Thank You For Raising $1.3 Million!
On October 19th, 1,300 Austinites dressed in safari-inspired elegance, gathered to celebrate the 21st annual PlayBingo Ladies Luncheon, presented by 2hr Learning. The Hilton Austin’s ballroom was transformed into a luxe jungle oasis where guests could enjoy the thrill of bingo and bid on over 150 exclusive silent auction packages. This year’s event was a perfect fusion of style and purpose, as our phenomenal guests came together to raise an astounding $1.3 million for the Center for Child Protection. We are so grateful to our fabulous event hosts, KXAN Chief Meteorologist, Nick Bannin, and Melissa Lowe, who is also a member of the Center’s Guardian Angel Society. A heartfelt thank you to our hosts, the Friends of Christopher Guild, and all the volunteers who helped make this year’s PlayBingo Ladies Luncheon an ode to adventure.
Together, we’re taking steps to protect and empower Austin children.
For questions, please contact Kirby Cathey at kcathey@centerforchildprotection.org or 512-600-2890
Nick Bannin
Nick Bannin became KXAN’s Chief Meteorologist in May 2024. Born in Bristol, England, he moved to Manchester before his family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, when he was four. Fascinated by weather from a young age, Nick knew he wanted to be a meteorologist by age five. He spent part of his childhood in California, then attended Cornell University, graduating with a degree in Atmospheric Science and a minor in Applied Economics and Management. Nick began his career as the weekend meteorologist at WETM-TV in Elmira, NY, before moving to WWLP-TV in Springfield, MA. There, he advanced from weekend morning meteorologist to weekday morning and noon meteorologist over ten years, winning several awards including First-Place Best On-Air Personality and an AP Award for Best Weather Coverage. Nick’s proudest achievement is his coverage of the June 1, 2011 EF-3 Tornado in Springfield. He and his team are credited with saving lives during the storm. Nick and his family moved to Central Texas in January 2021, just before a major winter storm. In 2022, they welcomed a daughter, Mila. After three and a half years as KXAN’s weekend evening meteorologist, Nick is thrilled to now anchor the weekday evening weather broadcasts.
Melissa Lowe
Melissa Lowe is a proud Austinite who attended Texas State University where she graduated with a degree in Mass Communications – Broadcasting. Melissa was both a television news anchor and reporter for many years, working behind the desk and in the field for six years at KCEN-TV, and at KVUE-TV for four years. Melissa has since retired from the television news industry but will always have a passion for journalism. In 2010, Melissa received her Real Estate license and began her career in the title industry. Melissa proudly works at Texas National Title and has been a top sales and marketing representative in the Austin Real Estate market for nearly 15 years. In April of 2023, Melissa married Matt Lowe, Owner of Dynamic Sports Medicine. He’s now the proud step-dad to Tessa, Mitchell and Connor. They live in Barton Creek where they enjoy golfing, swimming, and playing outside. Melissa was a celebrity dancer in support of the Center for Child Protection’s Dancing with the Stars Austin gala in 2019 and is a proud member of the Guardian Angel Society.
Sponsorship Opportunities
If your company has been searching for the perfect cause-related marketing opportunity in Austin, look no further! The Friends of Christopher Guild proudly presents the PlayBingo Ladies Luncheon, a unique Austin event bringing local ladies together for a common cause – child abuse – and a common love – bingo. Through the years, PlayBingo has grown to include more than 1,300 influential women, who rally their friends and bring their pocketbooks for a mid-afternoon rendezvous of tasty drinks, fabulous auction items and of course BINGO, all to benefit Travis County child abuse victims.
Watch this video to learn more about the Center for Child Protection
Through fundraisers like PlayBingo Ladies Luncheon, the Center is able to educate more community members about the prevalence of child abuse and provide even more services to Travis County’s most vulnerable children. Every ticket purchased truly makes a difference in the lives of children served at the Center and takes our community one step closer to ending the cycle of abuse.
