Make-A-Wish Of Central And South Texas Celebrates 35 Years In The Region
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Emmy Baysden, Rick Cortez Photography, Mary Holguin, Belinda Lee and Lexie Yut
THE SETTING: Before COVID-19, the Four Seasons in Austin was the setting that celebrated a notable milestone of one of the city’s most beloved philanthropic organizations. Close to 400 of Austin’s most notable sociables and V.I.P.’s were on hand for the Make-A-Wish of Central and South Texas’ 35th-anniversary gala. The theme of the evening’s event, Beyond The Glass Slipper, was the perfect way to describe a magical, memorable night in Texas’ Capital City.
THE STYLE: The cocktail-chic crowd began the evening in the ballroom foyer and patio, where after posing for pictures on the red carpet, they were treated to a lively cocktail hour. Guests mingled and sipped spirits while perusing an impressive array of live auction items. Then, the action moved to the ballroom for the main program.
Inside the main ballroom, as attendees dined on a delectable multi-course meal, they listened to a series of heartwarming testimonials of critically ill children, who had received wishes beyond their wildest dreams. The evening continued with a spirited live auction, which included bidding on a piece of artwork, by Jaylah Martinez, a Wish Kid, who recently succumbed to a rare form of cancer. The fun concluded with a lively after-party where guests danced the night away, perfectly capping off a fairytale night.
THE PURPOSE: The event, chaired by Abby Argo and Kendell Kelton, raised over $640,000 for the Make-A-Wish Central and South Texas organization. The mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant wishes to children with critical illnesses, which research has shown can give them a higher chance of survival.
