Austin Community Tees off for a Cause at Texas Children’s First Legacy Golf Classic

Texas Children’s Austin hosted its first Legacy Golf Classic on May 12 at the historic Lions Municipal Golf Course, raising nearly $200,000 for the hospital’s Child Life Department.

Presented by McCarthy Building Companies, the sold-out tournament brought together hospital leadership, corporate sponsors, local athletes, and community members for a full day of fundraising. Guests played a round of golf at one of Austin’s most storied public courses and closed out the evening with a reception featuring live music, dinner by Cisco’s Muny Café, a silent auction, and awards emceed by journalist and Texas Children’s Ambassador Kat Cotroneo.

“Today’s event was a wonderful opportunity to bring the community together to raise funds for the Child Life Department in Austin and to celebrate the folks who have worked tirelessly to make this happen,” said Russ Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Texas Children’s Austin.

Award winners took home hand-painted ukuleles created by patients in the Child Life program, a specialized department that uses art, music, and play to help young patients understand procedures and cope with their hospital experience. Certified Child Life Specialist Sarah Hibbelin spoke during the reception, sharing the story of a leukemia patient who gained confidence and calm through medical play and breathing techniques.

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Derrick Johnson, Trey Sullivan, Rob Schanen, Nate Boyar

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Dr. Jeffrey Shilt – President, Texas Children’s Austin

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Event registration, McCarthy volunteers, Eileen Condit (Texas Children’s) and Gigi Edwards Bryant

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Golfer awards, ukuleles painted by patients in Child Life

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Golfer Gift

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Golfer Gift

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Jukebox Heroes

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Lions Municipal Historic Desegregation plaque

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Lions Municipal National Register plaque

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Preston Hodges (McCarthy Building Companies), Ryan Breaux (Texas Children’s), Calvin Silva (McCarthy Building Companies)

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Randy Scott, Dulce Garcia, Michael Gorman, Dwain Roberson

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Reception

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Rob Cooksy, Austin Brown, James McSpadden, Billy Nachman

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Rob Gillette, Russ Williams, Mark Medici, Zach Fogelman

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Russ Williams – Chief Operating Officer, Texas Children’s Austin

“Because of Child Life, my patient’s story isn’t just about cancer,” said Hibbelin. “While it may not change lab results, it changes everything.”

The event also highlighted the ongoing partnership between Texas Children’s and McCarthy Building Companies, which recently completed construction of the North Austin Campus. McCarthy Executive Vice President Jeff Wood presented a $183,000 check to support the hospital.

Notable attendees included former NFL linebacker and Texas Longhorn Derrick Johnson, Muny Conservancy Board Member Gigi Edwards Bryant, and longtime radio personality Ed Clements, who kicked off the tournament with welcome remarks.

Texas Children’s opened its first Austin-based pediatric clinics in 2018 and has since expanded to include a full hospital campus serving the region. The next Legacy Golf Classic is scheduled to return to Lions Municipal in spring 2026.

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