Music, Joy & a Big Announcement: Live from the Heart Austin, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026 was without a doubt a day of joy in Austin, Texas.
Our community of supporters in Texas gathered at Brazos Hall in downtown Austin, Texas, on a beautiful Spring evening for our sixth annual Live From the Heart celebration. The night brought together champions, advocates, hospital partners, volunteers, and families for an evening of music, storytelling, and an announcement that will change the way Children’s Cancer Association shows up for families in Texas.
Before the doors to our event even opened, the day began with joy and impact: at the bedsides of children served by JoyRx programs. That morning, Charley Crockett joined Children's Cancer Association CEO Jack Pipkin, Regional Vice President Heidi Boynton, and JoyRx Music Specialists Monica Salas for a bedside visit at a local children's hospital. While Charley sang and strummed a guitar, we saw big smiles and toe-tapping while the power of music, and Charley’s artistry, created moments of shared joy.
A special day in Austin, TX
From joy in the hospital to joy in gathering to share support: guests greeted each other on the terrace at Brazos Hall, where Children’s Cancer Association was honored by the presence of Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela at our Live From the Heart reception. On behalf of the City of Austin, he took the microphone to make a formal proclamation that April 16, 2026 is Children’s Cancer Association JoyRx Music Day. Jack Pipkin, Heidi Boynton, and members of our Austin Leadership Council and Board of Directors were present for this truly special moment that underscored Austin’s community belief in the power of compassion, creativity and connection to improve the lives of its residents, especially children and families facing serious illness.
When guests moved downstairs for dinner, our emcee Taylor Ellison welcomed Jack Pipkin to share a reflection of the impact for children and families that this community has achieved through its support of JoyRx programs in Texas since 2013. Today, JoyRx Music has served over 50,000 children across 12 pediatric sites in Texas. Our Music Specialists have walked hospital hallways and sat with children in infusion rooms, taking song requests (everything from the Beatles to K-pop!) handing over guitar picks and egg shakers, letting children engage with music on their own terms.
"We often refer to JoyRx Music as being kid-prescribed music medicine," Jack told the room, "because we all know music has a universal power to heal."
Jack also presented Children's Cancer Association's highest honor, the Purple Torch Award, to our long-time supporter Sarah Marshall. This award represents our highest honor to special supporters and champions of JoyRx programs. Sarah's connection to this mission began long before she ever met the organization. At 14, she lost her brother Chris to cancer. That experience shaped everything that followed — including her decades of work on behalf of children facing serious illness. Sarah’s advocacy and support of JoyRx programs is truly inspiring, and it was our joy and privledge to recognize her incredible leadership and impact with this award.
Announcing Program Expansion to Better Serve the Children and Families of Texas: JoyRx Mentorship
The evening's mission and impact was furthered by an announcement from Heidi Boynton, Children’s Cancer Association’s Regional VP of Texas. Heidi, who moved to Austin this past year to lead the organization's work in Texas, had spent her first months listening to hospital partners across the city. The message she kept hearing: families want more connection.
"Tonight," she told the room, "because of your support, because of what this community has built over 13 years of generosity in Texas, Children's Cancer Association is able to announce that, for the first time ever, JoyRx Mentorship is coming to Texas."
JoyRx Mentorship pairs seriously ill children with trained adult volunteers who visit them in the hospital, week after week, with bags of games and activities chosen specifically for that child. It is the only program of its kind in the nation. It has been part of Children's Cancer Association's work in Portland since the beginning. This year, CCA plans to pilot the expansion of JoyRx Mentorship into Austin, and set the stage with our hospital partners to scale this program in the coming years.
The Impact of JoyRx Music: Micah's Story
Our honored family speaker for the evening, Micah Black, took the podium to share his family’s story with JoyRx programs. As a father of three, Micah’s remarks truly embodied the meaning of live from the heart. He spoke with great care and love about his daughter Kaishali’s fight against cancer, and he inspired every single person in the room to understand truly what it means to show up for children and families who need our support during treatment.
"If you have even just a little bit of joy," Micah said, "I don't mean happiness, or wishful thinking — but actual joy — then you can say, 'This is OK for where we are, now, whether or not it gets better.'"
There were no dry eyes in the room, and at the end of Micah’s remarks, the room erupted into a standing ovation. For the rest of the night, supporters lined up at Micah's table to shake his hand, and share their respect for him and his wife Mariah, and to share their very best regards for Kaishali and her incredible siblings as they navigate this difficult season of life.
Live From the Heart: Charley Crockett
To round out this incredible evening in celebration of joy and connection, Charley Crockett took the stage for a solo acoustic set, to end the day with a celebration of the power of music to connect and uplift us all. Charley’s set featured inspiring musical storytelling from his new critically-acclaimed album Age of the Ram, as well as other songs from his signature “Gulf & Western” catalog. We were truly honored to welcome Charley Crockett to the JoyRx Music stage for an unforgettable Live From the Heart Austin performance.
Thank You, Austin
With the encouragement and generosity of our Austin community of supporters, this year’s Live From the Heart Austin event set a new record of raising over $445k for children in Texas who need music and connection during the hardest days of their lives. Thank you, Austin!
We are grateful to our sponsors: our cocktail sponsor, the Will Smith Foundation; our bar sponsor, Tito's; our auction sponsor, Pacific Office Automation; our Joy Champion sponsors, the Purslow Family and Caleb and Holly Noel; our 2026 Signature Event Sponsor, Jennifer Goodrum; and our Joyful Table sponsors and hosts: Arctiq, David Baker, Michael Friesch, Brie and Michael McKinley, Merrill Lynch, Pro-Ed, Dawn and Emie Rogers, Bruce Romine, Elena Garcia Slaton, Wells Fargo, and WETT.
Thank you to all of our JoyRx community partners, supporters, donors, and families who joined us to make this a truly special night.
