Toast of the Town Wraps Annual Central Texas Tradition with Record-Breaking Funds Raised

Continuing a cherished tradition spanning more than four decades, St. David’s Foundation’s 2026 Toast of the Town wrapped in May after hosting more than 22 spectacular events. The monthlong event series brings the community together for remarkable evenings of celebration and entertainment, all to raise critical funds for the St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship, the largest healthcare scholarship program in Texas.  

The 2026 event co-chairs, Araminta Sellers and Felicia Hester, led the committee of more than 30 members to the event’s most successful year to date. The year’s theme highlights the true nature of Toast of the Town as each event is specifically cultivated to showcase the unique and treasured parts of Central Texas, from the fascinating people that live here to the exquisite landscape that surrounds the area.

While guests enjoy a wide variety of events, all are centered on one important cause – ensuring Central Texas has the skilled, passionate healthcare workforce needed for our rapidly growing region. The proceeds from the event’s sponsorships and tickets, which are tripled through a match from the Foundation’s Community Fund, benefit St. David’s Foundation’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship. The Foundation provides merit and need-based scholarships to Central Texas high school seniors pursuing health-related degrees at Texas colleges and universities. This program has provided transformative support to more than 900 future healthcare professionals. Just as important as the funding, our unique program provides vital wrap-around support including tutoring, mentorship, and mental health supports to ensure that whatever comes their way, our scholars can be successful.

For one month, Toast of the Town takes over the city with one-of-a-kind experiences, including intimate dinners with award-winning chefs and exclusive conversations with coaches at the top of their game.  

This year, the events brought together almost 700 guests and with the Foundation match, raised more than $2.3 million, a record-breaking amount for the event. The 2026 parties kicked off on April 21 with “A Jazzy Evening” in a private Austin home that featured the renowned Keith Fiala and his jazz quartet and was accompanied by delicious food and custom cocktails. The lineup of events concluded on May 21 with a private wine dinner at one of Austin’s most acclaimed fine dining restaurants, Aris.  

Over the monthlong series of 22 uniquely curated events, events offered something for everyone—from art and music enthusiasts to dedicated Longhorn fans and foodies. Highlights included a behind-the-scenes look at Texas Football, featuring a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities and a fireside chat with Texas Head Football Coach Steve Sarkisian and Athletic Director Chris Del Conte. At the incredible Music Box House that overlooks Lake Austin, prize-winning virtuoso and pianist, Anton Nel, treated the guests to a private concert. Additionally, the one and only Radney Foster gave an unforgettable performance in an exclusive backyard concert at a private home in Northwest Austin. Other notable special guests included: authors Bryan Burrough and Seth Harp, Top Chef France winner Kevin D’Andrea, and Grammy winner Chucho Valdés to name a few more. 

In addition to the in-person gatherings, this year’s event offered three select Toast at Home opportunities featuring meals curated from the award-winning chefs of Mum Foods, KG BBQ, and Lao’d Bar.  

The team is already hard at work on Toast of the Town 2027. Visit ToastAustin.org for more information and tune in next spring for next year’s lineup.