Make a Difference gala is ‘Texas-sized’ success
Feb. 28, 2005

AUSTIN - Southern hospitality was at its finest last Saturday as more than 325 supporters came together to raise more than $90,000 to make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected girls in Texas. The Red, White and Denim gala, held at the beautiful Barton Creek Resort and Spa, benefited New Life Children’s Center at Canyon Lake, one of four Texas children’s centers operated by Lutheran Social Services.

The Texas-themed event featured a live concert by country bands The Geezinslaws and the Kyle Sisters and a heartwarming single performance by Texas country singer, Les Hartman. Hartman, who was adopted through LSS as a child, treated guests to an emotional, acoustic rendition of his song, ‘Their Child,” written to express his appreciation of his adoptive parents.
The evening’s most special guest, former New Life resident, Kimberly, inspired guests when she spoke about her experience at the center and her aspirations for the future. There was not a dry eye in the house as she shared her story and put into words how much everyone’s support means to the girls at New Life.

Kimberly’s testimony also inspired one of the most spirited live auctions in Make a Difference history. Bidders competed for trips around the United States, a registered longhorn calf, baseballs autographed by pitching legends Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan and more. Aggies and Longhorns showed their school spirit when auctioneers, Kevin Benz of News 8 Austin and Ogla Campos of KVUE-TV, put an autographed football from each school on the bidding block together and encouraged the rivals to outbid one another. In total, the auction raised an incredible $16,500 for the troubled girls at New Life.

As the night came to a close, guests left with their hearts full knowing that they had made a difference in the lives of some truly deserving girls.

New Life serves girls ages 11 to 17 who suffer from severe emotional and behavioral problems, mostly as a result of past abuse and neglect. These girls require specialized care, and New Life is able to provide a secure, structured environment where residents can receive therapy, attend school, enjoy recreational activities and are offered voluntary spiritual care.

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc., is the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS annually serves nearly 25,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas and Louisiana regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministry includes children’s residential treatment centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, adult day care, health care and retirement centers, emergency assistance and disaster response.