2025 Lunch Raises Nearly $200K for Austin's Playrooms!
More than 420 guests joined the Mario Lemieux Foundation at The Westin Pittsburgh on Thursday, May 15 for the 26th 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 several upcoming maintenance projects, including two major updates at Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital: one in the NICU and another in the NICU Step-Down Unit. These spaces will be refreshed and brought up to post-COVID standards, ensuring they continue to meet the highest levels of care and comfort.
Concluding its 26th year, the annual event has helped to raise the necessary funds to establish 44 Playrooms in hospitals and medical facilities throughout western Pennsylvania and beyond, with the latest Austin’s Playroom opening in May 2024 at UPMC Children’s Harrisburg. Your support and the generosity of our other key sponsors: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, UPMC, The Greenberg Family, and Cafaro-Livingston Charitable Trust, allow us to continue the good work of the Mario Lemieux Foundation.
More About Austin's Playrooms
Austin’s Playrooms provide a safe, fun, and engaging atmosphere for kids while their families focus on health and healing in the face of difficult medical challenge. To learn more about Austin’s Playrooms, watch the Playroom video above, or click here.
For a full list of locations, click here.
For more information, contact Karin Girasek, Director, Austin’s Playrooms at kgirasek@mlf66.org or 412-281-3466.
Past Luncheon & Fundraiser Acknowledgements:
