The gist
This year's gala will raise money to build Central Texas's first-ever pediatric respite and hospice facility, spokesperson for the foundation Angela Hinson said in a news release issued June 27.
Zooming in
The event will feature guest emcee Holly Mills-Gardner, 1998 Miss Texas USA; Jonathan Cotter, guest speaker and founder of Ryan’s House—a pediatric hospice facility in Phoenix, Arizona; and music from local band Suede. The gala begins at 5 p.m., and tickets and sponsorships can be bought here.
Zooming out
The Abigail E. Keller Foundation aims to raise funds and awareness to help grow programs that serve rare and undiagnosed terminally ill children, Hinson said. Started in 2019 in memory of Abigail Elizabeth Keller, the foundation has donated over $400,000 in support of the mission to provide resources and support for medically fragile children and their families. In addition to fundraising for Dell Children’s, the Abigail E. Keller Foundation aspires to design and build the first pediatric respite/hospice facility in Central Texas where families can feel safe leaving their medically fragile children in the full-time care of compassionate caregivers while they attend to other children, emergencies or imperative items, Hinson said.
What they're saying
“Our greatest mission is to change the narrative around hospice care for children and instead help families to cherish time with the ones they love most,” the foundation’s President, Melissa Keller said. “This facility will serve as a safe space staffed with trained professionals that is a comfortable setting outside of the home or hospital. Such a space is vital to families, especially those with other children at home, and there is currently nothing like this available in Texas.”
Learn more
Those who are unable to attend the gala but would still like to help with the mission can donate by clicking here. To see how close the foundation is to meeting its $500,000 goal, or to learn more, click here.
