The 22nd Kappa Settings was a breathtaking celebration of creativity, philanthropy, and sisterhood as the Austin community gathered in support of the Heaven’s 27 Foundation, The Mental Health Crisis Fund, NAMI Central Texas, and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation.
The two-day event took place April 8 and 9 at Austin Country Club and was hosted by the Austin Alumnae Association of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The beloved biennial fundraiser was co-chaired by mother-daughter duo Molly Bowman Stephens and Marianna Elskes.
Festivities began with Settings Under the Stars, a lively cocktail party hosted by Charli Anderson, Sarah Bellew, Katherine Beckworth, Heather Bowman, Gretchen Brice, Kate Crane, Julia Cunningham, Tracy Engemoen, Katherine Fluor, Haley Hill, Meredith Jarrett, Molly Jenkins, Laura Hill Keller, Kimberly Mooney, Staley Moore, Anna Moscoe, Erin Stephens, Lia Stratton, Association President Jamie Winters-Johnson, and chairs Molly Stephens and Marianna Elskes.
Couples filled the ballroom to enjoy live music by Graham Weber and a silent auction featuring generously donated items from Pavilion Paper, Sarah Bray Bermuda, Ok Let’s Mahjong, Poncho Outdoors, Petite Paloma, Erly, and more. Artist Avery Miller created a live painting for auction of a young girl gazing over the Guadalupe River, inviting guests to participate by adding stars to the painted night sky throughout the evening.
The following day, guests gathered for the highly anticipated luncheon, where they enjoyed Waldorf salads and mimosas while listening to keynote speaker Rebecca Gardner, creative director of House & Parties and author of A Screaming Blast: Exceptional Entertaining.
Under the leadership of Design Partner Chair Kimberly Mooney, the table designers transformed the ballroom into an extraordinary showcase of florals, artistry, and imagination. Highlights included a six-foot birdcage adorned with cascading butterflies and hundreds of fresh blooms designed by David Kurio for Personally Yours; a table anchored by a custom-built dollhouse created entirely by Carlie Bailey of CB Crafted Homes; and an exquisite vignette by Aurette Co. and The Impeccable Find featuring twenty-seven hand-selected white anemones in tribute to the twenty-seven young girls and women whose legacies live on through the work of the Heaven’s 27 Foundation.
Austin-based interior designer Cathlyn Davis collaborated with Lily Balagia and Wild Bunches Florals to create a custom table constructed entirely of roses and hydrangeas, stopping guests in their tracks. Debbie Willson and Jenefred Davies partnered with local artist Sarah Fournie to design a custom tablecloth, which they topped with Debbie’s collection of Japanese Kutani porcelain and florals by Create Floral Design. Claire Richards, who served as 2024 Kappa Settings co-chair alongside her mother Penny Burck and sister Terry Quinn, designed a beautiful tablescape in partnership with interior design firm StudioSix5.
Kappa Settings continues to draw a deeply loyal group of underwriters and sponsors, and this year the Association was honored to receive support from numerous local businesses, family foundations, and longtime Kappa alumnae, including The Cain Foundation, Wing Oil & Gas, ABC Home & Commercial, Frost Bank, HEB, Lolla Page, Nancy Harper, Sally Harner, Marty McCartt, and Susie Jastrow. Elizabeth Gibson, owner of local jewelry store Eliza Page, generously provided favors again in 2026, and event photography was generously donated by Jenny DeMarco, of Jenny DeMarco Weddings.
The ballroom buzzed with hundreds of Kappas and friends of the cause; Lolla Page, Nancy Harper, Acia Moody, Linda Balagia, Amanda Foster, Charmaine McGill, Sally Harner, Leslie Pohl, Lutie Butler, Lynne Fowler, Mary Bell, Anne Jarvis, Elizabeth Nash and Beth Vorhees. Guests lingered over tables designed by Adelante Boutique, Vintage Longhorn, Let’s Flamingle, Cinda Brown, The Scout Guide, Whitt Ross, Tuckernuck, Farrington Lane, Kelseigh Leigh Fine Jewelry and Avery Cox. Among those spotted include Laura Fowler McKnight, Whitney Abblitt, Rea Netherton, Kristin Pohl, Kat Fluor, Katie Crowley, Haley Hill, Stacey Stevens, Noel Bridges, Melissa Dieck Thaxton, Molly Jenkins, Katie Baker, Rachel Haggerty Stephens, Cici Steward and Leslie Hile Ford.
Event chairs Molly and Marianna reflected, “It was so special to do this together, and give back in what little way we can-- our lives have been deeply enriched by this organization and the incredible women behind it, We are honored to support our 2026 beneficiaries, who mean so much to us and to our community.” With its extraordinary blend of beauty, generosity, and purpose, Kappa Settings served as a reminder of the remarkable impact that happens when women gather for good.
Photos by Jenny DeMarco, Jenny DeMarco Weddings
