A Little StoryAbout Big Dreams

A Project of the Austin community foundAtion summer 2011

THEGuidE To

GrEaTFundraisinGEVEnTs

raisE MonEY andHaVE Fun aT Your

nEXT EVEnT

2 GivingcityAustin.com

Letter from the editorMeet the Board ................... 05

WhY i GiVe Suzi Sosa’s innovative new funding model ..................... 06

UPdAteLearn about Austin Youth River Watch, 5604 Manor, Shave for the Brave, Going Up Day and more. .................................. 08

Austin Business That Gives BackBuildASign.com .................. 12

happening NowLate-summer events from Ballet Austin, Arc of the Capital Area and I Live Here, I Give Here ................................... 14

The Worst Hard Times When government funding dries up for nonprofits ......... 16

feAtUreSThe Guide to Great Fundraising Events The city’s biggest event planners share their secrets. ............................... 19

A Little Story About Big Dreams A single donor gives hope to two college-bound girls. ....... 24

How Food Stamps Work One family makes a survival plan .................................... 28

GiVe BetterHow to have a school-supply drive, get to know African-American connectors. ......... 30

CALeNdArA list of local fundraising events this summer ........................ 34

SUMMER 2011: ISSUE 8

Editor-in-ChiefMonica M. Williams

Managing EditorSun Connor

Creative DirectorTorquil Dewar,

October Custom Publishing

PhotographersCandace Blandford

Gregg CestaroJonathan Garza

Matt LemkeJoel Salcido

ContributorsLyssa Myska Allen

Margaret BarryAnne Boyd

Juan CastilloChristine Cox

Kate HarringtonWendy HeigesShelley Seale

Suzi SosaJessie Torisi

GivingCityTHE GUIDE TO DOING GOOD IN AUSTIN

GET GIVINGCITY ONLINEFlip, click and share the

digital version, available at GivingCityAustin.com

2011 Copyright GivingCity Austin and Austin Community Foundation. No part

of this document may be reproduced without permission.

CONTENTS

summer 2011 3

4 GivingcityAustin.com

A few months ago i said to myself, “duh.” For some reason it hadn’t occurred to me that to get some help creating this magazine, all I had to do was ask. So I did. With this issue I want to introduce a GivingCity Austin Advisory Board. It consists of only my favorite people who already love what I do.

Kidding! It actually consists of people who are informed, opinionated and critical, not only about GivingCity but also about local philanthropy in general. Not that they sit back and complain. Nope, these folks are do-ers. And their role is to help me create content that takes Austin philanthropy to the next level. So you know they’re just as generous as they are opinionated. See the list of them, right. Thanks, you guys.

Oh, one more thanks: Thank you, GivingCity Austin sponsors and advertisers! You support the nonprofit community and now you support GivingCity, too!

YES, YOU CAN ADVERTISE!Help GivingCity tell more stories and share our work

with all of Austin. Visit GivingCityAustin.com and click the ADVERTISE tab to learn more.

Monica WilliamsEditor-in-Chief

This isprogress.

Brett Barnes, LifeworksKate Stoker, Young Women’s AllianceAlix Floyd, United Way Capital AreaLori Donley, Club Red for American Red Cross of Central TexasAmy Silvey, GreenlightsVirginia Cumberbatch, Austin Area Urban League Young ProfessionalsHarper Scott, Hill Country ConservancyMichele Walker-Moak, Applied MaterialsNarissa Johnson, Southwest KeyTerri Broussard Williams, American Heart AssociationLinda Medina, McGraw-HillDorian Fogo, March of DimesCourtney Clark, Austin InvolvedRyan Meyer, Friends of the Ronald McDonald HouseRachel Lasseter, Austin Community FoundationStephanie FisherPriscilla G. Cortez, FuturoFundYvette Freemyer, National InstrumentsMonica Anderson, DDS, Austin’s Black Newcomers AssociationArmando Rayo, Cultural Strategies

INTHIS ISSUE

summer 2011 5

As i approach the 10-year mark of being a philanthropist in Austin, I have been reflecting on whether my giving has had the impact I hoped. Over the past 10 years, my husband and I have contributed hundreds of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars among several organizations around our city. But, what does it all add up to? Could the same time and money have been invested in another way that might achieve significantly greater results?

This was the inquiry that a year ago led me, in partnership with Dennis Cavner and Bill Forsberg, to launch a philanthropy experiment called “Innovation+.” Our hypothesis was that together we might be able to play a unique, catalytic role in Austin’s philanthropy scene.

Each of us had worked with some extremely high-impact nonprofits that we felt had significant untapped potential. Unfortunately, these

suzi sosaphoto by Joel Salcido

The entrepreneur describes a new funding model that could change the way we do philanthropy in Austin.

6 GivingcityAustin.com

wHyI

gIvE

nonprofits were lacking both the human and financial resources needed to launch beyond their current orbit, and perhaps even more, they needed a strong champion to guide them along the way.

What Bill, Dennis and I proposed was this: We would scour the city for a small group of nonprofits that met specific criteria. We would then subject those organizations to a rigorous due diligence process and critically assess their growth plans. Ultimately, our goal would be to find an organization that had the following traits: significant, proven social impact, exceptional leadership, a strong and sustainable funding model and clear potential for scale.

In September 2010, we tapped into a local network of 10 “scouts” who we asked to help identify any Austin non-profits that appeared to meet our criteria. Three weeks later, the scouts returned a list of 34 organizations. A six-member volunteer group evaluated these organizations and invited 16 of them to

return a detailed questionnaire. We reconvened our evaluation group, and

after many hours of deliberation, selected four finalists to engage in extensive due diligence and growth plan assessment. Each of the four finalist organizations—College Forward, Emancipet, English at Work, and Heart House—exemplified the traits we valued most. Ultimately, though, we forced ourselves to select two with whom to launch our partnership.

In February 2011, we selected College Forward and Emancipet as our first two “portfolio” nonprofits for Innovation+. Unlike other giving clubs, we did not award or promise them any money; instead, our pledge was this, “We will personally work with you to develop an ambitious, entrepreneurial, financially sustainable and scalable growth plan. Then we will help you attract and engage human and financial resources you need to achieve that plan.”

We believe our role with both of these organizations is to serve as a catalyst. For the nonprofits, we are catalyzing ideas and latent potential that needed focus and direction. In the donor community we want to catalyze untapped funding by engaging new philanthropists who are excited by the dynamic vision of our portfolio nonprofits and who value the rigorous assessment and oversight that we provide through Innovation+. So far, more than 10 other Austin philanthropists have joined our efforts.

