Highlights of the Texans for Life 2026 Annual Benefit Dinner with Emily Compagno

Pro-life advocates, community leaders, elected officials, and supporters gathered at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Hotel on Saturday, September 12, 2026, for the Texans for Life Annual Benefit Dinner featuring Emily Compagno from The Five on FOX News. This evening served as a critical fundraiser for Texans for Life's upcoming activities and a sensational educational event that left the hundreds of attendees highly energized.


Before the formal program began, attendees were treated to a performance by the University of Dallas Chorale, which features more than 30 members. The Chorale also opened the program with the National Anthem. 

 

State Representative Candy Noble (R-Lucas), a pro-life stalwart, led the audience in the pledges to the American and Texas flags. 


Casey Burke, a 20+ year board member of Texans for Life, emceed the program. Burke dedicated the dinner to the memory of Kyleen Wriht, the past president of Texans for Life who tragically passed away in September 2025. Casey explained that Kyleen had hand-picked Emily Compagno for last year's dinner before the event was rescheduled following Kyleen's sudden passing, and expressed how profoundly grateful the organization was that Emily could honor Kyleen's wishes and join them this year. 


Pastor Bruce Edwards of Heritage Ranch Baptist Church in Mansfield, where Wright had been a longtime member, shared heartfelt memories of Kyleen. He reminded attendees of the challenges she overcame in life and how her faith in Jesus Christ allowed her to be a winner in leading the organization. He then prayed for God's help to reach and save mothers and babies. 

The highlight of the evening was a keynote address delivered by attorney and FOX News correspondent Emily Compagno. Known for her prominent media presence and legal background, Compagno began by highlighting a recent victory in the Supreme Court, which blocked the enforcement of a New Jersey attorney general subpoena that required a pro-life pregnancy center to provide extensive records, including donor lists. 

She went on to praise the many pro-life successes achieved in Texas. "Your amazing laws are working," she said. "You are saving lives, and mothers and babies are thriving."

She also contrasted the Justice Department under the Biden Administration — which harassed pro-life activists peacefully present outside abortion facilities through the "weaponization" of federal laws — with the Justice Department under the current administration, which has reversed those abuses. 

As one of the best speakers Texans for Life has ever hosted, the Board honored Compagno as "The Yellow Rose of Texas." 

Compagno also attended the VIP Reception, where she mingled with the guests and posed for dozens of photos.


Dr. Joe Pojman, the current president of Texans for Life, talked about the organization's many accomplishments as well as the goals and challenges. 

Dr. Pojman showed examples of Texans for Life's extensive involvement at the Capitol in Austin. These efforts have resulted in effective laws like the Human Life Protection Act, which helped reported elective abortions plummet from thousands each month to zero.

"We can celebrate that thousands of unborn babies have been born who otherwise would have lost their lives to abortion," he said. 

At the same time, the law has a medical emergency exception that allows doctors to perform abortions in very rare cases to save women's lives, contrary to some media narratives and false claims a newly filed lawsuit in state district court. He added that no doctor has been charged, sued, or sanctioned for any abortion performed under this exception. 

Pojman summarized some recent gains, including:

  • The Legislature appropriated $5 million to promote the Baby Moses/Safe Haven law.
  • The Legislature's continued funding for alternatives to abortion at $100 million/year.
  • Complete defunding of Planned Parenthood at the state level.
  • SB 31, the Life of the Mother Act, to provide medical and legal education on the emergency exception in the Human Life Protection Act.
  • SB 33, by Rep. Noble, to prevent cities like Austin and San Antonio from funding abortion travel to other states.
  • HB 37 to provide bereavement care at hospitals when an infant dies.
  • SB 1233 to require hospitals to provide information about perinatal palliative care to families facing life-limiting or fatal diagnoses for their unborn child.
  • Authorization of the Texas Life Monument, an eight-foot monument to be placed on the state Capitol grounds depicting a mother and her unborn child.

But Pojman explained the need to address other issues when the Legislature meets in January:

  • There is currently no law preventing individuals from taking minor girls across state lines for secret abortions.
  • Abortion-inducing drugs are mailed in large numbers into Texas, a highly illegal felony offense that goes largely unprosecuted by local district attorneys.
  • Texas lacks regulation of IVF, allowing human embryos to be considered mere property rather than persons.
  • Inadequate surrogacy laws allow babies to be treated as commodities and surrogate mothers to be exploited.

He also explained some of the pressing needs ahead, including targeted educational campaigns to keep public opinion on the side of pro-life laws, and reaching youth and adults through Texans for Life's Life Decisions program using conventional and social media. Texans for Life is also planning to co-host the North Texas March for Life in January 2027, an expensive but necessary project. 

Volunteers from the Crusaders for Life at the University of Dallas helped out with setup and teardown, ensuring the dinner ran smoothly. We thank them for their help!   

Extensive photos of the event are available for viewing and downloading here

The Annual Benefit Dinner is the most important fundraising event of the year for Texans for Life. People can make contributions to any of three funds: