Here’s How Hearts Melted At The HeartGift “Party With A Purpose” Gala

Organization That Makes Celebrating Birthdays Possible Hosted Silver Anniversary That Attracted Hundreds

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography By: Tyler Schmitt Of Mill Photography Studio

THE SCENE: The JW Marriott in Austin was the setting for a night of fun, heart, and philanthropy that honored a significant milestone for one of Austin’s most beloved children’s nonprofit organizations. Over 600 of Texas’s most notable community leaders, medical professionals, sociables, and philanthropists attended the annual HeartGift “Party with a Purpose” Gala. This year’s event was made more special with a Celebrating 25 Years of Making Birthdays Possible theme in honor of the organization’s silver anniversary.

THE VIBE: The silver-chic crowd featured a fun cocktail and country attire mix. One could spot an array of metallic sequins, denim, feathers, and cowboy hats in the crowd. The result was a warm, welcoming environment where everyone felt like family.

As guests ascended the escalator to the JW Marriott Ballroom Foyer, they knew they were in for a special night. The festivities began with a cocktail hour where guests sipped on their favorite spirit of choice while perusing many impressive silent auction items. Additionally, revelers could be spotted at an array of fun activations, including a customized cowboy hat station, a 360-photo booth, and an artful Lite Brite-type installation in the shape of the HeartGift Logo, where guests could pull one of the pegs out to sample a delicious adult beverage.

The action then headed into the ballroom for the main program. The fun, festive space was adorned with giant silver balls at the foot of the stage as a nod to the organization’s silver anniversary.

Once guests took to their seats, they enjoyed a delicious multi-course meal. While they ate, they were treated to words from organization and event leaders thanking them for being a part of the HeartGift family over the past 25 years.

A live auction followed courtesy of Heath Hale of Cowboy Auctioneer. Eager bidders drove the fundraising up, seeking a curated array of luxury experiences. The most popular items of the auction included hunting trips to Africa and Argentina, a UT Football experience, as well as luxurious getaways to Bali, Italy, and Spain.

Next came the most special part of the night as HeartGift honored two of its longtime partners for their tireless support of the organization over the years. First, longtime partner Frost Murphy was honored for helming a vision that allowed HeartGift to expand beyond Austin and impact children worldwide. After that, the emotional peak of the evening occurred as a three-year-old named Destinee, a HeartGift from Belize, stole the show as her mother gave an emotional, heartfelt speech, reminding the audience of the work HeartGift does to positively impact families throughout the world.

The night was capped off with a concert from the acclaimed Josh Abbott Band. The crowd rushed to the dance floor and partied the night away to several of his hit tunes, including Barstool Boys and Oh Tonight, concluding an epic evening of fun, impact, and fundraising that those fortunate enough to be a part of will not soon forget.

THE NON-PROFIT: “Party with a Purpose”: Celebrating 25 Years of Making Birthdays Possible, co-chaired by John and Jennifer Harper & Sarah and Mike Heidler, raised over $850,000 for HeartGift. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding programs that fulfill the organization’s global mission to provide life-saving heart surgeries for children worldwide who live in areas with little or no access to specialized cardiac care. Since its founding in 2000, HeartGift has provided critical heart surgeries to over 1,600 children throughout the world.