August 12, 2005
Master of Ceremonies and Band Announced for
The Woodlands Celebration of Excellence Gala
KPRC News Anchor Sara Allen will serve as Master of Ceremonies and popular Toast and Jam band will provide musical entertainment.
THE WOODLANDS, TX – (Friday, August 12, 2005) – News anchor Sara Allen from KPRC-TV Local 2, the Houston NBC news affiliate, has agreed to serve as master of ceremonies and the popular Houston band, Toast and Jam, will provide musical entertainment for The Woodlands Celebration of Excellence Honoring 2005 Hometown Heroes Gala, according to gala chair Marsha Williams.
The 2005 Hometown Heroes will be inducted into the Hometown Heroes Hall of Fame at the event benefiting Interfaith of The Woodlands to be held on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Since this annual tradition began in conjunction with The Woodlands 25 th Anniversary Celebration in 1999, 57 individuals and two businesses have been selected for this prestigious honor.
Allen joined the Local 2 team as anchor of the weekday morning and noon newscasts in August of 2004. Prior to joining the KPRC-TV newscast, Allen was anchor of “Live at Five” for WBIR-TV (NBC affiliate) in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Allen was born in Philadelphia where her mother, Diane Allen, anchored the evening newscast for a local television station. Allen is married and is the mother of one son. Her husband grew up in Spring, Texas.
Allen is involved in many community organizations including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, and the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk.
“Sara is an exceptionally talented individual,” Williams said. “We are delighted that she will be serving as our emcee for the gala honoring The Woodlands Hometown Heroes.”
The six-piece band, Toast and Jam, will perform a wide variety of music from classic favorites to current dance, pop, country, swing, disco and R&B music at the gala.
The private party and dance band has been entertaining in Houston and the surrounding areas for four years. Toast and Jam has performed at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center, dances for the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural Science and several galas.
“Toast and Jam perform a range of music, perfect for people with varied tastes,” Williams said. “Everyone will be able to enjoy dancing to the type of music they enjoy.”
Sponsorship packages for The Woodlands Celebration of Excellence Honoring2005 Hometown Heroes Gala are now available. For sponsorship opportunities or information about the event, contact Terry Sparling, director of development at Interfaith of The Woodlands, at 281-367-1230.
Established in 1973, Interfaith of The Woodlands, a nonprofit organization, reaches out to the community through its child care, counseling and job training programs, providing much-needed services to the elderly and families experiencing crisis.
The Woodlands is a 27,000-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. It is a project of The Woodlands Development Company, a Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties limited partnership.
