Custom Text

Events

Women of Montgomery County gather at Food Bank’s Inaugural Flourish & Nourish Luncheon

By  | 

Montgomery County Food Bank hosted its inaugural Flourish & Nourish Ladies Luncheon, presented by Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, on October 22, 2026, at The Blue Magnolia in Magnolia, Texas. Women from across the county filled the room for an afternoon of food, connection, and purpose, raising funds that will provide hundreds of thousands of meals to neighbors facing hunger this holiday season.

Advertisement

The afternoon opened with a champagne reception, a photo booth, and a “Beauty, Bubbles & Bling” Pull, followed by an elegant luncheon and a fireside chat with world-renowned chef, author, and philanthropist Cat Cora, moderated by KPRC 2 news anchor Lisa Hernandez. Cora shared stories of growing up in a Greek-American family in Jackson, Mississippi, where she learned to cook alongside the people she loved, and of breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry to become the first female Iron Chef. Her warmth, humor, and unwavering commitment to ending hunger left a lasting impression on every guest.

Lisa Hernandez joins Iron Chef Cat Cora for a fireside chat
KPRC 2’s Lisa Hernandez, left, joins Iron Chef Cat Cora for a fireside chat on the power of a shared meal and the fight to end hunger in Montgomery County; Photo Credit: Montgomery County Food Bank

The luncheon was co-chaired by Montgomery County Food Bank board members Jacqueline HuntsmanCalder and Krystle Riley, who serves as Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. The afternoon’s giving was amplified by Brynn Huntsman, whose $25,000 matching gift turned every guest’s generosity into twice the hope for families in need.

This year’s Flourish & Nourish was made possible by the generous support of many sponsors, including:

  • Presenting Sponsor: Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
  • Speaker Sponsor: The Huntsman Family Foundation
  • Garden of Joy Sponsors: Waste Connections and Tricia & Jack Futcher
  • Planted In Purpose Sponsors: Barbie & Steve Prusak and Entergy Texas

Montgomery County Food Bank extends its heartfelt thanks to every sponsor at every level, as well as each guest and volunteer, who helped make the first Flourish & Nourish an afternoon to remember.

Members of Cypress Woodlands Junior Forum strike a pose at the Flourish & Nourish photo booth, sponsored by Howard Hughes Communities.
Members of Cypress Woodlands Junior Forum strike a pose at the Flourish & Nourish photo booth, sponsored by Howard Hughes Communities; Photo Credit: Montgomery County Food Bank

“Flourish & Nourish filled a room with women who care deeply about this community, and Cat Cora reminded all of us how a meal shared around the family table can shape a life,” said Scott Burns, President & CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank. “Thanks to our guests, sponsors and supporters, hundreds of thousands of meals will reach Montgomery County neighbors this holiday season.”

To view photos from this year’s Flourish & Nourish Ladies Luncheon, please visit mcfoodbank.org/flourish-photos.

For more information about Montgomery County Food Bank and its upcoming events, please visit mcfoodbank.org.

From left: Colleen Brown; Amy Gentry; former Montgomery County Food Bank President & CEO Kristine Marlow; Jessica Steinmann; Montgomery County Food Bank President & CEO Scott Burns; Heather Ramsey, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, San Jacinto River Authority; Tracie Kamenoff, Director of Events and Marketing, Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce; Mark Linabury, President & CEO, Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and Montgomery County Food Bank board member; Jamie Eichelberger; and Dr. Jennifer Breazeale, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.
From left: Colleen Brown; Amy Gentry; former Montgomery County Food Bank President & CEO Kristine Marlow; Jessica Steinmann; Montgomery County Food Bank President & CEO Scott Burns; Heather Ramsey, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, San Jacinto River Authority; Tracie Kamenoff, Director of Events and Marketing, Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce; Mark Linabury, President & CEO, Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and Montgomery County Food Bank board member; Jamie Eichelberger; and Dr. Jennifer Breazeale, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic; Photo Credit: Montgomery County Food Bank
Advertisement

Montgomery County Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger relief organization dedicated to uniting the community to fight hunger. Montgomery County Food Bank provides nutritious meals to families, seniors, and children who lack access to wholesome, nourishing food through a network of more than 90 partner agencies, local school districts and community partners. Through partnerships with local retailers and wholesalers, Montgomery County Food Bank receives and purposefully distributes donated and surplus food. True to its mission, Montgomery County Food Bank works alongside volunteers, corporate and community partners, and nonprofit agencies to build a community where everyone has access to sufficient, nutritious food.

Montgomery County Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, affiliate of Houston Food Bank, and member of Feeding Texas and Feeding America.

Source: Montgomery County Food Bank

Advertisement