Here’s How The Muny Conservancy’s “Imagine Muny” Gala Scored A Hole-In-One In A Million Dollar Evening Headlined By The One & Only Wynonna Judd

Red Haute Country Glam Is the Attire. And We Mean Red.

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography by Tyler Schmitt of Mill Photo Studio and Summer Pierce Photography

THE SCENE: ACL Live at The Moody Theatre was recently the setting for one of Austin’s most anticipated winter fundraising events. Nearly 500 community leaders, sports lovers, sociables, and philanthropists turned out for the “Imagine Muny IV” gala. Benefiting The Muny Conservancy, the star-studded affair brought together all corners of Austin’s philanthropic community for a night that included touching tributes, dazzling performances by a music legend, and a seven-figure haul for the organization.

THE VIBE: The “Red Haute Country Glam” attire was encouraged in honor of the event’s performance headliner, Country Music legend Wynonna, and her signature red mane. Revelers were seen sporting various red ensembles, while others wore red accents to complement the many black and blue ensembles spotted in the crowd. The result? A warm, welcoming environment where everyone felt like family.

The magic began as the crowd walked up the steps to the mezzanine level of ACL Live, where a giant logo of The Muny Conservancy and members of the Austin High School boys and girls golf teams greeted enthusiastic guests. Once atop the stairs, She-She Media effortlessly drew attendees and celebrities on the star-studded red carpet to take images commemorating the night. Partygoers then headed onto the terrace at ACL Live for a lively cocktail hour. Here, revelers could be spotted sipping their favorite spirits while mingling with friends old and new. Others took the opportunity to peruse the curated live auction and preview the live auction packages that were up for bid later in the evening.

The action then moved to the orchestra level of ACL Live for the main program, where Jennifer Stevens of JHL Company transformed the space into various hues of red that gave the space an elegant combination of elegance, glamor, and warmth. Emcee Ed Clements entertained the crowd and kept the festivities moving at a fun, brisk pace. As guests dined on delectable multi-course meals, they were treated to words from event and organization leaders. Many were moved by how the 101-year-old Lions Municipal Golf Course has served as a gathering place for multiple generations of Austinites.

Next came a spirited and record-breaking live auction and Fund-A-Need appeal led by Seth Hale of Cowboy Auctioneer. The paddles and the fundraising continued to soar as they bid on a range of luxury packages and experiences, including a trip to Mallorca and an epic package for four to attend the 2025 Masters tournament, emerging as the most popular. As the auction was happening, an additional thousand-plus guests poured into the mezzanine and balcony levels of ACL Live in anticipation of the impressive night of musical entertainment that awaited guests.

Following the live auction, music lovers were treated to a set by Texas-based country band Chaparelle. After the band’s performance, guests were then treated to a concert by GRAMMY® award-winning artist Wynonna. The country music legend had the crowd on their feet as she belted out a wide range of tunes that consisted of a fantastic mix of new material and iconic hits that put the exclamation point on an amazing night of fundraising in Austin.

THE NON-PROFIT: Imagine Muny IV, co-chaired and hosted by Ben and Julie Crenshaw and Scotty and Julie Sayers, raised over $1 million for The Muny Conservancy. Proceeds raised from the event will go toward providing updates to the 141-acre Lions Municipal Golf Course just west of Downtown Austin and to facilitate a solution as negotiations between the City of Austin and the University of Texas continue. In 2024, over 65,000 rounds of golf were played, and welcomed over 100,000 visitors to the space, which serves as one of the primary gathering places for residents of Austin.