Arena Hall · Austin, Texas · November 2026
The Future of
Botanical Medicine
Botanicals → Therapeutics → Legislation
One night, one room, and the people who will set the standardization framework for physician-guided botanical medicine — from the plant, to the clinic, to the statute.
Purpose
One night that does three jobs.
Raise meaningful funds, launch the NCCC / Texas Compassionate Care Council with the Texas medical establishment in the room, and convert healthcare leaders into members and allies. The audience is the strategy.
Highly curated and restrained. Science first, celebrity as draw — every guest should be able to repeat the mission in one sentence: physician-guided botanical medicine, standards, patient access and compassionate care integrated into healthcare, backed by evidence.
The Evening
Program
VIP Reception & Auction Preview
Cocktails and acoustic music, with a private meet-and-greet with the celebrity host and speakers reserved for table sponsors.
Dinner & Clinical Program
Welcome and vision from NCCC leadership, a celebrity keynote on destigmatizing medicine, then the clinical core: Dr. Sharif on seed-to-medicine standards and flavonoid–cancer findings, Dr. George Valdez on botanical therapeutics in end-of-life care and opioid reduction, Dr. Sue Sisley on FDA Phase 2b trials in veterans and first responders — closing with one patient story.
Call to Action
Impact presentation, a live fund-a-need anchored by a named matching challenge, and the silent auction close with full transparency on allocation of funds.
Networking, Espresso & Digestif
Board members work assigned prospect lists; pledge cards and membership one-pagers at every table.
The Room
The invitation list is the fundraising strategy.
Healthcare leadership
TMA leadership, health system and ACO CEOs, Texas Oncology, Menninger Clinic, Houston VA, senior-care executives and university department chairs.
Philanthropy & industry
Healthcare philanthropists, the Arena Hall community, faith and Jewish community leaders, and medical-first hemp executives.
Public sector
State health officials, legislators and policy advisors, invited under an educational briefing framing.
Physicians & patients
Practicing physicians and patient voices attending gratis through Realm of Caring and Texas Oncology.
Support
Tables & Seats
Sponsor Table
Eight to ten seats, private meet-and-greet with the host and speakers, recognition throughout the evening.
VIP Seat
Individual seating at the plated dinner with full access to the reception and clinical briefing.
Non-Gift Registration
Fair market value of the meal, for public officials attending within Texas ethics limits.
The NCCC is a 501(c)(4); contributions are not tax-deductible. Deductible giving is routed through a 501(c)(3) partner with counsel-reviewed allocation, and receipts clearly split deductible contributions from non-deductible meal fair market value.
Owners & Timeline
The road to November
August
Confirm venue and November date. Resolve c3/c4 structure with counsel. Circulate the proposal and incorporate speech materials.
September
Lock the celebrity keynote, confirm speakers, recruit the host committee, secure the matching challenge, begin CME accreditation.
October
Invitations out with 70% of tables pre-sold; auction items secured; production plan and prospect sheet live.
November
Final ethics review of the guest list, day-of run of show, 48-hour follow-up sprint, membership asks within a week.