For Grace Harrison Lane, saying yes to co-chairing the Houston SPCA’s Hall-O-Ween Ball was, in her words, “a no brainer.” The only thing she may not have fully considered was that she was also signing up her husband, George Lane.
“I was familiar with HSPCA and had volunteered in various capacities, and we really cared about the organization. We just planned a wedding and I thought, yes, let’s plan another big event! And I signed George up without asking,” Grace says with a laugh.
On Friday, October 23, Grace and George will take on their newest—and considerably larger—event-planning adventure when they co-chair the Houston SPCA’s annual Hall-O-Ween Ball. This year’s theme, Starry Starry Night, promises an evening that is as memorable for its setting as it is for its cause. Famed Houston-born actor Dennis Quaid will serve as honorary chair, bringing a little extra star power to a night dedicated to animals.
The Lanes may be young for chairs of an event of this stature, but they are embracing the challenge with enthusiasm. Their involvement began through family friend Hershey Grace, a longtime fixture in Houston’s animal welfare community who has helped with numerous fundraising events over the years. Hershey knew Grace and George shared a genuine passion for animals and saw an opportunity to bring a fresh, younger generation of animal advocates into the fold.
For Grace, who is a singer/songwriter currently recording in Nashville and also performs locally in Houston, the opportunity is a natural fit. George serves as Director of Government Relations for the Texas Attorney General in a bipartisan role, bringing a different but complementary set of experiences to the partnership.
Behind the scenes, being a gala chair is about much more than showing up in formalwear. Grace and George have been helping organize silent and live auctions, secure donations, sell tables and, perhaps most importantly, introduce new people to the Houston SPCA and its mission.
Fortunately, they had a head start.
“Thankfully, because we just had a wedding, we had a ‘rolodex’ ready to go,” Grace says. “It was natural to bring in your friends and family to champion a cause that matters to you.”
That cause is one close to both of their hearts. Animals have always been part of their lives. George grew up with dogs and, along with his sister, rescued a barn cat they discovered in the wall of a barn on their property. They named her Menace—although these days, she is simply part of the family. Grace grew up surrounded by dogs and an assortment of more unusual pets, too, including frogs and lizards. She has always loved horses and enjoys horseback riding.
These days, the household has one especially spirited little resident: Frankie, a long-haired miniature dachshund.
“He is silly and has so much spunk,” Grace says. “Big personality.”
That love of animals is also what draws the Lanes to the breadth of the Houston SPCA’s work. Grace is particularly impressed by the organization’s ability to care for so many different kinds of animals, from dogs and cats to wildlife, farm animals and small animals.
“The scope is amazing,” she says.
And the Hall-O-Ween Ball gives guests a chance to see that scope firsthand. Rather than taking place in a traditional ballroom, the gala transforms the Houston SPCA’s equine arena into an elegant evening venue. At the end of the night, guests can walk through the barn and see adoptable equines and farm animals up close—a reminder that the funds raised during the evening have a very real impact.
The entertainment will include a live performance by Doppelgänger following the gala, along with a silent auction and live auction. There will be dinner and an open bar, but Grace hopes guests come for something more meaningful than a fun night out.
“It’s very unique—you get to be up close and actually meet the animals,” she says. “When you show up, you get to see where your money is going.”
The Lanes are aiming high, with a goal of raising more than $1 million. One of the evening’s most meaningful moments will be “Paws Up,” when guests can raise their paddle to make a donation at one of several giving levels.
And then there is Dennis Quaid.
George has known the actor for several years, having worked with him on the “True to Texas” campaign promoting the state’s film industry. When Grace and George became involved with the SPCA, Quaid immediately came to mind. He is a Houston native, an animal lover and, as Grace puts it, “a star.”
But ultimately, the Lanes hope the evening leaves guests with something more lasting than a great memory.
They want people to leave with hope.
Hope from seeing horses that have been rehabilitated. Hope from meeting dogs waiting for forever homes. Hope from seeing ambassador animals thriving after receiving care. And hope from realizing that, one animal at a time, the Houston SPCA is making a difference.
That is what makes this Hall-O-Ween Ball different, Grace says. The celebration isn’t happening at a third-party venue removed from the work. It is happening right where that work takes place.
For two young Houston animal advocates stepping into a very big pair of shoes, that feels like the perfect place to begin.
Houston SPCA Hall-O-Ween Ball: Starry Starry Night
Friday, October 23, 2026 | 6:30 PM–Midnight
Houston SPCA Campus for All Animals
7007 Old Katy Road, Houston, Texas
For tickets or tables, visit HoustonSPCA.org.
Photo Credit: Houston SPCA photos: Trey Robertson