Our Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
BON VIVANT SPONSORS
2hr Learning
Amy Beard & Friends
Paula Boon
The Domecq Family Foundation
Friends of Dana, Jennifer & Lisa
JK Baxter Hunt & Tobie Funte
Shelley Anne Friend
Lake Pointe Dental Associates
Lanehart Electric
Melissa Lowe & Texas National Title
Rebecca McDonald
Rebecca Rooney
Jo Carol Snowden & Friends
Monique Threadgill & Nhi Prewitt
PRIMA PLATINUM SPONSORS
Jessica Balladares Bennett, Leslie Bollier & Jennifer Stevens
Natasha Bowen
Edwards + Mulhausen Interior Design
Susan R. Faykus | Faykus Financial, LLC
Haddon + Cowan Architects
Heritage Title Company
Lexus of Lakeway & Lexus of Austin
The Maxwell Family
Shonnery Pettit
Friends of Abby Sprio
Sonia Swenson
GRANDIOSO GOLD SPONSORS
Friends of Chandler & Josh Allen
Kelly Bailey
Cyndi Bock
Laura Coker
The Copeland Family
Susan Hackney & Leslie Dawson
Janice Kolbe
Cristi Petty
PJS
Teresa Schaffer
Tracy Wolfe – Zingaro, Fidler, Wolfe & Company
Snow White
Jessica Ziehr & Meredith Budwin
SPLENDORE SILVER SPONSORS
American Bank of Commerce
Amanda Bonilla & Cristina Libenson
Bambi A’Lynn Interior Design
Benchmark Bank
Bingo Babes
Sophia Darwich & Friends
Denim and Diamonds
Friends of Dina & Sophia
Frost
Frost Insurance
Tina Holmes
Heather Hudson | Austin Residential Group
Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel & Judge Bianca Garcia
Judge Catherine Mauzy and Judge Leigh Mathews Rodriguez
Kandace & Friends
Ann Kasper
Ann Kasper & Tracey Nelson
Ladies of 8212
The Law Office of Barbara Rowan
Morgan Lawrence
Kathy Loden
MLTC Group
Ruth E. Powers, Powers Property Group
Anu Reddy
Safari Champ Babes
Charlotte Sanders & Cristin Culver
Araminta Sellers
Tara Shaikh
St. David’s HealthCare
Casey Swenson
TAG Strategies
YOLO Ladies
Becky Warner & Connie Lundgren
Melinda Young’s Wild Women
BELLISSIMA BRONZE SPONSORS
Belles of Bingo
Belugas In The Blue Bonnets, LLC
Bingo Babes Gone Wild
Capital Area Speech & Occupational Therapy
Carol’s Classy Cuties
Ann Conrad
Bere Craig & Friends
Samantha Dallefeld
Courtney DeBower & Friends
Dignity Memorial
DSS Family Law, Law Office of Lisa Richardson, Heinrich Christian, PLL
Dynamic Motors
Falconhead West Ladies
Friends of Christopher Guild
Friends of Janie Van Hoozer
Dani Havins & Friends
High Maintenance Book Club
Joy Kling Interior Design
KB Home
KDS de Stijl Interiors
The Ladies of Circle C
Nicole Larimer
Caitlin Mahoney
Tammy McCarty
Medtronic Mommas
MR. TILE WORX
Teri Naiser & Jeanie Farra
Ouro
Jeanne Parker, Donna Troy, Tamra Harris
Annette Ramey & Carolyn Schilthuis
Sippin’ Safari
Marci Sneen & Friends
Tami’s Wild Bunch
Texas Auto Center, LLC
Donella Thorpe
Trauma Informed Babes
Troop Lakeway
Rona Walton & Friends
Westlund Adventurous Gals
Natasha Willet
PRESENTING SPONSOR
2hr Learning
BRACELET SPONSOR
H-E-B
BEAUTY & BLOOMS SPONSORS
Bartlett’s
Eliza Page
diptyque
Amanda Van Hoozer, Mary Kay
TOC Medical Spa
BICYCLE SPONSOR
Tina Holmes
BINGO PRIZE SPONSORS
ABC Home & Commercial Services
Diamonds Direct
diptyque
Eliza Page
Hilton Austin
Lake Austin Spa & Resort
Mark & Tracie Monroe Family Foundation
The Domain
BUBBLES & BLING SPONSORS
diptyque
Kendra Scott
Lexus of Lakeway & Lexus of Austin
Nothing Bundt Cakes
CHILDREN’S CHAIR SPONSORS
Elyse Barmettler
Terri Carpenter
Charlotte Crow
Marley Elder
Marissa Kashani
Samantha Locke
Victoria McCullough
Julissa Mora
Lauren Perkins
Teri Shipper
Diedre Vedder
DESSERT SPONSOR
Jo Carol Snowden, Moreland Properties
FRIENDS OF PLAYBINGO SPONSORS
Raelynn Barnhill
Lorene Phillips
Twin Liquors
Dana Sasser
LIFE’S A BOX OF CHOCOLATES SPONSOR
KB Home
MARKETING EVENT SPONSOR
i3 Event Marketing
MEDIA SPONSOR
Austin Woman
PRINT SPONSOR
Dell Children’s Foundation
RECEPTION SPONSOR
Edible Austin
SET-UP SPONSOR
M&M Moving
SILENT AUCTION SPONSOR
Garage Living
TABLE PRIZE SPONSOR
Northern Trust
TEDDY BEAR SPONSORS
Ann Kasper
Debbie Kobelan
Paula Roever & Fred Eppright
TOTE BAG SPONSOR
Sewell
VOLUNTEER SPONSOR
The Friends of Christopher Guild
