Austin Power Couples Sergio & Angela Garcia Join Chris Harrison & Lauren Zima to Expand FORE Kids ATX’s Impact on Texas Children
How a friendship became a powerful philanthropic partnership
When Masters champion Sergio Garcia and his wife Angela sat down for dinner with television host and correspondent Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima earlier this year, both couples arrived with the same idea. What started out as an evening among friends transformed into a philanthropic partnership that will soon amplify the impact of one of Austin’s leading children’s charity events.
This collaboration marks a new chapter for FORE Kids ATX, the two-day fundraising event founded by the Garcias in 2022 that has already raised more than $7 million for Texas children’s organizations. “It was a no-brainer,” says Angela Garcia about partnering with their close friends. “If we can all get together for a cause that is so near and dear to our hearts, then we can do even more together.”
Expanding the Impact: Experience Camps Joins FORE Kids ATX
This year’s fourth annual event, taking place Nov. 6-7, introduces Experience Camps, a new beneficiary close to Harrison and Zima’s hearts. For Zima, the Emmy-winning “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent, the cause is deeply personal. She lost her father in 2010 and sits on the national board of Experience Camps, which provides grief support for children who have lost a parent, sibling or primary caregiver.
“I’ve seen a child who started her week at camp nonverbal after the death of her father, and by the end of the week was able to speak about him,” Zima says. “I’ve seen the impact with kids who have been going to these camps for several years. They could be stuck in their grief, but instead this program turns them into the most empathetic, resilient kids.”
The organization will open its first Texas location in Marble Falls in August 2026, addressing a critical need in a state where 600,000 children have lost a parent or sibling and need support.
Former host of “The Bachelor,” Chris Harrison has hosted FORE Kids ATX for the past two years. Harrison says the partnership will make his role even more meaningful. “It’ll be emotional. It really will. It’ll mean much more to be on that stage and raise those funds, knowing all that it will be impacting, including now Experience Camps.”
Empowering Kids through the UGLI Foundation
The collaboration aligns with the Garcias’ existing work through The UGLI Foundation, which Angela founded in 2021 to combat bullying in schools across the country. She regularly visits campuses across the state, witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of harassment that now follows children home through social media.
“These kids cannot get away from it anymore.” Angela Garcia says. “We have to make a change.”
Masters champion Sergio Garcia has embraced Austin as his home since 2017 and seeks giving back as a natural extension of their blessings.
“It matters so much,” he says, reflecting on visits to Dell Children’s Medical Center. “You see the faces of these kids, of these families, and you see how happy they are and it makes you feel amazing.”
FORE Kids ATX weekend: A celebration of heritage, sports and shared values
This year’s event will benefit five organizations: Experience Camps, The UGLI Foundation, Dell Children’s Medical Center, Foster Village and Center for Child Protection. The celebration begins with a “Night in Old Spain” themed gala honoring Sergio Garcia’s heritage, followed by a golf tournament featuring professional athletes and public figures including former University of Texas football coach Mack Brown and soccer legends Diego Forlan and Gabriel Batistuta.
For all four partners, the collaboration represents a natural evolution of their shared values and friendship.
“I kind of feel this sense of both empowerment and relief. We wanted a really good team and now we have one,” Zima says. “We’re stronger together, and we’re going to be able to accomplish a lot.”
To attend the FORE Kids ATX events and learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit forekidsatx.org.
RELATED: Sergio and Angela Garcia’s FORE Kids ATX 2024 Events Raises $2M for Central Texas Youth