Great Futures Spring Luncheon – May 1, 2018 – Fairmont Austin Hotel
Leadership Insights: A Roadmap to Great Futures
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA) will host its annual Great Futures Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, May 1 at the Fairmont Austin Hotel. Bringing together community leaders and philanthropists with some of the remarkable youth the organization serves, this luncheon will shine a light on leadership and the transformative role it can play toward inspiring great futures. An outstanding panel of leaders—known pillars of leadership in our community—will share valuable insights based on experience.
Together with a formal lunch, attendees will feast on a panel discussion featuring Kirk Watson, Texas State Senator and partner at Husch Blackwell; Eddie Reese, Head Coach of the men’s swimming and diving team at The University of Texas at Austin; and Maurie McInnis, Executive Vice President and Provost of The University of Texas at Austin. The panel will be moderated by Sally Hernandez, Anchor of KXAN News Today. Programming will unite BGCAA Club youth with attendees and speakers as the 2018 BGCAA Youth of the Year is featured, and 2018 BGCAA Essay Contest winners are announced.
Tables and individual tickets for the Great Futures Spring Luncheon are available for purchase. Money raised from the Great Futures Spring Luncheon will benefit BGCAA’s programs and services across its 33 Central Texas locations. The luncheon is among several events throughout the year that raise both awareness and support to help Austin kids build great futures. Other events slated for 2018 include the Cards for Kids Casino Night on Saturday, July 14, the 5th Annual Austin Duck Derby on Saturday, Aug. 4, the BGCAA Golf Classic at TopGolf on Wednesday, Sept. 12 and the Blue Door Gala on Friday, Nov. 2.
Kirk Watson – Texas State Senator , Former Austin Mayor & Partner, Husch Blackwell
Kirk Watson has been a member of the Texas Senate since 2007. His law practice focuses on commercial litigation, and throughout his legal career, he has represented families, physicians, businesses and some of Texas’ major universities in a variety of disputes and transactions. He is also a mediator and involved in negotiation of a variety of business transactions. He is a highly recognized speaker on a range of legal and economic development topics, having addressed business and political leaders at public policy forums across the United States and internationally. Watson’s priorities center on education, healthcare, economic development, 21st Century energy generation, environmental protection, transportation, budget transparency, and state employees.
Eddie Reese – Head Coach – UT Men’s Swimming and Diving Team
Reese, the only college swimming coach to win NCAA team titles in four separate decades, has established a tradition of excellence in Austin and set the standard in collegiate swimming through his 39 years at Texas. A three-time United States Men’s Olympic Team head coach, Reese is the winningest coach in the sport’s history with 14 NCAA team titles, a figure that also positions Texas as the winningest NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving program.
Most recently, in his 40th season on the Forty Acres, Reese led the UT Men’s Swimming and Diving team to their fourth straight NCAA Championship title this past week, 14th National Championship title overall.
Maurie McInnis – Executive Vice President & Provost, The University of Texas at Austin
Maurie McInnis is the executive vice president and provost at The University of Texas at Austin. As the university’s chief academic officer, she leads strategic planning for the university’s academic mission, and ensures academic programs are world-class and aligned with the university’s commitment to diversity and equity. These responsibilities include leading academic programs and initiatives across the university’s 18 colleges and schools, which serve more than 51,000 students and support more than 3,000 teaching and research faculty.
In addition, McInnis oversees UT Austin’s libraries and museums, archival collections, research centers, and academic support units. McInnis is a member of the Core Crisis Management Team, Texas Exes Board of Directors, University Budget Council, Executive Compliance Committee, and is co-chair of the Strategic Information Technology Accountability Board.
Panel Moderator: Sally Hernandez – Anchor, KXAN News Today, KXAN
Sally Hernandez is anchor of the Emmy award winning morning show on KXAN. A proud Texan, Hernandez has called Austin home for more than a decade working her way up the ladder from news intern in 2001 to morning anchor for KXAN News today. Hernandez has been recognized by The Texas Associated Press for her anchoring and reporting. She was also part of the 2010 winning team for Best Morning Newscast. She wakes up every morning at 2:30am to anchor the news and wake up Austin. You can watch Sally Monday thru Friday from 4:30am to 7:00am on KXAN News Today.
For more information about the Great Futures Spring Luncheon, other BGCAA events or to explore partnering with the nonprofit, please contact Jena Eiden at 512.444.7199 or jena.eiden@bgcaustin.org.