{"id":461955,"date":"2026-10-10T07:08:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T07:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/461955\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T07:08:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T07:08:12","slug":"keanu-reeves-rocks-out-in-houston-for-a-1-5-million-brunch-that-lifts-up-petset-star-power-does-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/461955\/","title":{"rendered":"Keanu Reeves Rocks Out In Houston For a $1.5 Million Brunch That Lifts Up PetSet \u2014 Star Power Does Good"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following in the tradition that started\u00a0with Billy Bob Thornton and his band The BoxMasters last year, PetSet\u2019s 2026 \u201cLe Brunch\u201d rocked with the remarkably talented Keanu Reeves and his band Dogstar along with a clutch of Hollywood notables.<\/p>\n

As the star struck energy filled Houston\u2019s Thompson Hotel ballroom, the dollars rolled in with proceeds of more than $1.5 million, half a million more than the money raised in 2025. Joining the party from Tinseltown were Marie Wetherell<\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0David Chokachi<\/a>, Austin native Amy Bailey<\/a>, Emmy Award-nominated Danielle Vasinova<\/a>\u00a0and Isaiah LaBorde.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"HoustonEverybody lifts their bid numbers in support of PetSet at the nonprofit\u2019s \u2018Le Brunch\u2019 (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)<\/p>\n

The mission of PetSe<\/a>t to end animal homeless was spotlighted in the afternoon\u2019s theme \u2014 Farther Together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were thrilled to welcome Keanu, Dogstar and so many incredible guests to Houston for an afternoon that was ultimately about something much bigger than any one person,\u201d PetSet co-president Tama Lundquist says. \u201cThe energy in the room was a beautiful reflection of what can happen when people come together around a cause they believe in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this year\u2019s Le Brunch such a special celebration of the work still ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band performed following the brunch and program that honored two individuals exemplifying what individuals can in small ways and big ways change the trajectory of homeless animals.<\/p>\n

\t Baobab Classique Scented Candles<\/p>\n

\"CathyCathy Bissell, Tena Lundquist Faust, Tama Lundquist at PetSet\u2019s \u2018Le Brunch\u2019 (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)<\/p>\n

In from home base in Grand Rapids, Michigan,\u00a0Cathy Bissell,<\/a> founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation, was named PetSet\u2019s 2026 Honoree, recognizing her extraordinary commitment to animals. Bissell has become one of the nation\u2019s leading voices for collaborative, prevention-focused solutions to animal homelessness.<\/p>\n

\u201cCathy has changed countless lives through her commitment to animals, but what we admire just as much is the way she brings people together around solutions,\u201d PetSet co-president Tena Lundquist Faust says. \u201cHer leadership is an incredible example of what it means to go farther, together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Gabrell,Gabrell Riley with Hooper, Tama Lundquist at PetSet\u2019s \u2018Le Brunch\u2019 (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)<\/p>\n

Waste managament employee Gabrell Riley\u00a0and his dog Hooper received the Community Hero Award. Riley\u2019s story of finding the stray pooch in a dumpster he had just unloaded into his truck and adopting the dog as his own shines a light on the positive effect that individuals can make in the effort.<\/p>\n

The event showcased the impact of PetSet\u2019s supporters over the organization\u2019s 20-year history. PetSet has helped fund lifesaving work at more than\u00a0120 animal welfare organizations, expanded access to spay and neuter care, vaccines and emergency medical treatment, and helped move thousands of animals out of overcrowded shelters and into loving homes.<\/p>\n

PC Seen: Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Frances Moody Buzbee, Marla Harley, Sue Smith, Rose Ann and Michael Heckman, Laura Goodson, Kirby Edmunds, Kevin Matocha, Jenna and Philip Lukefahr, Lindsey Love, Brenda Love, Gaynell Drexler, Bryce Kennard, Edna Meyer Nelson, Priscilla and Frankie Bardonaro Jr., Marge Lundquist, and Sue Smith.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Following in the tradition that started\u00a0with Billy Bob Thornton and his band The BoxMasters last year, PetSet\u2019s 2026…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":461956,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,58,57],"class_list":["post-461955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-houston","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=461955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461955\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/461956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=461955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=461955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}