To become an event sponsor or underwriter, please contact:
Jessica at 432.638.5377
Lon - 512.965.7719
or
tickets and tables on sale now!
Cash & Check payments / donations are preferred and always appreciated. It guarantees no fees are being taken away from the cause.
They can be mailed to:
Way Out Westes, Inc
1806 W Wall Street
Midland, TX 79701
our heart & our why
What is Way Out Westes? It’s the heartsong that was written from a season of the unknown. A season of trials, tears, faith, fear, and the goodness of God. In 2018, our youngest daughter Hattie, was born. Upon delivery, she was diagnosed with the congenital heart defect, Tetrology of Fallot, and would soon need an operation to survive. Three months later at three months old, we handed our baby off to surgeons for her first open heart surgery. As soon as our journey began, we saw the hand of God move in every way possible. We were so richly blessed that from that moment on, I knew I wanted our family to be used to bless other families with children that have medical needs. I wanted to be a vessel that finds a way to meet needs in whatever way we could. The seed was planted. The dream that is now called Way Out Westes, officially had sparked a desire to take our experience and share hope with others. A goal to do more.
Flash forward to 2020. You see, while there is a passion for philanthropy, there is also the love of throwing a good shindig. I love a good detail - the quirkier the better. I also love to gather all of my favorite people together for a good time. In September of that year, we threw a party - it was technically my birthday party but I didn’t call it that; I called it Way Out Westes. It was so much fun we decided it had to be an annual event. When the time came to plan the 2nd annual hoo-rah, some needs arose and I knew we could use this party to meet some of those, even if it was small. Every drop in the bucket matters. Every drop eventually fills the bucket. We issued the call and people stepped up. People opened their hearts and gave and that felt so good. A good time for a good cause. That spark began to fan into flame.
Since then, Way Out Westes has continued to grow. Each year, beneficiaries are chosen and it is our goal to alleviate as much stress and burden from their personal medical journey as possible. We have a silent auction as well as other opportunities to participate in that raise money and we have been able to give a little more away each year. In addition, Way Out Westes, Inc has been formed and is a registered 501(c)3 organization that allows us to provide tax deductions to all of our generous donors.
You see, Way Out Westes is the culmination of so many things but mostly, its the birth of something beautiful thanks to a community of people who have caught the vision. A group of giving individuals and businesses that have embraced the heart behind it all and have said, “Yes!” This idea, this dream, this vision would not be where it is today without all of the support we have received. There are not enough words in the English language to adequately express how thankful I am for everyone’s generosity.
Mother Teresa once said, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” It is incredible to watch the growth and transformation of Way Out Westes and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. It seems to just keep getting better.
Our why got stronger on July 30th, 2024 when Hattie had her second open heart surgery. The season felt so familiar to the season in 2018. It was overwhelming, scary, stressful, you name it - reminding me even more of why we must be intentional and be there for others during their trials. Her surgery was a success. God’s goodness and hand continues to cover us and our personal situation. We have never walked alone and that revelation is a fuel that drives me to make sure others never have to walk alone either.
sincerely,
Jessica Estes
MAILING ADDRESS
1806 W WALL STREET
MIDLAND, TX 79701
Photo credit: Kayla barker photography
Photo credit: Kayla barker photography
beneficiaries
past beneficiaries
Truett has continued to be more than a conquerer. His courage and strength to tackle brain cancer matched with his family’s faith has been an inspiration to so many - especially to the youth in our community and his peers. He truly is a local hero . After enduring several rounds of chemo therapy and everything that comes along with that, Truett repeatedly showed up. When many would have stayed in the shadows and allowed themselves to feel defeated, he remained steadfast and stepped into new roles, continuing to allow his story to be transformed into His testimony.
In May of 2025, Truett walked the stage graduated high school and in June, his nine month scans came back clear of cancer! Praise God! Over the summer he had eye surgery and his double vision is now corrected. At the end of September, Truett will have his one year scans and he is only expecting wonderful news.
Truett just began his freshman year at Texas Tech University where his major is business. he continues to love golf and is living his best life as he embarks on this new season.
Alana is a senior at Klondike ISD. She continues treatment one to two times a week for CRPS, despite living with pain 24/7, she is growing stronger and walking more often without her wheelchair. One of her biggest goals for her senior year is to step back into the pig show ring, and she is determined to make it happen. Her journey is a powerful reminder that faith, hard work, hope and a huge support system can make anything possible.
After graduation, Alana will attend Texas Tech University to pursue a career as a diagnostic ultrasound technician specializing in the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Alana is a true gem of a human. Her determination is infectious as is the light in her eyes. Way Out Westes is proud to know her and continue to be one of her many cheerleaders.
The Entertainment
For as much as serendipity plays a role in success, longevity really boils down to action.
