Community, Celebration, and Impact: Toast of the Town 2025 Sets New Fundraising Record in Support of Future Health Professionals

Toast of the Town 2025 has officially wrapped, closing out another remarkable season of celebration, connection, and purpose. For more than 40 years, St. David’s Foundation has hosted this beloved tradition—a curated series of exclusive events spotlighting the very best of Central Texas. Over the past two decades, proceeds from Toast of the Town have supported the Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program, helping to shape the future of local healthcare by investing in the next generation of health professionals. 

This year’s series featured 21 unforgettable gatherings—from chef-led culinary experiences and private wine tastings to intimate concerts, athlete meet-and-greets, and fireside conversations with award-winning authors. Each event offered a unique and memorable experience for the 727 guests who joined us. We’re proud to announce that Toast of the Town 2025 raised more than $750,000, a record-breaking amount in support of our scholars. Thank you to everyone who attended, hosted, and contributed. Your generosity continues to fuel opportunity and inspire impact across our community. 

The Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program grants graduating high school seniors in Central Texas transformative scholarships to advance their healthcare education. As the largest healthcare scholarship program in the state of Texas, the program goes beyond solely providing financial aid to also offer social and emotional support by matching students with healthcare professionals who serve as mentors throughout the program. Students also receive access to free mental health counseling, tutoring, and a community of other scholars. 

The Foundation extends our deepest gratitude to this year’s Toast of the Town Co-Chairs, Araminta Sellers and Felicia Hester. Their visionary leadership and unwavering dedication were instrumental in making this year’s event our most successful and impactful to date. Through their efforts, they helped elevate Toast of the Town 2025 to new heights, creating an unforgettable experience and generating unprecedented support for our mission. 

The Co-Chairs led an outstanding committee that thoughtfully curated each of the 21 unique events. Some of the highlights of this year’s events included a private musical salon with the famous Juilliard String Quartet and ATX Chamber Music and Jazz, a one-of-a-kind exclusive sommelier-led burgundy tasting, a luxurious guided whiskey tasting featuring The Macallan, and an intimate dinner party experience at Aris.  

Other highlights included a truly authentic Austin experience that brought together Ray Benson, the frontman of the band Asleep at the Wheel, and Marsha Milam, the 2023 Master Brewer of the Year and founder of Milam & Greene Whiskey Distillery. Three of the events featured Longhorn athletic legends, one featuring the Longhorn’s newest hire Coach Schlossnagle and All-American Brooks Kieschnick; another welcoming National Championship winning coach Mack Brown back to Austin with Franklin BBQ; and the last longhorn-centric event included a fascinating conversation between renowned University of Texas at Austin Athletic Director Chris Del Conte and Austin radio personality and sportscaster Ed Clements.  

Several of Austin’s award-winning restaurants and chefs were featured in this year’s lineup, including Uchiko and Ling Kitchen. We also offered the opportunity to “Toast at Home” with delicious meals from Gracia Mediterranean, Nixta Taqueria, Space Cowboy, and Wu Chow. 

We are deeply grateful for the entire team, all of whom made Toast of the Town 2025 a resounding success. Planning is already underway for Toast of the Town 2026, and we can’t wait to share what’s next. Visit ToastAustin.org to view photos from each Toast 2025 party and  stay up to date for the exciting reveal of next year’s lineup.