HeartGift’s annual Party With A Purpose took place at the JW Marriott in Downtown Austin with attendees coming together to raise more than one million dollars to save hundreds of children born with congenital heart defects. The evening celebrated more than 1,000 children’s lives saved who live in places around the world that don’t have access to specialized cardiac care. The presenting sponsors for the event were Karen and Ray Wilkerson.
2024 Party With A Purpose committee members included Kathryn and Juan Carlos Alonso, Maryann and Paul Bell, Dr. Brad Boone, Ashley and Tim Brierty, Martha and Dr. Richard Coons, Sarah and Stephen Garrison, Jennifer and John Harper, Kristy and Brad Knippa, Bridget and Cody Marburger, Jennie and Mike McIntyre, Karen and Dr. John “Chip” Oswalt, Ashley and Cal Otero, Caroline and Owen Robinson, and Andrea and Chris Wales.
With this year’s theme, Giving the Gift of Childhood, HeartGift hosted a vibrant atmosphere of tables filled with toys and candy of eras gone by for guests to play with and take home. Bigger-than-life-size child exhibits featuring six recent HeartGift patients were on display. The exhibits were filled with images from their home countries and during their open-heart surgery journeys. Stephen Garrison, Chairman of the HeartGift Board, and Christy Casey-Moore, HeartGift Chief Executive Officer, both made remarks and shared powerful stories and videos of the organization’s mission and its young patients.
In addition, HeartGift honored several individuals as Mending Heart Heroes who have impacted, influenced and inspired to make the world a better place in their work alongside HeartGift. Honorees include Kerry and Joe Mims, Sheri and Bob Myer, and Oscar Torres. Through their multifaceted contributions, these individuals saved many children from the consequences of congenital heart defects and provided hope and peace of mind to families around the world.
Cowboy Auctioneer Heath Hale took to the stage to kick-off the live auction portion of the evening, but not before some special guests joined him on stage – little Aaron from Uganda and his mom, Fredah. The adorable two-year-old received his free, life-saving open-heart surgery just nine days prior to Party With A Purpose and was doing extremely well. The festivities were rounded out with a special performance by country star Wade Bowen.
For more information about HeartGift, visit www.heartgift.org.
Photos by Tyler Schmitt of The Mill Photography Studio