Our experiment has its roots in the entrepreneurship, venture capital and investment banking models that Austin knows well. Like venture capitalists, we are looking for organizations that are just on the cusp of explosive growth. At the same time, our financial model is more like an investment bank than a venture capital firm. We have not raised a “fund” that we will then deploy, nor do we seek any unrestricted capital. Instead, we see our portfolio nonprofits as potential “deals” that we will circulate among funders, both in Austin and around the country, until we find a match.

The long-term vision for Innovation+ is to demonstrate that Austin nonprofits have the potential to achieve significantly greater results through a strategic, long-term investment of human and financial capital. In doing this, we hope to transform the non-profit sector in two ways.

First, we want to encourage more Austin nonprofits to consider how they can substantially increase their social impact through innovation, risk-taking, entrepreneurship and scale. Second, we also hope to encourage more Austin philanthropists to consider how their investments might be structured to promote and accelerate that kind of vision and growth.

summer 2011 7

Suzi Sosa is an associate director of the RGK Center, where she leads the social entrepreneurship program, including the Dell Social Innovation Competition. She is also President of the MPOWER Foundation and oversees Austin’s annual entrepre-neurship conference, RISE. For more information, suzi.sosa@mpowerfoundation.org

GivingCity

.

Think a bunch of teenagers want to spend the afternoon taking water samples from a river? Apparently, they love it.

In fact, thanks to Austin Youth River Watch, about 120 teens from10 Austin high schools consider themselves “river watchers.” AYRW hosts underserved teens in an after-school

program that’s half mentoring, half environmental education and half just being a kid outdoors.

“I love the hikes, camp trips and time with friends,”

says 17-year old Sara Antunez, a junior at McCallum High School. “Now I’m more conscious about the environment.”

This past school year, 100 percent of participating high school senoirs graduated, and half of those will attend a local college.

AYRW gets funding and support from Austin Water Utility, the City of Austin, and individual donors like you. LEARN MORE AYRW.org

The River WatchersAn after-school program that puts kids in nature also puts them on the right track.

by Sun Connorphoto by Matt Lemke

Welcome to 5604 manor, an east side warehouse-turned-community center. Three nonprofits share this two-acre parcel, which includes brightly painted offices, meeting rooms and a childcare room inside and a large backyard

complete with playground outside. 5604 Manor is a place for

mistreated low-wage workers, fledgling community activists and green business owners alike. It’s a group of unlikely allies, but with 5604 Manor, that’s the whole point. Here’s how it happened:

Christina Tzintzun heads the Workers Defense Project, a labor rights group in Austin making waves by recouping lost wages, fighting for safe jobsites and even getting some exploitative employers put behind bars.

For years, Workers Defense worked out of a space the size of a walk-in closet. “If you had to have a private call, it was in the hallway or bathroom. If you needed a quiet moment, you had to go into the bathroom or hallway.” They would hold meetings in parking lots or at churches. It’s a story familiar to many shoestring nonprofits.

That changed when she met Bob Jensen, a UT-Austin journalism professor by day and an anti-war rabble-rouser by night. Though their missions were somewhat aligned, it’s the differences that made for an attractive match.

Jensen and his partner, songwriter Eliza Gilkyson, run the Third Coast Activist Resource

integrate Firstby Jesse Torrisiphoto by Joel Salcido

Two couples create a new kind of cooperative on the East Side.

8 GivingcityAustin.com

UPDATE

summer 2011 9

Center, which helps Austinites organize to affect policy.

“On paper, we look like Mars and Venus,” Jensen says. Third Coast Activist members and staff are largely over 50, white and professional. Workers Defense is mostly young, low-income, and predominantly Hispanic. But Jensen realized if he were to change the world, it would have to start here.

“I don’t see any way to cross those boundaries, except by doing it,” Jensen says. “I made a commitment that I wasn’t gonna start any new projects that weren’t explicably cross-racial.”

Too often, progressive white groups launch a project, realize there’s no people of color, then scramble to integrate. “I was tired of that particular kind of failure,” he says. “I don’t mind failing, but I would like to fail in new and different ways.”

Now Third Coast Activist Resource Center shares a home with Workers Defense Project as well as Third Coast Wokers for Cooperation, a resource for green worker-owned cooperatives like Ecology Aciton and Red Rabbit Cooperative Bakery. Workers for Cooperation is led by Tzintzun’s partner, Carlos Perez de Alejo.

Together, these three nonprofits have created a mix of people from across social, economic

and racial populations. And so far, it’s working. Not only are they achieving that mix, they’re progressives pushing social issues forward simply by inviting everyone in from the very beginning.

For Jensen and Gilkyson, it’s about leaving a legacy. For Tzintzun and de Alejo it’s about starting a revolution.

Remarkably, there’ve been very few disagreements. There was the feud over what music to play at 5604 Manor’s one-year anniversary party. In the end, they blasted cumbias, Michael Jackson, hip-hop and Eliza Gilkyson. At 5604 Manor, there just may be enough room for everyone.LEARN MORE 5604Manor.org

“I don’t mind failing, but I would

like to fail in new and different ways.”

Bob jensen

Left to right, Gilkyson, de Alejo, Tzintzun and Jensen

founded 5604 Manor community center.

nine months was how long janet Pollok waited for her son Luke to be born in 1999. Ten years later Janet spent another nine months helplessly watching a brain tumor take away her baby boy.

In January 2009, Luke was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer called DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), which is a malignant tumor inside the brain stem that only affects children. There is no cure, and no survival rate. When Janet and her husband Darren were told of his

shave for the Braveby Shelley Seale, photo by Candi Coated Photography

A group of mothers finds its way through the tragedy of children lost to cancer.

10 GivingcityAustin.com

tumor, they were also told at the same time that Luke would not survive it.

“It’s something no parent ever wants to hear,” Janet says. “That your son has a cancerous brain tumor, and that they cannot operate on it.

“I don’t think I could even breathe when the doctor uttered those words to us. I ran out of the room into the hall and cried like I

have never cried before. Not my son, not cancer, and definitely not incurable!”

The family spent the next nine months praying for a miracle, cheering the rebounds and never giving up hope that somehow, Luke would be able to fight this. “It brought me to my absolute knees seeing him so scared,” Janet wrote in an

online journal.

One of the hardest moments for Janet came when Luke asked her the question she had been dreading: “Am I going to die, Mommy?” It all seemed unbearably real, and the fight grew harder, but Luke stayed amazingly positive. Shuttling between Santa Rosa and MD Anderson in Houston, more treatments and drugs were tried as Luke’s symptoms grew worse. On September 18 he was taken to Santa Rosa in an ambulance. “Something is different now,” Darren posted

“Luke has inspired me to do so much with my life.”

UPDATE

summer 2011 11

Going Up Day launched with a candlelight vigil on the steps of City Hall. More than 500 people in purple came to stand up against bullying of gay teens.

