The Pavilion’s “For the Love of the Arts” Gala Raises a Record-Breaking $1.2 Million for Arts Access

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS – In partnership with The Woodlands Arts Council, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the Performing Arts Microgrants, awarding almost $43,000 to support innovative fine arts initiatives across Montgomery County. Across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 grant cycles, the program has invested nearly $130,000 in performing arts education and community access.

Love was in the air at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Valentine’s Day as hundreds of arts supporters gathered for For the Love of the Arts, an unforgettable evening that raised more than $1.2 million in support of The Pavilion’s nonprofit mission of making the arts accessible to all.

The record-setting total marks the most ever raised at a Pavilion fundraiser and will directly support scholarships as well as education and community programming that ensures the arts remain accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Before the Gala officially began, the Pre-Gala Pamper Fundraiser at Aloha Beauty Lounge gave guests a festive kickoff and built early momentum for the evening. Aloha Beauty Lounge matched all proceeds from the pamper party, helping drive the Gala’s success before it even started.

From the moment guests entered The Woodforest Bank Club—transformed into a Vegas-inspired Little White Chapel—the energy was undeniable. Partygoers tested their luck at Human Slot Machines, where Pavilion Partners spun for a chance to win prizes ranging from a Maserati for the weekend to exclusive Pavilion merchandise. After enjoying cocktails in “Vegas,” guests traveled through the Tunnel of Love into Cupid’s Lair, where the real magic happened.

From paddle raises and the high-energy Guitar Grab for the one-and-only Post Malone guitar to an edge-of-your-seat Live Auction, the generosity in the room was matched only by the excitement. Each bid, each raised paddle and each round of applause reflected a shared commitment to keeping the arts thriving in our community.

The evening culminated in an unforgettable performance by Barenaked Ladies, whose energy and heart perfectly captured the spirit of the night. In a truly special moment, the band created a custom arts-inspired jingle just for The Pavilion, celebrating our mission and the power of music to bring people together. Their genuine connection to our cause and enthusiastic support of arts accessibility made their performance even more meaningful, reminding everyone in the room why we gather each year in support of this work.

“We are incredibly grateful to our donors, sponsors and guests who made this record-breaking night possible,” said Jeff Young, President and CEO. “Because of this community’s generosity, we can continue expanding arts education programs and creating opportunities for everyone to experience the transformative power of the arts.”

Proceeds from For the Love of the Arts directly benefit The Pavilion’s educational outreach, free community performances and programs designed to remove barriers to arts access throughout the region—ensuring that the love of the arts continues to grow for generations to come.

A special thanks to our generous sponsors for making this event possible:

American Communications Construction
Abston / Lach / Lach / Jacobson / Parr
Adcetera
Aloha Beauty Lounge
Allredi
Allum / Kirby / Warren
Aramark
Avion Wealth
Bozeman Family & Ruhman Family
Braun / Taylor
The Campbell Family / Waterway Wealth
Crystal Sled / Western Midstream
Endeavor Advisors
Hageman / Koetting / Leary / McBee / Neil
The Homeyers / Gulf Capital Bank
Houston Methodist
Howard Hughes
Jill & Jeff Swift
Lindahl / Everson / Gullo / Ye / Snyder
Lisa & Paul Kenworthy
Live Nation
Market Street
Mark Folkes / The Hobby Center
Melissa & Jeff Young / Christine & Mark Scully
Michelle & Jim Little
Monica & Josh McGee / Stoic Fitness and Nutrition
Partners Capital
The Pugh Family / Elizabeth & Colter Lewis
Sharon & Bob Abendschein
St. Luke’s The Woodlands
Stefani & Jeff Urban
Sue & Ken Rosko
Ticketmaster
Trapp Law Firm, PC
The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation

Waste Connections
Woodforest National Bank

A special shout-out to our underwriters for contributing to the success of the event:

1to1 Printers
Cindy & Rob Hardin
Debbie & Sparky Gullo
HSG Real Estate Ventures
Lisa & Fred Koetting
Michelle & Dennis Leary
Mission Constructors, Inc.
Rosemary Rodd
Sewell

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Opened in 1990, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is part of The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides diverse, high-quality performing arts events for the entertainment and enrichment of a broad regional audience. Through numerous educational and community outreach programs, The Center is a catalyst for attracting new audiences to the performing arts and building strong ties between the arts and educational institutions.