Inside the 8th Annual Abbey Lights Up COTA Gala

The Abigail E. Keller Foundation returned to Circuit of the Americas for its 8th annual Abbey Lights Up COTA gala, shattering its fundraising goal with a record-breaking year. The gala, presented by Woolery Custom Fence Co., brought together community leaders, healthcare professionals, advocates, supporters, and families to honor the legacy of Abigail E. Keller and help build a future where medically fragile children and their families have access to the care, resources, and respite they deserve.

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2026 Butterfly Grant Recipient, Jose Gonzalez and family

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Ricky Bobby, Maureen Capista, Jean Bruns, with emcee Chet Garner

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Austin Cart Co. caviar activation

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AEK’s newly appointed community services social workers Caroline Gold and Rachel Carnahan-Metzger

Contributing to the funds were a grand prize courtesy of COTA, a lively live auction and incredible silent auction packages spanning bag sets from Consuela, custom jewelry from Marcus Degaldo, Founder of Hanging Rocks Fine Jewelry, dining experiences, and much more. New activations joining the gala this year included a red-carpet entryway with Central Texas Valet and Lamborghini Austin, Kendra Scott jewelry pull, custom Abbey-printed espresso martinis with Patron, a poker chip raffle featuring prizes such as Abbey-engraved Don Cruz Tequila sets and dinner with the evening’s emcee and Emmy-Winner Chet Garner, and a sparkling wall from William Chris Winery’s Rebecca Caroline sparkling wine featuring Austin Cart Co. caviar and a raffle prize from Zadok Jewelers. The Abbey Lights Up COTA Gala would not be possible without the continued support of special FILO Productions, Circuit of the Americas, William Chris Winerys and all its incredible sponsors.

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Shane and Taylor Marie Woolery

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Rob Giardenelli and Lance Avery Morgan

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Blake and Alicia Luken

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Alicia Luken, Sharon Halloran, Travis Keller, Melissa Keller, Brinley Brunner, Abigail Benedict

Since its founding in 2019, the Abigail E. Keller Foundation provides a range of services from bedside support to emergency assistance. Named in memory of Abigail Keller, the foundation honors her legacy by working to ensure that no family has to navigate the challenges of pediatric palliative care alone.

For more information or to support the foundation’s mission, visit aekellerfoundation.org.

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