On the evening of October 23, the home of Nicole and Dr. Bill Kessler in West Austin transformed into a stage of hope for the annual "Songs for the Heart" singer-songwriter fundraiser. This event, benefiting the HeartGift Foundation, brought together generous supporters for an unforgettable night of live music, inspiring stories, and life-changing philanthropy, successfully raising more than $256,000 to provide critical heart surgeries for children worldwide.
The evening's hosts welcomed guests before the performance and shared the mission of HeartGift with attendees. Nicole and her husband, Bill, have both long championed causes that strengthen the community where they live and work. Nicole, a premier luxury real estate agent with over three decades in the Austin market, is Founder and Managing Partner of The Nicole Kessler Group - Compass, and has served as a longtime Board of Directors member for HeartGift. Dr. Kessler works with the Institute for Cardiovascular Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin, and is a professor with UT Health Austin.
The evening featured performances by acclaimed singer-songwriters Kent Blazy, Megan Linville, and Danny Myrick. Attendees were treated to original compositions, many of which have soared to fame in the hands of country music stars like Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, and Parker McCollum. The melodies filled the air with emotion, perfectly complementing the atmosphere of the mission-driven event.
At the heart of the night was a powerful reminder of why HeartGift exists. Just 13 days after undergoing open-heart surgery, 4-year-old Camila from Bolivia joined the event alongside her mother, Rocio Hurtado. With a beautiful smile, Camila introduced herself to the crowd: "Me llamo Camila. Yo tengo cuatro años." Through a translator, Rocio shared her immense gratitude: "HeartGift means for me and my family hope; it gives a new life to Camila."
Dr. Bill Kessler, a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, captured the urgency of the cause. "Nobody understands that there are over a million children worldwide who have congenital heart defects that will most likely keep them from living to young adulthood," he said. "A single operation could let them live an absolutely normal life to adulthood. HeartGift has allowed us to bring children from third-world countries to our state, and now multiple centers around the United States are taking care of these children."
Congenital heart defects affect one in every 100 babies born worldwide—the most common birth defect—and over 90% of them lack access to specialized pediatric care. Founded in 2000 by Austinites Dr. Chip Oswalt (a board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon) and Ray Wilkerson (President and CEO of Ray Wilkerson Companies, Inc., and a community leader honored as "Austinite of the Year" in 2018), HeartGift has provided life-saving surgeries to more than 2500 children. The organization now runs chapters in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and New Orleans.
Songs for the Heart was an unforgettable evening filled with heartwarming stories and soulful melodies, all in support of a cause that touches the lives of countless families. Host Committee chairs included Stacy and Jerry Dollar, Jena Ehlinger and Currin Van Eman, Katie and Jordan Jaffe, Lisa and Ross Jessup, Amber and Al Koehler, Annie and Cord Shiflet, and Yuni and Jennings Steen. Thanks to their efforts and the generosity of attendees, performers, and sponsors, more children like Camila will have the chance at a healthy future.
To learn more about HeartGift's mission or to get involved, visit heartgift.org.
