13th Annual Words of Hope
Presented By
Thursday, September 17th
7:00 p.m.
Words of Hope is Caritas of Austin’s largest annual fundraising event. Each year, the event features powerful stories that reflect our mission, and celebrates those individuals and businesses who contribute so fully to our community.
This year, we are asking you to save the date for Thursday, September 17th, to join us for our 13th Annual Words of Hope. We are looking forward to spending the evening with you—our supporters—either in-person at a socially distanced gathering or virtually in your homes. Please plan to join us as we share our successes, highlight our partners, honor our community members, and prove that together, we can truly make Austin more vibrant for all.
2020 Harvey Penick Award
Each year, the Harvey Penick Award for Excellence in the Game of Life is presented to a prominent leader whose life emulates that of the first recipient, golf legend, Harvey Penick. This year, in light of all the changes and challenges our community has worked through, we are celebrating the Austin Community as our 2020 Harvey Penick Honoree.
Each of our sponsors (at the Underwriter level and higher) will select a member of the community—leaders, mentors, stewards of community trust, and champions of the greater good—to honor. These individuals, who strengthen and grow our community, each have a meaningful legacy in Austin, Texas, and we are proud to celebrate them!
Learn more about the Harvey Penick Award.
2020 Sponsors
Lead Sponsors
Howard & Mary Garwood Yancy
Tracy & Ken Snodgrass
Beth & Sel Unite
* Denotes half sponsorship
Advocate & Partner Sponsors
Margie & John Brindley
Monica & John Crowley
Theresa & Erik Dithmer
Texas Gas Service
Kammy & Troy West
* Denotes half sponsorship
Contact Emily Lewis at elewis@caritasofaustin.org or 512-646-1268 for questions.
Past Speakers and Entertainers
2019 | Robert Earl Keen – folk and Americana singer-songwriter
2018 | Emmitt Smith – former Dallas Cowboy, successful entrepreneur and philanthropist
2017 | Ron Hall – author of Same Kind of Different as Me and What Difference Do It Make
2016 | Dr. Jeff Salz and Alepho Deng – author of They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky
2015 | Bobby Bones – prominent radio personality
2014 | Marcus Luttrell – U.S. Navy SEAL and author of Lone Survivor
2013 | Luma Mufleh – inspirational coach of a soccer team called the Fugees-short for refugees. Basis for book Refugees United
2012 | Liz Murray – author of Breaking Night and whose story inspired the film From Homeless to Harvard
2011 | Rick Bragg – Pulitzer Prize winning author of All Over but the Shoutin’
2010 | Leigh Anne Tuohy – the woman whose life inspired the novel and film The Blind Side
2009 | Jeannette Walls – the author of The Glass Castle
2008 | Ron Hall and Denver Moore – authors of Same Kind of Different as Me