Mark McGrath quite literally never stops or slows down. In fact, he only increases the pace over time. At six-years-old, he found his calling and first love. Sitting at the breakfast table, he cut out a free vinyl 45 of The Jackson Five’s “ABC” from the back of an Alpha-Bits cereal box. “That was the Pandora’s Box,” he recalls. “I realized music can transport you to places and make you dream. I always say, ‘I’m a fan first and a musician second’.”
In 1988, he co-founded Sugar Ray with lead guitarist Rodney Sheppard. The music reflected a shared eclectic palette. He goes on, “We had the heavy stuff, because I love Slayer. We had the falsetto, because I love Curtis Mayfield!”
Over the next three decades, the multiplatinum chart-topping pop institution sold 10 million records, notched four top 10 songs, posted up hundreds of millions of streams, and sold millions of tickets. Among many highlights, the group served up the triple-platinum 14:59 powered by era-defining hits such as “Every Morning,” “Someday,” and “Falls Apart.” They upheld this hot streak with their self-titled album, which became their first ever Top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 and boasted “When It’s Over.” He has also graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Spin, and Teen People and even popped up in the penultimate episode of The Office.
Plus, Mark has worked as a songwriter on tracks with everyone from producer Harry Fraud to Action Bronson. In 2019, he notably joined forces with Emerson Hart of Tonic and Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra to form the super group Ezra Ray Hart. Mark also spent a decade-plus performing as part of Camp Freddy—the blockbuster covers jam co-founded by Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison. In the wake of Camp Freddy’s 2014 dissolution, he went on to launch Royal Machines with Navarro and Morrison. Royal Machines welcomed the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Post Malone, and countless other to the party at sold out gigs.
Outside of his myriad musical endeavors, Mark’s Imdb page seemingly scrolls on forever through dozens of television programs, awards ceremonies, and reality shows. Quietly becoming inescapable, he notably co-hosted EXTRA from 2004 until 2008 and hosted cultural staples such as The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, NBC’s Radio Music Awards, MTV’s Rock N’ Jock, the World Music Awards, The CW’s The Pussycat Dolls Present, and Don’t Forget The Lyrics! Plus, he starred in the first American season of Celebrity Big Brother, tying for third place. Flexing in a different way altogether, he emerged victorious a whopping three times on VH1’s Rock & Roll Jeopardy. Meanwhile, other appearances span American Idol, The Celebrity Apprentice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and more. As an actor, he has graced the silver screen multiple times, including Scooby-Doo, Sharknado 2: The Second One, Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, and Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser. Not to mention, he leads his own SiriusXM show Mark McGrath’s 120 on ‘90s on 9. Ultimately, he always makes his presence known with an instantly recognizable wicked wit and sharp smile.
“My whole career is a series of serendipitous events that are not of my doing,” he says. “I fell into television. I guess the skill is within me, but I really worked to curate it. TV is very subtle. Just raising an eyebrow is enough to emote. Whereas when I’m on stage, I’m jumping around all over the place and sweating. I’m proud I learned how to host in front of people. At the same time, it just fed the music. I’ll never stop performing. There’s no retirement plan, because I have the best job in the world. I’ll die playing ‘Fly’ three times a night at Denny’s in Barstow, if I have to,” he promises with a laugh.
With more music from Sugar Ray on the horizon and other surprises in store, Mark continues to look forward.
“I’m essentially a dad who happens to be in a band,” he leaves off. “It’s the greatest gig, man. I’m still riding on the journey. You just never know where life will take you. The way I see it is we’re about a year away from a Sugar Ray shirt being at Urban Outfitters and making me cool again,” he chuckles.
Faith Groves
Faith Groves, originally from Odessa, Texas. Faith comes from a very musical family where country music wasn’t just a genre, but a way of life. She received her first real guitar when she was nine years old, and started writing songs in secret at the age of thirteen. Growing up she always knew that being a country music singer would be a future career, although it took some amazing people really believing in her that gave Faith the courage to chase her dream. Faith now lives in Nashville absolutely living the dream. She released her first single "Get the Hell Outta My Way" on November 3, 2023, with her first EP following on December 1, 2023. Her music is honest, real, sometimes too real, but it’s country as hell with a little rock n roll. Her hope in this industry is to share the ups and downs from her life through her music and to help others celebrate and overcome theirs. For Faith, it’s music or nothing and she'd love nothing more than for y’all to follow along and support this journey.
Darren Morrison
Darren Morrison is a way out westes tradition. he has been singing us tunes and bringing us laughs since year one. it simply would not be an event without him welcoming all of our guest. when he is not gracing us with his presence on the WOW stage, you can find him strumming the guitar or tickling the ivories around San Angelo and christoval. we are so happy to have him back for year number six.
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