A Cool Night in the Country was a Texas-sized success! With over 415 guests in attendance, this truly was our largest Cool Night, yet! We are so honored and amazed by the generosity of this community, including our event sponsors who helped make this event possible. Thanks to YOU, we exceeded our goal and raised a gross total of over $320,000!
With the threat of rain, the party was moved inside River Crest Country Club, but the fun was not dampened! Guests arrived in their country best and were ready to have a good time. The night was filled with two-stepping, whiskey tasting, and more! The night’s live music entertainment did not disappoint! Nominated as one of the best cover bands, Raised Right Men brought the house down with feel-good country tunes. Couples enjoyed kicking up their boots and two-stepping the night away. Just take one look at our photo booth pictures, and you’ll see how much fun everyone had!
And let’s not forget the food! One of the biggest hits of the night was the “build-your-own biscuit bar!” Choose from southern fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, or an assortment of jellies and jams, and you’ve got a finger-lickin’ good biscuit! The main course was filled with delicious southern delicacies including homemade mac n’ cheese, bacon green beans, Texas brisket, bourbon peach salmon, and more. Dessert completed this meal, of course, with banana pudding parfaits and cherry cobbler à la mode.
The food and music were both a hit, but the excitement ramped up during the live auction and “Make a Difference Moment.” Our auctioneer Luther Davis got the crowd ramped up and auctioned off a variety of items including two Florida beach homes, an Italy trip, and private concerts! After the conclusion of the live auction, guests watched the premiere of our 2018 Impact Video featuring a current WARM Place family. The featured family was in attendance and spoke a few words of gratitude. The audience then participated in the biggest “Make a Difference Moment” in WARM Place history, raising over $40,000 in just a few minutes!
Among the auction and entertainment, the mission of The WARM Place was at the forefront of everyone’s mind. It’s the reason why we have A Cool Night. It’s the reason why you raised your paddles and why you gave during the “Make a Difference Moment.” The WARM Place exists to provide year-round grief support services to children and their families who have experienced the death of a loved one, so that they do not have to walk this difficult journey alone. We cannot fulfill our mission without you. Thanks to you, no WARM Place child will ever have to grieve alone.
On behalf of The WARM Place staff and Board of Directors and Cool Night Committee, we want to express our deepest gratitude to YOU for making The WARM Place annual fundraiser, A Cool Night, a total success! Whether you are an event sponsor, guest, volunteer, or faithful advocate of The WARM Place, THANK YOU!