“We cannot continue to neglect these homeless youth or the youth committing suicide because they are rejected by society,” says Colt Woods, founder of Going Up Day.

The Center for American Progress estimates that 1.6 million homeless youth struggle to survive in the United States. Where LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender) youth make up about 10 percent of all youth in America, they account for between 20 to 40 percent of all homeless youth.

“Our children need to know that there are communities all across the country that embrace LGBT people; that there is somewhere they can go where their talents can be harnessed and they can have a full, productive life,” says Woods, who plans to go to law school next year.

Woods adds that the LGBT community can’t do it alone. “It’s the allies of our community that need to be vocal and supportive of who we are.” LEARN MORE GoingUpDay.org

Bullies BewareA new nonprofit asks you to stand up for bullying against gay youth.

by Christine R. Cox

on Caring Bridge. After a rapid decline, Luke lost his fight with cancer on September 30.

During Luke’s battle, dad Darren and brothers Lance and Brent had shaved their heads in support. “Shaving represents a very small part of what children go through as part of their chemo treatment,” Janet says. “To lose their hair and be stared at, pointed at and ridiculed only adds to the already hard and painful time they are going through.”

When Janet heard of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, more than a year after Luke’s death, she was inspired by the method they were using to raise research funds to fight children’s cancers: shaving their heads. She was inspired to discover that St. Baldrick’s funds more childhood cancer research than any other organization outside the U.S. government.

Janet quickly signed up as a shavee—and so did 45 other mothers of children who had fought, or were fighting, cancer. The “46 Mommas,” as they’re known, represent the 46 children who are diagnosed with some type of cancer every weekday; seven children each of those days die from the disease. The 46 Mommas believe that can, and should, be stopped—and they are all shaving their heads bald in Washington D.C. on September 21 at the “Shave For The Brave” fundraiser.

“I know if Luke were still here, he would totally dig this,” says Janet, who is also donating her hair to Locks of Love. “It is only through research, which costs millions of dollars, that a cure will be found. It is my hope that we can find a cure in my lifetime.” Janet has learned that the hard way, as she’s struggled to adjust to her new normal in the 18 months since losing her son. “It is almost like having to relearn your life. I have learned a lot about myself and what I’m made of. Luke has inspired me to do so much with my life.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP:46 Mommas Shave for the Brave: www.46mommas.comSt. Baldrick’s Foundation: www.stbaldricks.orgTV News Reports about Luke: www.ksat.com/video/18893187/index.htmlwww.kabb.com/vod/videoplayer.shtmlInformation about DIPG: icouldbeyourchild.org/otherkids.htm

GivingCity

“When my husband don returned from Bahrain after six months, I threw him a very special welcome home party,” remembers Heather McNeil. “A friend of mine told me that BuildASign.com offers free signs to military families for this very purpose, so I ordered one.

“That sign has a very special meaning for our family because it will always remind me and my daughters of one of the happiest days of our lives—the day that Don came home and we celebrated being a whole family again,” says McNeil.

McNeil’s sign was just one of the hundreds BuildASign.com has given away as part of what they call their “Troops Giveaway.” All total, the company has donated millions of dollars worth of “welcome home” signs, a retail value of $6,062,098, since it started the program in 2008.

“We can’t imagine life at the company without the Troops Giveaway program,” said Dan Graham, the company’s owner, founder and chief executive officer.

The program has special meaning for the BuildASign.com production staff, some of whom have either served in the military or have loved-ones who are serving.

How an austin online sign company is growing by giving signs away.by Margaret Barry, photos by Gregg Cestaro

With employees who get so much satisfaction from their work, it’s no wonder the company has landed on the Austin Business Journal’s list of

“Best Places to Work” in Austin for the past four years.

In addition to the Troops Giveaway program, the company operates what they call a sponsorship program, which offers deep discounts on products to nonprofits not only

in Austin but around the world. So far, the company has

helped more than 225 organizations by providing discounts totaling $116,000—that includes $53,000 in 2011 alone, says Chelsea Woodhead, BuildASign.com’s full-time sponsorship coordinator.

“Giving back to the community is a smart business decision. It

AUSTINBUSINESSES

gIvINgBACK

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summer 2011 13

engenders good will and enhances the company’s reputation. The military families, for example, are loyal, life-long customers—customers who refer others to us,” she said.

The formula seems to be working. BuildASign.com is on pace to make over $30 million in revenue in 2011 and will open a store in Germany (following Canada and the UK) in the next three months. “We have gone from 110 to 175 employees in 2011 alone,” says Woodhead. “And we’re still privately held, still completely bootstrapped.”

The Troops Giveaway program and other philanthropic ventures have been part of the company’s business model since it was founded

by Graham, J.R. Kraft, Blake Borgeson and Ty Barho (Barho is no longer an owner).

Woodhead doesn’t know of any other company with a program like BuildASign.com’s. “We wanted to share ideas and best practices, so we looked hard to find one, but we couldn’t. We are very proud of it,” she said. LEARN MORE at BuildASign.com

“We love the very simplicity of the messages: ‘Welcome home, we love you, we missed you, thank you.’ We look at these mes-sages and can’t help but picture sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives holding up our banners to welcome their loved ones home.”—email from BuildASign.com production staff

Chelsea Woodhead manages all of BuildA-

Sign.com’s donations and sponsorships.

GivingCity

Happening now

14 GivingcityAustin.com

9/25“the Big Give,” i Live here, i Give here’s Annual fundraiser—not a sit-down stuffy Gala

“It’s not your typical rubber chicken dinner—not a sit-down stuffy gala with assigned seats.” That’s how Maddy Moffett, I Live Here, I Give Here’s director of community education and special events, describes the “The Big Give,” the organization’s annual fundraiser. “Our party is planned by volunteers in their 20s and 30s, so it has a different vibe. ”

To encourage more people to donate money to Central Texas charities, I Live Here, I Give Here connects individuals with nonprofits and educates them about giving opportunities.

During the party, I Live Here, I Give Here will award grants, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, to its partner

organizations. Winners are chosen by each agency’s donor base.

Last year, more than 4,000 people voted for 100 organizations. To vote for your favorite nonprofit or to purchase tickets visit ilivehereigivehere.org. The first round of voting ends August 15.

9/23Ballet Austin’s two rockin’ Parties—“fête” and “fête*ish”

Ballet Austin’s “Fête” and “Fête*ish” black-tie fundraisers are “always among Austin’s most exciting galas,” said Michael Barnes, the Austin American-Statesman’s social columnist. “They bring style, wit and glamour to the social circuit. I wouldn’t miss them.”

