UT Southwestern Medical Center
Special Events, Projects, Programs, or Campaigns
Gold
An Evening With DocStars is the signature fundraising event for The Cary Council, a group of young professionals and budding philanthropists dedicated to advancing early-stage research at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Through engaging programming, they are catalyzing a new generation of community leaders and working to raise awareness of the importance of academic medicine, research, and medical education in our community. Funds raised support research grants awarded annually to up-and-coming UT Southwestern investigators — known as “DocStars” — who are conducting promising research. The event brings science to life by allowing guests to have unique, hands-on experiences at innovation stations highlighting science and medicine. In addition, guests interact with the DocStars to learn about the life-changing research happening in their own community. Guests leave the event feeling grateful and inspired.
What was the most impactful part of your entry?
The most impactful part of An Evening With DocStars was our guests learning about the collective impact of their support for our DocStars. With the 14 grants that have been awarded so far, the early-career researchers subsequently leveraged their grants to secure over $13 million in additional funding to advance their research.
What is one thing you learned from your entry/experience?
One thing we learned from this experience is that having extra items for guests to purchase at the event just isn’t necessary to raise additional funds. Our guests believe in the mission of UT Southwestern and what they are supporting. Having QR codes with gentle reminders encouraging additional support throughout the evening is more than enough to help us exceed our goal.
Contact: Ashley Gentry
ashley.gentry@utsouthwestern.edu