsley

• Rice University Owls centennial cap autographed by Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron along with a tour of the Rice University campus with Sun

“We really appreciate the fabulous donations to our first-ever hat auction,” said Michele LaRocco event co-chair. “We invite bidders to browse the selection and consider owning one of these special collector items. They also make terrific one-of-a-kind gifts.”

Sandi Seltzer Bryant is also event co-chair and a local contemporary artist who donated a custom-painted hat, a greet of Gallery Row and an original work of art created for Houston Greeters. The artwork is an acrylic on paper measuring 38” x 50” and depicts an artistic view of the Houston skyline.

“I just went for the gusto of Houston and the energetic spirit of the city,” said Seltzer Bryant. “The skyline, bayous, neighborhoods, freeways and green spaces are the elements I reflect in the painting. My artwork is a celebration of the city's spirit and beauty, and the good work of Houston Greeters.”

Contact:
Judi Martin
Houston Greeters
901 Bagby St
Houston, TX
713-299-5619
jmartin@jmghouston.com
http://www.wix.com/greeters/hoth

enthusiasm     gallery owners     great greet experience     showcasing