Entertainment at the parties will be a multi-media affair incorporating music, painting, innovative lighting and, of course, dance. Nationally known performance artist Norton Wisdom will pair music with painting as he creates an original work of art during the party, Grammy award-winning jazz musician Kurt Elling will play and Ballet Austin dancers will engage partygoers in a “dance activity,” said Brooke Rogers, Ballet Austin special events coordinator.

All of this sounds expensive, but Ballet Austin never spends more than 30 percent of its parties’ budget on the parties themselves; the remaining 70 percent goes directly to the organization, said director of development Christi Cuellar.

To buy tickets or to become a sponsor, visit balletaustin.org/fete.

10/5 incomparable Auction at the Arc of the capital Area’s “Building Bridges to Paradise” fundraiser

One hundred works of art—50 percent of them created by nonprofit Arc of the Capital Area clients will be auctioned during its “Building Bridges to Paradise” fundraiser.

“Our clients are people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their faces light up when someone buys

Ballet Austin’s Cookie

Ruiz and Stephen Mills

Last year’s winner,

Any Baby Can

their artwork. They feel a tremendous sense of pride,” said Randi Knight, the group’s director of development and marketing.

During the party, clients will collaborate on a large painting—a street scene from Paris or New York. “The clients paint very fast and with a lot of enthusiasm. It will be very exciting to watch,” said Knight.

Also up for auction are pieces by professional Austin artists. At last year’s auction, pieces ranged in price from $40 to $5,000.

Clients create art year round in The Arc of the Capital Area’s art studio and gallery at 6717 Burnet Road. “Our clients have difficulty communicating, but they can express themselves through their art. They make big, beautiful pieces. Their artwork serves as a common ground—gives them something they can talk about with others. They love to talk about it.” says Knight.

To buy tickets or become a sponsor, visit arcofthecapitalarea.org.

summer 2011 15

GivingCity

have gained funding under the new system, but, says White, “My understanding is that we didn’t make the cut but we also haven’t had any official notification. And we really don’t know why we didn’t make the cut.”

Council Member Laura Morrison, a member of council’s public health and human services committee, says collaboration is also a goal of the new funding process. But Morrison acknowledges that the scoring matrix, based on organizations’ stated priorities, doesn’t give the whole picture.

“It was clear to me from the whole process that we need to get a lot more sophisticated in how we do our evaluations,” Morrison says. “We didn’t integrate at all what specific

ceo Kelly White has been doing some literal and figurative hand wringing as she considers the future of the Austin Children’s Shelter. A whiteboard that takes up an entire wall of her office shows columns of ideas, outcomes and goals—all up in the air due to changes in city and state funding. What it doesn’t show, but which nonetheless weighs heavily on White’s mind, is what those diminishing public funding numbers translate to in human terms.

Take the eight-year old rape victim who tried to commit suicide. “It costs us so much money to care for her,” White says. “The cost of keeping her safe is very intense staff supervision.”

Which is why learning that the shelter won’t receive the $100,000 that usually comes from the city of Austin has felt like a punch in the gut to White. A state redesign of the foster care system along with decreasing state dollars toward child and family services also leaves the shelter with some big question marks.

city rethinks funding modelThis spring, the Austin/Travis County health and human services department and city council members reworked the way the city awards social service contracts. After more than a decade of status quo funding, the new RFP and scoring systems open the door to a new, competitive process, and also offer organizations that have not been funded in the past the chance to apply, Vince Cobalis, assistant director of the HHSD’s human services division, wrote in an email.

The proposals that came in were scored based on city goals, with the highest scores going to organizations that provide safety net, infrastructure, transition out of poverty, and prevention services. Those new contracts will take effect October 1, 2012. More organizations

The WorstHard Times by Kate Harrington

Government funding is down, but demands for services continues to rise. Here’s how one Austin nonprofit is navigating the new era of funding.

16 GivingcityAustin.com

Take the eight-year old rape victim who tried to commit suicide. “It costs us so much money to care for her,” White says.

UPDATE

services are or aren’t being funded, and what the gaps are…if you fund just based on priorities, you don’t have that extra look.”

state slashes fundingMorrison says the council is working on ways to find more funding. Meanwhile, state cuts are also taking a toll on the city and on the services that White says make up a critical part of the safety net.

summer 2011 17

“We actually receive so few state and governmental dollars that we aren’t seeing many (state) cuts that will impact what we do,” White says. “but child abuse prevention dollars are being cut and, while that doesn’t impact the funding we receive, I fully expect that it will impact the demand for services.

Proposed cuts in city funding could also have a major impact in those programs we rely on for parenting classes, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health services, and more.”

But right now White has to worry about the shelter. Losing $100,000 is a detrimental blow to an organization that’s already running with a smaller number of development and administrative staff than it had when it was serving one-third the number of its current client count. Cutting staff positions is difficult because of mandated staff-to-child ratios. White can’t just cut a few staff, because then an entire shift is short of its required number—so she has to look at cutting an entire cottage, which is shelter for 14 kids.

“At the end of 2010, I eliminated 16 positions. Last week, I eliminated three more. I don’t have any place else to go. A month ago, we were raising money to pay for food and utilities two months from now.”

A new strategyWhite and her board are trying, in White’s words, to shift the shelter from being a one-and-a-half legged stool to a three-legged stool by growing fundraising, collaborating with other res-idential programs and thinking creatively. The shelter is talking with other organizations—here White has to remain vague due to pending discussions and grant applications—about how to have stronger partnerships and it’s reexamining its mix of services.

how to helpJason Sabo, senior vice president for public policy with United Way, says as the public sector absolves itself of responsibilities toward families and children, nonprofits are increasingly left to fill the needs—which aren’t diminishing. To do that and survive, he says nonprofits have to engage in the debate, and, as the Austin Children’s Shelter is doing, work with other organizations as much as possible.

The general public can help, too, White says, by voting and by communicating with legislators.

“Give time, give money, say what you think is important, and make a difference,” she says. “So many people say what they do doesn’t count. Together we can make a difference; we can all be a huge powerful force.” LEARN MORE AustinChildrenShelter.org

62number of children currently residing at the Austin Children’s Shelter

5,600nights of care the Austin Children’s Shelter provided in 2009

13,000nights of care provided in 2010

20,000projected nights of care it will provide in 2011

80%the amount of Austin Children’s Shelter funding that came from the state in 2000

30%the amount of shelter funding from the state today

GivingCity

The Guide toGreatFundraisingEvents

summer 2011 19

Nothing. Unless, that is, the party winds up losing more money than it makes. And no one shows up. And

the volunteers get angry. And the MC gets the honorees names wrong. And we could come up with nightmare scenarios all day; that’s not what this story is about. This is about planning for success. And maybe even being the talk of the town.

The important thing to know is that a successful event isn’t just fun, it needs to make money.

Missy Strittmatter, special events director for the Ronald McDonald House, says, “We used to be in a period where people talked about special events as ‘friendraisers.’ But we need to get back to special events being fundraisers.”

