Family to accept renamed Legacy of Life Award in memory of the late ambassador and philanthropist
Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services will celebrate a life devoted to family, faith and community at its “Live, Laugh, Legacy” 2027 Gala on Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Hilton Americas-Houston.
This year’s gala will honor the late Ambassador Arthur L. Schechter, husband of Joyce Proler Schechter and a man whose generosity touched nearly every corner of Houston’s Jewish community and beyond.
The gala traditionally presents the Spirit of Life Award. This year, in tribute to Schechter, the honor will be renamed the Legacy of Life Award, and his family will accept it on his behalf.
For his daughters, the evening is deeply personal.
“It means a lot to me and our family, because our father was pretty much everything to us,” said Leslie Karpas. “He was the best dad and the best grandfather.”
Her sister, Jennifer Rosen, said the family hopes the night reflects the full reach of her father’s giving.
“We are doing this to honor his legacy with Seven Acres, but also with the Jewish community and the many other charitable organizations he supported,” she said. “He was a family man, and his family was his priority. But giving back was right up there with family. If someone asked me the best way to describe him, I would say his priority was to take care of people and to give back.”
Schechter’s record of service spanned Houston and the nation. President Bill Clinton appointed him U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and named him to the board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. At home, he served as president of Congregation Beth Israel, the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Federation, chaired the board of Houston’s METRO, and served on numerous boards, including Interfaith Ministries.
“My dad was very philanthropic and very involved in all of the Jewish organizations and other organizations around the city,” Karpas said.
The family’s ties to Seven Acres run four generations deep. Joyce Schechter’s grandfather, Ben Proler, was one of the organization’s founders. Joyce later served as president of the Seven Acres board and remains a board member today, alongside her daughter Leslie and son-in-law Constable Alan Rosen.
“It is my mother’s passion, and so my dad was supporting my mom and the Jewish community to make sure the older people in our community would have a place to go,” Karpas said.
Jennifer Rosen said Seven Acres holds a special place in the family’s heart.
“If I were to name one of the organizations dearest to us, it would be Seven Acres, because of our family history here,” she said. “It’s in honor of my grandfather and my great-grandfather, and because my mother and father loved it so much.
Joyce Proler Schechter, Leslie and Hedley Karpas and Jennifer and Constable Alan Rosen will serve as honorary chairs. Judy and Michael Feinstein, a past Seven Acres president, will serve as event co-chairs with board member Debi Mishael and her husband, Sam.
The family hopes the evening will be both a celebration and a record-setting night for the residents Seven Acres serves.
“I’m hoping it’s going to be the most successful gala we’ve ever had,” Karpas said.
For Rosen, the night is about carrying her father’s example forward.
“I’m looking forward to celebrating my dad’s life and carrying his legacy on,” she said.
The “Live, Laugh, Legacy” Seven Acres 2027 Gala will be held Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Hilton Americas-Houston. For tickets, sponsorships and more information, visit sevenacres.org.