The Four Seasons Hotel was the setting for this year’s “There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch,” the signature fundraiser for People’s Community Clinic. More than 400 guests attended the 30th annual luncheon, which raised over $620,000 to support People’s mission of providing high-quality, affordable healthcare for thousands of Central Texans.
The afternoon featured speakers from both the healthcare industry and national media who offered fresh perspectives on health education in today’s ever‑evolving digital world. The speakers included Michael Mackert, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Health Communication at UT Austin, and award‑winning journalist Emily Ramshaw, co-founder and CEO of The 19th, who also served as the event's emcee.
Turk Pipkin presented the 2026 Neil Kocurek Award for Health Advocacy to Ray Benson for his tireless work and long-standing commitment to expanding healthcare for underserved Austinites.
A founding member of the band Asleep at the Wheel, Benson has received multiple Grammys and numerous other music awards. In addition to his musical accomplishments, he is widely recognized for his health advocacy and philanthropic endeavors.
Benson currently serves on the board of St. David’s Foundation, and he is a founding board member of both HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians) and the SIMS Foundation, which provide affordable healthcare and mental health services for local musicians. He is also a former patient at People’s.
Benson’s dedication to the Central Texas community reflects the very heart of People’s mission: showing up for neighbors with care, compassion, and quality healthcare.
“We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and community partners whose generosity made this year’s luncheon such a tremendous success. Raising more than $600,000 is a powerful reflection of the community’s belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable healthcare, and it reinforces our commitment to serving Central Texans with dignity and respect,” said Matt Balthazer, CEO, People’s Community Clinic.
Since 1970, People’s has served thousands of Central Texans in need. For more information, visit austinpcc.org.