Camille Styles, veteran event planner and co-chair of LifeWorks’ White Party, agrees: “While increased awareness is an

important secondary goal, for many charity organizations, fundraising events throughout the year bring in the money that allows the organization to survive and remain healthy.”

Maybe it’s best not to think of friendraising and fundraising on competing terms. Matt Swinney, founder of Launch787, which puts on Austin Fashion Week, Modern Home Tour and more, says, “Austin is a social town. People network at events. Nonprofits can use that to their advantage and use the opportunity to get their message out to a wider audience.”

Allison Cook, director of annual giving at the Seton Fund agrees: “We want to friendraise! We want to share the story, celebrate what we’re doing, whatever the event is supporting.” Of course, while Cook’s two fundraising events certainly made Seton Fund lots of friends, they also made more than $400,000 last year.

Sometimes philanthropy is a party. And what’s wrong with

like-minded people getting together to raise money and

toast their heroes once in a while?

By Lyssa Myska Allen

Guide ToGReAT

FuNdRAiSiNGeVeNTS

THe

20 GivingcityAustin.com

Step 1 Have a Great Idea“Make sure it hasn’t been done before—or if it has, know how we can do it differently,” says Swinney. Figure out a way to celebrate what people love about Austin or find something compelling that tells a story about your organization.

Styles agrees, noting, “These days events are less lavish and over-the-top; now they’re more meaningful and intimate. I’ve seen a move away from large-scale galas, and an increase in smaller events where guests and volunteers really get to know each other and often become even more personally invested in the cause.”

Michael Barnes, social columnist for the Austin American-Statesman says, “I go to parties for the people,” so make it easy for guests to interact, and you’ll have a winner in his book (and it’s a crowded book).

Step 2 Get Great VolunteersWithout a doubt, our on-staff experts keyed in on the importance of volunteers. “Oh, you gotta have volunteers!” exclaims Strittmatter. “We couldn’t do it, straight up, absolutely, could not do it, without them. They are your event.” Cook is equally enamored with her corps of volunteers. She says they are “a major part of our success … it wouldn’t happen without them.”

Our experts agreed, though, that volunteers need to be utilized in order to be successful. Don’t be afraid to say no to potential volunteers if you don’t have a great job that will keep them busy throughout the process.

Step 3 Control ExpensesKeeping overhead low is the number one way to ensure your event actually makes money. Styles says, “In my experience, keeping overhead costs low is every bit as important as ticket sales.” Strittmatter notes that typically, 35-40 percent of dollars raised are used for expenses—but Ronald McDonald House tries to keep it at 20 percent of the dollar.

Swinney says “A nonprofit has to have great vendor connections to help them control costs.” How do you make the ask? Styles says, “Be direct.” When contacting potential partners or sponsors, let them know explicitly what you need and they’re more likely to respond and potentially support your event.

Step 4 Mix Up Revenue StreamsCreate at least two, if not three revenue streams—from sponsorships, tickets and participation fees. That can help mitigate any risk on whether ticket sales are a little slower than expected or the big sponsor doesn’t come through.

The experts all agreed that a big trend is planning events with tiers of involvement a la Ballet Austin’s annual gala, which progresses from a gala dinner to cocktails to an after-party. Make sure people of all ages, interests, and income levels can be involved in the event.

youR GoAl:

RAiSeMoNey

summer 2011 21

“Give GoodEmail”

email invitations might not be new, but our panelists had plenty of tips on how to do it correctly. if you’re talking to potential sponsors, donors, bloggers, or guests, you need to know how to give good email. here’s how:

1. Use the BCC: line. You want recipients to feel special, so don’t let them see that you’ve invited everybody in the world.

2. Paste your information in the body of the email. Don’t include any attachments. If you must, make sure all the information in the attachment is also in the body of the email.

3. Keep it short and sweet. Sell it in the first two sentences.

4. Do not use Evite or any other online invitation tool. An Evite is harder to search for in your email, harder to add to a calendar, and all-around harder for the recipient to use.

FIRSt, EStablISH tHE MISSIon FoR tHE SpECIal EVEnt

Develop an event that plays off the unique culture of Austin, and make sure it allows attendees to develop a deeper understanding of the work done by your organization through their support. Aim for an experience that’s fun and engaging and will have people talking about coming back next year.

SECond, dEVElop a CoMpREHEnSIVE IntEGRatEd plan

Make a 12-month working calendar for each event. Within that event, plan for sponsorship, communication and logistics.

Create a comprehensive communication strategy that consists of social media, earned and purchased media, printed collateral, online communication and face-to-face conversations.

Make sure your event promotions are fun and infromative prior to the event and celebratory and appreciative after the event.

tHIRd, FoCUS on tHE MISSIonUnderstand that as much as the financial bottom line is your benchmark, your ability to connect and engage your donors with your mission—while giving them the best party of the year—is key to your success.

Strittmatter is the special events coordinator for Ronald McDonald House of Austin.

“A colleague at the ballet was asked, ‘What’s the most important part of your event?’ She said ‘The valet. It’s the first and last impression they have of my event.’

Think about it: If you come in queued up for hours, you’re frustrated when you come in. If you leave having a great time but have to wait in line, that’s what you remember.

I know my party is going to be good, so how can I treat them good from the moment they drive into the lot to when they leave to drive home?” – Missy Strittmatter

The Details Matter. A Lot.

MiSSy STRiTTMATTeR’S BeST-eVeR

eVeNT PlANNiNG TiPS

22 GivingcityAustin.com

Our experts pick their FavOrite austin events OF this Year: Dancing with the Stars, Ballet Austin, Red Cross at Truluck’s, Elizabeth Anne Seton Gala, White Party

Meet the Experts

Both our june and August panel discussions were sell-outs, with almost 100 nPo pros, board members, event planners and volunteers taking in great advice from our panel of experts. thanks to all the event professionals who contributed. LYSSA MYSKA ALLEN, blogger of ThisIsLifeInAustin.comMIKE BACON, founder and principal of Bacon Lee & AssociatesMICHAEL BARNES, social columnist for the Austin American-Statesman and austin360.com ALLISON COOK, director of annual giving at The Seton FundVICTORIA GUTIERREz, live auctioneer and founder of Apex AuctionJOYCE PENLAND, associate at Bacon Lee & AssociatesJOANNA LINDEN, chief development officer for the Capital Area Food Bank MISSY STRITTMATTER, event coordinator at Ronald McDonald House of Austin CAMILLE STYLES, owner of Camille Styles EventsMATT SWINNEY, founder of Launch787MIA WASHINGTON, director of special events for Austin Children’s Shelter

