More than 450 guests joined the Mario Lemieux Foundation at The Westin Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 14 for the 27th annual Austin’s Playrooms Lunch & Fundraiser, presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Austin’s Playrooms, an initiative created by Nathalie Lemieux, offer a safe, fun and engaging atmosphere for children while their families focus on health and healing in the face of difficult medical challenges. Thanks to the continued success of the event, the Lemieux Foundation has established 44 Playrooms across the United States – with more on the way!

Proceeds from this year’s lunch will support UPMC Western Behavioral Health Child and Adolescent Services at the Quantum Building on Pittsburgh’s South Side. In March 2022, we opened our first behavioral health playroom in the pediatric wing at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. Building on the success of that space, we are thrilled to expand our partnership with a new Austin’s Playroom at the outpatient facility. This currently underutilized area will be transformed into a welcoming and therapeutic environment designed to support children and teens ages 6-18 during individual, group and family therapy sessions.