Going for the Gold Gala History

LHSON is passionate about preparing exemplary nurses for the 21st Century and the key to doing that is recruiting and retaining outstanding students. Past Going for the Gold Galas have featured champion athletes and celebrities such as: Clyde Hart, Baylor's Track & Field Head Coach and Director of Track for five decades plus, U.S. Olympic gold medalists, Darold Williamson, Jeremy Wariner and Michael Johnson (2022 gala); Texas Governor Greg Abbott (virtual 2020 gala); Sean Lee, #50 Dallas Cowboys linebacker and his wife Megan Lee (2019 gala); Laura Bush, Former First Lady of the United States and Dr. Linda Livingstone, President of Baylor University (2018 gala); Derek Haas, co-creator and executive producer of NBC's hit television series Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med and Chicago Justice (2017 gala); Noah Galloway, a wounded Operation Iraqi Freedom U.S. Army war veteran hero and finalist on the TV program, “Dancing with the Stars" along with Terrance Williams, Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver (2016 gala); Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Quarterback Robert Griffin III (RGIII) and former Baylor linebacker and NFL Hall of Famer, Mike Singletary (2015 gala); America's gold medal legend Mary Lou Retton (2014 gala); former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith (2013 gala) and Baylor's championship-winning women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey who joined former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman at (2012 inaugural gala).

    Gala 2012
    April 14, 2012

• Keynote Speaker: Kim Mulkey, fresh off Baylor Women's Basketball National Championship Title win (40-0)
• Emcee: Trey Wingo, Co-Host of ESPN SportsCenter and Co-Host of NFL Live
• Special Guest: Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback
• Venue: The Ritz Carlton Hotel
• Fundraising: The inaugural gala raised $500,000 benefitting endowed scholarships
• Gala Video: 
  
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    Gala 2013
    March 1, 2013

• Keynote Speaker: Emmitt Smith, CEO, EJ Smith Enterprises, Dallas Cowboys Three-Time Super Bowl Champion and winner of the hit TV show "Dancing With the Stars"
• Emcee: Scott Murray, NBC Emmy Award winning television sports anchor and broadcast journalist
• Special Guests: Mike and Alison Malone
• Venue: Eddie Deen's Ranch in Dallas
• Theme & Fundraising: The gala had a Texas-style theme and raised over $500,000
• Gala Video: 
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     Gala 2014
     May 3, 2014

• Keynote Speaker: Mary Lou Retton, America's Olympic gold medal legend in gymnastics
• Emcee: Bianca Castro, News Reporter for NBC 5
• Special Guest: Holly Tucker
• Venue: Omni Dallas Hotel 
• Theme and Fundraising: The gala achieved its fundraising goal of $750,000 to support endowed scholarships for nursing students
• Gala Video: 
  
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    Gala 2015
    February 28, 2015

• Keynote Speaker: Robert Griffin III, 2011 Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Quarterback 
• Emcee: Deb Carson, national sports anchor for Fox Sports Radio
• Special Guest: Mike Singletary, NFL Coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame member 
• Venue: Hilton Anatole
• Theme & Fundraising: The event continued the tradition of spotlighting championship efforts to help raise scholarship funds for student nurses. Also new to the 2015 gala was the ability to support the nursing school's new building fund. The gala raised over $1.5 million.
• Gala Video: 
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     Gala 2016
     February 27, 2016

• Keynote Speaker: Noah Galloway, a wounded Operation Iraqi Freedom U.S. Army war veteran hero and finalist on the TV program, “Dancing with the Stars"
• Emcee: Pete Delkus, Emmy award-winning meteorologist, ABC affiliate WFAA-TV
• Special Guest: Terrance Williams, Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver
• Venue: The Renaissance Dallas Hotel
• Theme & Fundraising: The LHSON has a rich history of service, sacrifice and support for all branches of the Armed Forces. Baylor nurses have cared for soldiers in every armed conflict since the civil war. The gala raised more than $1.4 million.
• Gala Video:
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      Gala 2017
      February 25, 2017

• Keynote Speaker: Derek Haas, co-creator and executive producer of NBC's hit television series Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med and Chicago Justice
• Emcee: Bianca Castro, co-anchor for NBC-5
• Venue: The Fairmont Hotel
• Theme & Fundraising: The theme was “Coming Together to Make a Difference” and recognized and honored those who serve our communities – both the nurses who care for our sick and wounded and our selfless public servants in the police and firefighting communities. The gala raised over $1 million.
• Gala Video:
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  Gala 2018
  February 24, 2018
   
• Keynote Speaker: Laura Bush, Former First Lady of the United States
• Venue: Hyatt Regency
• Theme & Fundraising: “Building Dreams” and recognized and honored nurses serving in women's and children's healthcare. The gala raised over $1 million.
• Gala Video:
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  Gala 2019
  March 2, 2019
   
• Keynote Speakers: Sean Lee, #50 Dallas Cowboys Linebacker and his wife Megan Lee
• Venue: The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. 
• Theme & Fundraising: Providing critical resources for the Nursing School and its students, this year’s gala raised over a half million dollars. 
• Gala Video: 
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  Gala 2020
  April 25, 2020 - In-person event canceled due to the pandemic
  November 12, 2020 - Virtual
   
• Keynote Speaker: Governor Greg Abbott
• Special Guests: Dr. Linda Livingstone, Kim Mulkey, Derek Haas and Noah Galloway
• Venue: Virtual
• Theme & Fundraising: The theme of this special gala was a Virtual Celebration of the LHSON's 110th birthday and BU's 175th birthday as well as 2020 being named the Year of the Nurse & Midwife. The virtual gala raised $175,000 in addition to almost $400,000 already raised for the postponed spring gala due to COVID-19

• Gala Video: 

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  Gala 2022
  April 30, 2022

• Keynote Speaker: Clyde Hart, Baylor's Track & Field Head Coach and Director of Track for five decades
• Special Guests: U.S. Olympic gold medalists, Darold Williamson, Jeremy Wariner and Michael Johnson 
• Venue: The Dallas Renaissance
• Theme & Fundraising: This was the 10th and final Going for the Gold Gala, raising over $1 million and welcoming over 600 guests. Since the inaugural gala in 2014, the Gala has become a transformational fundraising event providing critical resources for the nursing school and its students.
• Gala Video: