What keeps someone engaged in philanthropy year after year?
For Laurel Simmons, it’s simple: seeing exactly where the money goes and knowing it’s making a real, tangible difference for the children and families in Central Texas.
“I loved the Women’s Trust mission and the idea of pooling resources to do something greater than what any one of us could do on our own,” Laurel says.
Pooling Power, Driving Change
The Dell Children’s Women’s Trust is a philanthropic giving society made up of women committed to advancing pediatric healthcare in Central Texas. Each year, members of the trust combine their individual gifts and vote together to fund projects and programs.
Since its founding, the Trust has granted more than $1.4 million to initiatives throughout the hospital. Last year alone, members awarded $125,000 to the Fetal Center Emergency Relief Fund, helping families traveling to Austin for specialized fetal care cover expenses like lodging, transportation, and meals.
The collective model of giving is what makes the Trust so meaningful to Laurel, but it’s the work of Dell Children’s physicians and care teams that most deeply inspires her philanthropy. Women’s Trust meetings often feature hospital leaders and clinicians who share firsthand insight into the organization’s most urgent needs, giving members a clearer understanding of where support can make the greatest impact.
“You’re not just writing a check that goes into a void,” she says. “You’re hearing directly from the people doing the work, learning what’s needed, and deciding together how to help. That feels very different.”
A Personal Connection
Laurel’s connection to Dell Children’s is deeply personal. As a mother of three children, now ages 14 to 19, she has relied on Dell Children’s for care throughout the years. One of her close friends also serves as an ER physician at the hospital, giving her an even deeper appreciation for the work happening behind the scenes.
“We really value the fact that Dell Children’s is here in Austin and the resources it provides,” she says. “I think it’s important to put your money where your mouth is in terms of what you support locally.”
Over the years, certain Women’s Trust meetings have stayed with her. She remembers hearing proposals for incubators, cardiac initiatives, staff support programs, and mental health resources — projects that felt essential, yet still required philanthropic funding to move forward.
“A lot of times it feels like such a no-brainer,” she says. “But there are real gaps, and our grants help fill them.”
Austin’s Growth, Austin’s Responsibility
As Austin continues to grow, Laurel believes the city has an opportunity and a responsibility to invest in best-in-class pediatric healthcare.
She’s particularly passionate about expanding mental health resources for children and teens, especially as Central Texas continues to face a shortage of pediatric psychiatrists and psychologists.
“We talk about Austin being this incredible city,” she says. “Well, best-in-class pediatric care has to be part of that.”
For Laurel, the Women’s Trust offers a tangible way to advance that vision.
Thoughtful, Active Philanthropy
Recruiting new members is something Laurel takes seriously — but she’s selective about how she pitches it. She doesn’t lead with the social calendar.
“I tell people: this is not a ladies’ lunch club. This is thoughtful, active philanthropy. You will learn things about what’s happening at Dell Children’s that most people never know. And your dollars will do something specific and visible.”
She’s also thoughtful about the Trust’s future. She believes growing the membership strategically, potentially raising the minimum giving level over time, could amplify the group’s impact while preserving what makes it special: the intimacy, the shared mission, and the sense that every member is genuinely invested.
“The goal isn’t to become a massive, impersonal organization,” she says. “It’s to grow our grants without losing the feeling that this group actually knows what it’s doing and why.”
The Reward of Tangible Impact
What continues to resonate most with Laurel is the specificity of the Trust’s impact.
“You know exactly what the money is being used for,” she says. “That’s what energizes people.”
It’s a model of philanthropy rooted not just in generosity, but in participation, learning, and shared purpose — women coming together to make sure that children and families across Central Texas have access to the care they need, close to home.
The Dell Children’s Women’s Trust welcomes new members at three giving levels: Partner ($1,000), Guardian Angel ($3,500), and Star Host ($5,000). Members are invited to the annual Fall and Spring Luncheons, where grant recipients are announced. To learn more or join, visit supportdellchildrens.org or contact Armando Zambrano at azambrano@ascension.org.