summer 2011 23

events thAt tAKe PLAce in stAGes. Events that take place in stages—a reception in the VIP lounge, a sit-down dinner, a live and silent auction, an after-party—offer the best of all worlds because they reach all demographics and price points.retro events. Ice cream socials, cigar bars and bowling alleys throw something different up on the social calendar.intimAte GrouPs. As much as they love galas, our panelists talked about the resurgence of intimate cocktail parties or hosted dinners that let people bond with each other and the cause.PoLish. Even the casual events should invest in the details. Those events that hire professional planners...? You can tell. Kid-friendLy events. Where it fits, nonprofit events are seeking to include the whole family, knowing that busy parents want to support causes

but also spend time with their little ones.videos LiKe mini-documentAries. A well produced video can take a program from blah to hurrah in seconds, so don’t be afraid of investing in a professional.sociAL mediA. Don’t just use it pre- and post-event. Capitalize on social media throughout the event itself.mission PLus event. Events like Arthouse 5 x 7 or the Nobelity Project seamlessly integrate their programming and mission with their event because the event speaks to their cause. Less focus on AGe. Focus on lifestyle and location when catering to a certain demographic for your event.service, service, service. Never pass up an opportunity to go above and beyond for an attendee. They’ll remember.

Our sources are on the cutting edge of events. So what do they forecast for the upcoming events season?

eVeNT TReNdS 2012

GivingCity

by Juan Castillophotography by Joel Salcido

24 GivingcityAustin.com

I.This is a story about Mark Barkan, a tall, striking Frenchman with a booming voice. He had a trademark handlebar mustache,

wore bolo ties and possessed a hundred-thousand watts of charm.

Barkan was a beloved hero straight from the pages of a children’s book. He’d immigrated to the United States in 1939 when he was 21 years old. For the last two decades of his life, he’d visit Zavala Elementary School in East Austin, reading and telling stories, mostly about how in America, anything was possible with hard work

and an education. Before he died in June 2010, he’d probably read to and mentored hundreds of Zavala kids.

This is a story, too, about Damaris Arzate, a sweet, oval-faced 11-year-old with long eyelashes and dark hair flowing past her waist, her sister Nereyda and her hard-working mother Eliberta. Eliberta speaks little English and is an immigrant herself. But she too believes in the dream of education and hard work.

Mark Barkan had not met the Arzate family before he died. But he would have liked them.

A Little Story About Big Dreams

This is a story about giving and how the deep, shining kindness of selfless people has the power to lift others, the gentle force even to give them hope when they thought there was none. Sound corny? Whatever. it’s a true Austin story.

summer 2011 25

A Little Story About Big Dreams

II.Damaris, who will enter the sixth grade at Zavala, describes herself as shy. Her voice is high and thin, but she is confident just the same. And bright. Damaris scores As on her report cards and

hopes to go to college one day, as does her sister Nereyda, who will enter the 11th grade at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.

While the girls excel in the classroom, they cling to their college aspirations with a whisper, fearing that college is just an unaffordable dream. Eliberta Arzate is fiercely proud of her daughters and wants them to have the opportunities she has not had. But she is eking out a living working nights as a dishwasher at IHOP, and she struggles to pay rent. Recently, Nereyda had asked her mother what the point was to work so hard in school if they could never afford to pay for college.

“How could I tell them that we’re going to be able to pay for college when all we can afford is this apartment?” cries Eliberta.

The Arzates live in a public housing apartment where the walls are covered with photos of family and a cabinet holds a handful of awards Damaris has won for making the honor roll and for perfect school attendance.

Mark Barkan, an immigrant

from France, believed anything

was possible in America.

Damaris calls her mother her inspiration. “Ive seen

how she suffers, working hard and raising us.”

26 GivingcityAustin.com

summer 2011 27

And now she can add another award. This past May, as the school year wound to a close, Damaris was awarded the first-ever college scholarship for a Zavala student—the Mark and Maxine Barkan Scholarship. Sitting in the auditorium’s front row, Eliberta wiped away tears with her hand as Damaris walked across the auditorium stage to accept it.

III. Mark Barkan’s widow, Maxine, said it had been her husband’s idea to create the scholarship. The scholarship fund is administered through the

Austin Community Foundation and it will be given to Damaris to help pay for college when she’s ready.

Though the $500 award is modest when compared against hefty college tuitions, Eliberta Arzate said it has already had a profound impact.

“This means so much to me, and to them,” she said, choking back tears. A native of Mexico with a vocational degree in accounting, she said she has not been able use that education in the United States. “Life has been difficult, but we’re fighting and I’m working as best as I can to get my daughters ahead,” she said, wiping away more tears.

“I have an opportunity now,” Damaris said later, a bright smile lighting her face. Even Nereyda is more optimistic that her hard work in school won’t be for nothing.

At Barkan’s funeral, someone wrote in the guestbook, “Some people light lights that never go out. Mark was one of them.” Now the scholarship cre-ated in his memory is lighting a path for Damaris Arzate and her family.

How to HelpYou can help more girls like Damaris and Nereyda go to college. Contact these organizations to learn more.

Con Mi MADRECollege ForwardBreakthrough AustinAnn Richards School FoundationKIPP AustinSeedling Foundation

Or contribute to or start your own college scholarship fund at the Austin Community Foundation.

GivingCity

“SNAP saved us.”Sarah O’Brien uses seeds supplied by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, to grow food for her family. More than 280,000 Central Texans are enrolled in SNAP—though many more are eligible. For everyone who is enrolled, SNAP provides a vital nutrition safety net for people struggling against food insecurity,

In the O’Brien’s case, SNAP supplements their diet and budget as they cope with serious health problems. Sarah’s medical issues left her bedridden until recently, and though her partner Wayne’s lung cancer is in remission, he’s disabled and needs further surgery. Neither has health insurance, and affording medication is a struggle. And yet Sarah never gives in. She says, “The smallest victories in those garden beds represent the tenacity of life.”

SNAP is broken The federal government pays 100 percent of SNAP benefits and shares administrative costs with states. In Texas, SNAP is administered by the Health and Human Services Commission, which determines eligibility based on family size, income and other criteria. The application process can require multiple visits to a state office, often a challenge for older adults and people without transportation. And Texas’ finger-imaging requirement, which finally was repealed this past legislative session, deterred people who feared being stigmatized by a procedure they associate with criminals.

After approval, the SNAP user receives a Lone Star Card to purchase groceries at the cash register. Pre-loaded with benefits on a monthly basis, it works much like a plastic debit card. Sarah sometimes feels using her Lone Star Card to buy a few organic items provokes skepticism about her needs.

But not everyone can have a garden. Many SNAP users live in urban and rural “food deserts” with few stores stocking fresh produce and healthy

food; they turn to corner stores where nutritious food is limited or nonexistent. Families resort to buying cheap, nutrient-deficient food high in fat and calories, which contributes to high rates of adult and child obesity. Many people simply go without.

