New Name. New Energy. $122,000 Raised. The Uplift WILCO Story The Uplift WILCO Story

How Uplift WILCO raised $122,000+ — and what every Central Texas nonprofit can learn from their record-breaking gala.

Some events are more than a fundraiser. The Uplift WILCO gala on April 22 was exactly that—a turning point. The Assistance League of Georgetown hosted their annual gala at The Vineyard at Florence, Texas — and walked away having raised more than $122,000 for their community programs, more than double the previous year’s revenue. But the real headline wasn’t just the dollars raised. It was the announcement that changed everything: after 25 years as part of the national Assistance League network, the organization was officially rebranding as Uplift WILCO, effective June 1.

I had the honor of serving as auctioneer and master of ceremonies for the evening — and it was a night I won’t forget.

A New Name, the Same Heart

For 25 years, the Assistance League of Georgetown has been quietly doing extraordinary work — providing clothing and essential items to students from Head Start through middle school, supporting literacy initiatives, offering scholarships to qualifying high school graduates, and addressing urgent needs in the community through their Outreach program.

The decision to rebrand as Uplift WILCO wasn’t a departure from that mission. It was an amplification of it. With more than 225 members (up from 180), growing Thrift Shop sales, and new grants on the horizon, the organization is stepping into its next chapter with fresh energy and a name that reflects its deep roots in Williamson County.

“We’ve been building the last couple of years, just momentum after momentum,” said president Marilyn Kounnas. “We have just built this new momentum into becoming our own nonprofit.”

What Made the Evening Work

Not a real “Fireman” — but Steve Terry absolutely was that night.

Great fundraising events don’t happen by accident. They happen when an organization is willing to trust the process — and lean into the energy.

For this event, that meant adding a live auction to the program — something the team hadn’t done before. It meant scripting the packages to match the room’s personality. And it meant having a little fun.

Enter “Fireman” Steve Terry.

Steve Terry is not a real fireman — but he was absolutely one that night.

When we got to the “Too Hot to Handle: Firehouse Dinner” live auction package — a dinner for four with Georgetown firefighters on June 18 — Steve walked out in full costume: red shirt, fire helmet, hose wrapped around his shoulders, and a fire extinguisher in hand, all to the opening notes of “Light My Fire” by The Doors. The room absolutely loved it.

That’s what happens when a client trusts you to bring ideas to the table — and when a room is ready to have fun AND give generously.

The Results Spoke for Themselves

After the event, Marilyn Kounnas, president of Uplift WILCO, sent a note that stopped me in my tracks:

“One friend of mine, who attends many fundraisers, told me it was the best-run, most energetic, and most fun fundraiser she had ever attended. You absolutely showed our Georgetown community how much the right auctioneer can elevate an event and maximize its success.” — Marilyn Kounnas, President, Uplift WILCO

Advisory Committee member Kimberly Terry (left) and President Marilyn Kounnas (right)

The Williamson County Sun agreed — covering the event and the rebrand announcement in their April 29 edition, with photos of the evening and a profile of the organization’s mission and growth. Click on the photo below or visit https://tinyurl.com/3ntm7cas to read the full article.

What This Means for Your Nonprofit

The hot air balloon details made the difference.

I’ve been raising money for Central Texas nonprofits for 21 years. In that time, I’ve learned that the difference between a good fundraiser and a great one usually comes down to a few key decisions:

Be willing to try something new. Uplift WILCO added a live auction for the first time. It paid off.

Let the auctioneer bring ideas. Scripting, staging, and storytelling aren’t extras — they’re the strategy.

Trust the room. When your audience is ready to give, the right energy makes all the difference.

Build a tight Run of Show – and stick to it. A well-paced evening doesn’t happen by accident. We collaborated on the timeline well in advance, and that preparation kept the energy high from the first bid to the final appeal.

Script the moments that matter. Fireman Steve Terry’s entrance was fully scripted and timed to hit the stage at precisely the right moment in “Light My Fire.” What looked spontaneous to the audience was anything but — and that’s exactly how great fundraising moments are made.

Congratulations to Marilyn Kounnas, Kimberly Terry, incoming President Jo-Anne Martin, and the entire Uplift WILCO family. Georgetown is lucky to have you — and I’m proud to have been part of such a milestone night.