08/29/2026
Please take a moment to read the following from Rusty Phillips. Russ & his wife, Debbie are dear friends and long-time supporters of The Key2Free in various capacities over the years. We could not be more appreciative for the effort that the entire TKerr Property Group/Russ Phillips Team Keller Williams have put into this unique and exciting event they are putting on to support two local organizations, The Key2Free and Texas Baptist Children’s Hone, and we would love for YOU to join us in the fun!
From Russ:
Somewhere around 2010, I was talking to a gentleman about a stake-out he'd been a part of. Literally, he'd been sitting with a police detective, and watching an apartment complex.
The goal was to rescue a teenage runaway from a pimp she had somehow ended up with. I listened, spellbound, through the whole story, and was relieved to learn the young lady was rescued and returned to her family.
Part of the reason I was spellbound was because of the tense nature of the situation. But another reason was because I had no idea how this thing is much more common that I could've pictured. I learned a new term in that discussion: "Human Trafficking."
I think by then I'd probably seen the movie "Taken" with Liam Neeson in it, but that being Hollywood, I'm sure I'd just written it off as a good action thriller. The story about the stake-out brought it home from Hollywood and I learned that I-35 is a big trafficking corridor and it happens right under our noses here.
Then I thought about my 7 year old daughter.
Then it was personal.
My mind began to roam, and I thought about things I'd never thought of before. For example, I thought of what lady Realtors might feel when meeting a prospect for the first time. For the first time I considered the vulnerability women might feel in certain circumstances. Then I really had an epiphany.
I was dressed in camo and sitting with my bow in a tree, looking for the big buck to walk out. Of course the buck was elusive, but I sat there and watched a group of does graze and they kept raising their heads sharply and looking in every direction. I was probably 20 feet up, and the wind was helping keep my scent from reaching them. It seemed there was absolutely no way they could've been aware of my presence. And yet, there they were...skittish as could be. And it hit me: "Is this what it feels like to be a vulnerable woman in today's culture?" I couldn't imagine walking through life like that, eyes darting in every direction in constant alert mode.
Not only can I not picture what it's like to be a woman, I *really* can't picture what it must be like to be a woman trapped in or recently escaped from human trafficking.
And I thought about my discussion with that Key2Free volunteer and realized that the vulnerability felt is one thing, but for some women, the worst case scenario actually happens. I shuddered as I began to picture what women who are trafficked actually go through day to day. I wondered what I could do to help women escape. And recover. And re-enter society with dignity. I got to know The Key2Free organization.
This is a bunch of folks that are ACTIVELY involved in picking up the pieces and restoring dignity. They have safe houses to protect girls from a pimp coming back to reclaim them, and put them back into that life. They teach classes. They help ladies with job skills, automotive maintenance, they assign mentors, and so much more.
So Tanya Kerr and I (you know TK...my business partner for a couple of years now) decided that our team could go a little bit "Next Level" and throw a gala. And you're invited. Just Cause....as in "just cuz...for a just CAUSE." Actually, TWO great causes.
To be clear, Tanya has a similar connection to Texas Baptist Children's Home, another fine organization here in Williamson County.... and our "Giving Gala" is benefitting them as well. I'd encourage you to visit the websites for both of these important organizations. Each site has information where you can donate if you choose, but just like every year at Thanksgiving when we hand out pies.... We wanna SEE YOU!
So on SEPTEMBER 10th (a Thursday), in order to give back to our community AND have some fun with friends like you, the whole team has worked hard to put together a great evening with a "culinary stroll," entertainment, and some cool auction items. You can check out the auction packages here. There's some crazy awesome stuff in there, like fishing in Cabo and a trip to Belize!
As of today, we've sold out all but one table and have a limited number of general admission tickets left. So this is your invitation. 🤠 Won't you join us?
Please take a moment to visit our event information page, where you can secure tickets, claim that last table, or peruse the auction items.
Our heart is in this, and we hope it touches yours. And as I mentioned before, we hope to see you. In today's busy world, we have to be deliberate about that. So I hope you'll join us for some fun and to support the causes that do so much without fanfare here in Wilco.
See you soon!
Russ