Unfortunately, more than 250,000 eligible Central Texans don’t receive SNAP benefits, according to Capital Area Food Bank. Further, federal and state budget cuts threaten the program’s capacity to feed more hungry Texans in a state with one of the highest rates of child hunger and poverty.

You can helpLEARN MORE by calling the 2-1-1 Helpline, a resource for SNAP information and referrals specific to Central Texas communities. DONATE to Capital Area Food Bank and Catholic Charities, which offer community outreach programs and application assistance.CALL your federal and state legislators to urge protection of SNAP’s funding. SUPPORT local food pantries with donations and volunteering.

And how they don’t.

28 GivingcityAustin.com

by Wendy Heiges, photo by Joel Salcido

“The smallest victories in those

garden beds represent the

tenacity of life.”

How food stamps work

GivingCity

summer 2011 29

How food stamps work

By Sun Connor

30 GivingcityAustin.com

Gregory harrison was flipping through the TV channels on a Saturday afternoon, when he found inspiration. “I ran across Chicago’s Bud Biliken Parade in the middle of August and thought this was the kind of thing we needed in Austin,” he says.

So Harrington did it. Since its beginning in 2008, the Back to School Parade has raised over $60,000, allowing it to hand out more than 3,000 backpacks filled school supplies.

But you don’t have to organize a parade to have a school supply drive. Here are some easy ways to help a student out this fall:• Look through your home and gather any extra

school supplies you may already have, such as blank notebooks, packages of paper (lined, construction, and printer), pens, pencils and art supplies. Even gently used items such as scissors or staplers will do.

• Donate unconventional items like televisions, DVD players, computer supplies, music equipment, etc. This information may be provided on teachers’ online wish lists on websites such as AdoptAClassroom.org and DonorsChoose.org

• Stop by your local store and purchase school supplies. You can call your local school and find out if anything specific is in demand.

• Donate money to a local drive. They can make a dollar buy many more Crayons than you can at Target.

• Volunteer to wrap up or hand out supplies at a local giveaway.

THE BACK TO SCHOOL PARADE SUNDAY, AUG. 213-6 pmA parade starts at the Delco Center and ends at Bartholomew Park on E. 51st Street. All school supplies will be handed out at the end of the parade on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that children who are present will get first chance to go home with school supplies; there may not be enough school supplies for others to take to children who do not attend. Go to BacktoSchoolParade.org for more information.

MANOS DE CRISTOHelps more than 2,000 East Austin children get school supplies, backpacks, and clothes for school.DONATE: Just $20 can provide a backpack with school supplies for one child, and for $45 you can completely outfit a child with a new backpack, supplies, and two new outfits.VOLUNTEER: Volunteers needed to prepare for event, sort items, help distribute items, take photos and video.WHEN: Pre-sorting & Preparation: July 25-29Distribution Dates: August 1-5 and August 8-12WHERE: The North Austin Events Center, 10601 North Lamar BoulevardMORE: ManosDeCristo.org

gIvEBETTER

summer 2011 31

ROUND ROCK PARTNERS IN EDUCATIONCurrently, more than 30 percent of RRISD families in Round Rock, Northwest Austin, and Cedar Park (approximately 13,000 students) qualify for the federally-funded free and reduced lunch program. These students are eligible to receive free basic school supplies from RRISD and the RRISD Partners in Education Foundation.DONATE: “Support-A-Student-Program” lets you sponsor a student for only $10.VOLUNTEER: Volunteer at Cedar Ridge High School, 2801 Gattis School Road, Round Rock, TX WHEN: Sorting and distribution August 11-12 MORE: RoundRockISD.org EducationFoundation

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLSTwo thousand CIS students need backpacks and school supplies. YOU can help! CIS serves over 6,000 students at-risk of dropping out of school on 50+ Central Texas school campuses annually, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.DONATE: A $19 donation provides a CIS student with a backpack and a full set of school supplies. WHEN: The school supply drive is currently active and runs through July 29.MORE: CISAustin.org

FOR THE CHILDRENFTC is an all-volunteer nonprofit, so 100 percent of your donation goes toward school supplies. Low-income children from 10 Central Texas school districts are eligible for school supplies, which they receive on the first day of school. Last year, FTC supported just under 55,000 children in the 10 Central Texas school districts, grades Pre-K through 4th. This year they hope to help 9,000 more.DONATE: SchoolSuppliesFortheChildren.org

HOPE & LOVE 4 KIDSFounded in 2006, Hope & Love 4 Kids is a non-profit based in Kyle serving the children of Hays county.DONATE: The school supply drive will be going all summer long. Donation bins are located at a number of stores across Kyle. WHEN: The 7th Annual School Supply Drive will take place July 22WHERE: Buda Whataburger located on Old San Antonio RoadMORE: HopeandLove4Kids.org

BY THE WAY, DID YOU KNOW...?Nationwide, our African-American and Hispanic students are dropping out of school 50% of the time, while 25% of all students dropout each year? The connection is powerful and you can be a part of it. Donate or volunteer today!

32 GivingcityAustin.com

ConnECTors These days, nonprofits are looking for diversity—on their boards

and in their donor base. How do you find them? you network, of course. Meet four people crossing social lines and building the African-American contacts you need to know.

1. terri BroussArd WiLLiAms

• Vice President of Advocacy/Government Relations for the American Heart Association

• Co-chair of Leadership Austin’s 10th Annual Best Party Ever

Relocated to Austin in 2008 because of a promotion with the American Heart Association. When she arrived she was “counting down the days to move back to Louisiana.” Chose to stay in Austin instead.

“I see Leadership Austin as my family,” Williams says. The civic engagement organization helped her learn the city and how she could contribute to it. She even met her husband there when they were volunteers for one of the group’s events.

AUSTIN’S BIG CHALLENGES: Fighting the perception that Austin doesn’t have good schools, sustaining the growth and the quality of life that we enjoy in the city, and filling the pipeline of leaders who are willing to accept the mantle of service.

2. virGiniA cumBerBAtch

• Coordinator, Client Services at Hahn, Texas • President, Young Professionals at Austin Area

Urban LeagueThe Austin native left Austin to attend Williams College in Massachusetts. Hoped to settle in Washington D. C. after graduation, she only applied for one job in Texas. Got the Texas job, and is happy

to be home. Cumberbatch focuses her

efforts on reviving the Austin Area Urban LeagueYoung Professionals, a service and networking group.

