Project Beacon’s “Beacon at the Blue Magnolia” raises nearly $610,000 to continue building a future of belonging

THE WOODLANDS, TX — Project Beacon unveiled a new chapter in its signature fundraising event this year with Beacon at the Blue Magnolia: A Southern Evening of Music & Meaning, bringing together nearly 300 guests for an evening of Southern elegance, music, community, and a bold vision for what comes next.

Project Beacon's signature fundraising event took on a new name, a new location, and an entirely new look this year, welcoming nearly 300 guests to Beacon at The Blue Magnolia: A Southern Evening of Music & Meaning on September 25 at Blue Magnolia Events Center, with honorary co-chairs Dr. Ann K. Snyder and Mrs. C.J. Haynes.

While the event was reimagined for 2026, one thing remained unchanged: the community's commitment to Project Beacon and the adults with autism and other neurodiversities it serves.

The evening's Magnolia theme began long before guests arrived. J Low Events, led by Jennifer Lowrance, developed the Magnolia-inspired event experience from the very first Save the Date through the invitations and into the venue itself. Magnolia imagery became a signature element of the evening, appearing on cocktail napkins, throughout the décor, and in a breathtaking floral installation that greeted guests.

The centerpiece featured an abundant arrangement of white roses, hydrangeas, and magnolia leaves, with flowers generously provided by H-E-B at Harper's Trace. The design transformed the Blue Magnolia into an elegant Southern setting while deepening the evening's connection to Project Beacon's message.

Guests entered the Magnolia-inspired lobby to the sounds of Tobin Redwine, who serenaded guests as cocktails, wine, and passed hors d'oeuvres welcomed them into the evening.

For Baughman, the Magnolia was more than a beautiful flower. It reflected the people Project Beacon serves.

“Magnolias come in many forms,” said Kelly Baughman, President, CEO and Co-Founder of Project Beacon. “Some are evergreen while others shed their leaves annually. Some are small shrubs while others grow into towering trees. They bloom at different times, carry different fragrances, and bear unique names. In the same way, the individuals we serve are wonderfully diverse. Each brings their own strengths, talents, and perspectives. And when brought together, they create something truly extraordinary, something greater than the sum of its parts.”

A Community That Showed Up

That sense of community was evident in the extraordinary support behind the event.

Waste Connections served as the evening's Big Leaf Magnolia Presenting Sponsor, leading the event's sponsorship community with a significant investment in Project Beacon's mission.

Patricia and Jack Futcher further demonstrated their commitment by supporting the Southern Magnolia sponsorship level.

Cucumber Tree Magnolia Sponsors included Cole Health, The Dujka Family, The Udell Family, and Woodforest National Bank, joined by a broad community of businesses, families, healthcare and corporate partners whose collective generosity helped make the evening possible.

The sponsors represented more than a list of supporters; they came together as a community willing to invest in meaningful opportunities and a more vibrant future for adults with autism and other neurodiversities.

Southern Hospitality Meets Nashville

Caterers, Behind the Bash brought the spirit of Southern hospitality to the dinner table with a double entrée of filet mignon and pecan-encrusted chicken breast with chipotle pepper crème sauce. Boozy milkshakes followed later in the evening for an added treat.

Then the room came alive with Nashville country music from The Dryes, with audio-visual production by Andy Davis Audio. The timing could not have been more fitting. The gala fell on September 25, which Montgomery County had proclaimed Dolly Parton Day, and The Dryes surprised guests with a performance of Dolly Parton's iconic “9 to 5.”

The connection ran even deeper: The Dryes previously worked with Dolly Parton on her Threads: My Life in Lyrics Symphony Tour, making their appearance at Project Beacon's Magnolia gala a particularly fitting musical moment.

Five Years of Promises Kept

But beneath the beautiful flowers, music, and celebration was a story five years in the making. Baughman took guests through Project Beacon's journey, highlighting the organization's growth and the milestones that have transformed an ambitious vision into a growing community of programs and opportunities.

The message was simple:

Promises were made. Promises were kept.

Project Beacon has grown into an organization providing adults with autism and other neurodiversities opportunities to build skills, develop relationships, explore employment, participate in recreation, and pursue greater independence through its programs and the Beacon Access Center in Oak Ridge North.

However, Baughman made it clear that the organization is not finished.

The Next Chapter: Building a Place to Call Home

The next step for Project Beacon is its most ambitious yet: developing an integrated intentional residential community that incorporates the Beacon Access Center model of care, creating a continuum where adults with autism and other neurodiversities can not only access programs during the day, but ultimately have the opportunity to build a life and call a community home.

The need is significant.

Montgomery County alone is home to 53,000 adults living with autism and related developmental disabilities, and many families are confronting the reality of aging caregivers and limited residential options. For families navigating long waitlists, limited resources, and difficult-to-access state-supported facilities, the future can feel uncertain.

Project Beacon's vision is to offer another path. A place where adults can live, work, learn, play, and build meaningful relationships with the support necessary to pursue the highest appropriate level of independence.

Electricity in the Room

For many guests, the vision became personal.

As the live auction began, auctioneer, Jake Addams brought his magnetic personality to the stage, shared his connection to the mission with the crowd, and the room transformed into a bidding frenzy. Paddles went up. Old friends renewed their commitment, new supporters stepped forward, and generosity began to build. By the time the final numbers were tallied, the community had more than doubled last year’s gala results and invested an extraordinary $610,000 in Project Beacon and its mission.

It was more than a successful evening; it was a statement about what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision. Project Beacon's mission is to build a community of belonging where adults with autism and other neurodiversities can play, learn, work, and live; at Beacon at the Blue Magnolia, that community showed it is ready to help build what comes next.

“We are deeply grateful for the way our community showed up for Project Beacon,” said Stacie Coleman, Development Director. “Every sponsor, donor, volunteer, and guest helped make this evening extraordinary. Their generosity reflects a shared belief in the people we serve and in the future we are building together.”

About Project Beacon

Project Beacon is a 501c3, nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with autism and other neurodiverse needs by providing innovative programs and support services that promote independence, dignity, and community connection.