AUSTIN’S BIG CHALLENGES: Addressing “racial/social

reconciliation.” She sees the dearth of diversity in city leadership as evidence of the racial divide. She also recognizes the need in education to build kids’ skills in math and science, but notes that those subjects aren’t enough to ensure Austin youth reach their potential in an inclusive society.

gIvEBETTER

by Anne Boyd

summer 2011 33

3. dr. monicA frAzier Anderson

• Speaker, author, doctor of dental surgery • Founder and president of Austin’s Black New-

comers AssociationAnderson moved to Austin simply because she loved the city. “I felt I could pursue my arts better and just enjoy the second half of life,” said the divorced mother of two.

Anderson soon created Austin’s Black Newcomers Association (ABNA) because she initially found it difficult to connect with the African American community. The ABNA website acts as a portal to the many organizations that blacks should know about, from the Austin Chamber of Commerce to Mocha Moms.

AUSTIN’S BIG CHALLENGES: The sluggish economy, evidenced by unemployment and school budget cuts, and racial matters that still keep people from working together for the common good.

4. PAmeLA Benson oWens

• Owner and CEO of Edge of Your Seat Consulting• Development consultant for nonprofits, including

most recently I Live Here, I Give HereOwens uses her knowledge and connections to further philanthropy across racial lines, focusing her time and her money on organizations that are going to move the needle.

As a member of The Links, she was questioned for also joining the mostly white giving circle of Impact Austin and the mostly Hispanic giving circle of Futuro Fund. Now, she says, “I ask people if they’ve seen the data about Austin. And then I ask them why they aren’t supporting these groups.”

AUSTIN’S BIG CHALLENGES: Taking what she calls the H.E.A.T.: Hear people out, empathize, apologize and take responsibility. “Sometimes it seems like just when there’s about to be a breakthrough, we get uncomfortable. It’s time to take some responsibility.” GivingCity

1. 2. 3. 4.

Event listing brought to you by austinsocialPlanner.com

Make sure to list your event on Austin Social Planner.

jul 7 An Independence Day Celebration7–10 pmIndependence BreweryBenefiting: Health Alliance for Austin Musicians

jul 14 Not Just Another Cancer Event 3.06:30 pmStubb’s Benefiting: Capital of Texas Team SurvivorNotJustAnotherCancerEvent.org

jul 16 “Aspire to be Me” Fundraiser7 pmStateside at the Paramount Theater Benefiting: The African American Men and Boys Harvest Foundation (AAMBHF)AustinTheatre.org

jul 21 Leadership Austin Emerge Kick-Off Party5:30–7:30 pmTenOakLeadershipAustin.org

jul 27 Good Guys Lunch11:30 am–1:30 pmAT&T Education & Conference CenterBenefiting: Safe PlaceSafeplace.org

jul 28 Anti-Defamation League Austin’s True Colors: Celebrating Shades of Diversity with Art7–11 pm Private HomeBenefiting: ADL Austin Young ProfessionalsRegions.ADL.org/Southwest/Events

jul 28-30 Lights.Camera.Help. Film FestivalVarious times, various locationsLightsCameraHelp.org

Aug 3 “The Dog Days of Summer”6–8 pmThe Arc of the Arts Studio & GalleryBenefiting: The Arc of the Capital AreaArcOftheArts.com

Aug 5 Texas Rollergirl Fundraiser7–9 pmFado Irish PubBenefiting: Texas RollergirlsTexasRollergirls.org

Aug 4-5 Seton Highland Lakes Gold TournamentBenefitting: The Seton FundSetonFoundations.org

Aug 13 Taking Care of Tiny Texans GalaEmbassy Suites-San Marcos Hotel Benefitting: Seton Hays FoundationSetonFoundations.org

Aug 17 Citizen Generation: Celebrate & Launch6:30–9 pmMexic-Arte MuseumCitizenGeneration.org

Aug 20 Ice Ball7– 11:55 pmHilton Hotel Downtown AustinBenefiting: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central TexasAustinIceBall.org

Aug 20 Austin Fashion Week Kick-Off 7:30 pmCowboy Harley-Davidson ShowroomBenefitting: Dress for Success and Austin InvolvedFashionWeekAustin.com

Aug 22 Brian Jones Celebrity Golf Classic8–5 pmUT Golf ClubBenefiting: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin AreaBGCaustin.com

Aug 26 Concordia Excellence in Leadership GalaFour Seasons AustinBenefiting: Concordia University Scholarship ProgramConcordia.edu

Aug 27 Wonders & Worries 10th Anniversary – Que Maravilla!7 pmThe Salt Lick PavillionBenefiting: Wonders & WorriesWondersandWorries.org

Aug 28 Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival11 am–5:30 pmWaterloo ParkBenefiting: The Capital Area Food Bank of TexasAustinChronicle.com/market/hotsauce

sept 6–12 Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film FestivalVarious LocationsBenefiting: Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF)AGLIFF.org

sept 9 Beauty of Life Gala and Glossy 8 Austin Style Maker Awards9:30 amRenaissance Austin HotelBenefiting: Hospice AustinHospiceAustin.org

sept 10 PRIDE Festival12–6 pmBenefiting: The Austin Gay & Lesbian Pride Foundation AustinPride.org

sept 10–11 Ghulam Farid Nizami Concert6 pm (10th) and 10 pm (11th)Central Presbyterian ChurchBenefiting: Austin Interfaith Arts & Music FestivalAustinInterFaithFestival.org

sept 11 Breast Cancer Resource Center’s 16th Annual Champagne Brunch11 am–3 pmThe Long Center for the Performing ArtsBenefiting: Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas BCRC.org

sept 12 8th Annual Texas Exes Golf ChampionshipUniversity of Texas Golf ClubBenefiting: UT Heritage SocietyTexasExes.org/golf

sept 18 Seton Social 20115:30–10 pmThe Wild Onion RanchBenefiting: Seton Medical Center HaysSetonHaysFoundation.org/seton-social

sept 24–25 The Texas Tribune FestivalThe University of TexasBenefiting: Texas TribuneTexasTribune.org

sept 25 The Big Give 20117 pmW AustinBenefiting: I Live Here, I Give HereILiveHereIGiveHere.org

sept 29 Austin Children’s Shelter Fore the Children Golf TournamentGrey Rock Golf ClubBenefiting: Austin Children’s ShelterAustinChildrenShelter.org

oct 1 Texas Mamma Jamma Ride Against Breast CancerBenefiting: 11 local nonprofit organizations in Central TexansMammaJammaRide.org

oct 1 Austin Lyric Opera 25th Anniversary Celebration Ball5 pmWestin DomainBenefiting: Austin Lyric OperaAustinLyricOpera.org

oct 2+3 Kids Classic Golf Tournament and Auction PartyVarious locationsBenefitting: Children’s Medical Center FoundationChildrensAustin.org

oct 4 HAAM Benefit DayVarious LocationsBenefiting: Health Alliance for Austin MusiciansMyHaam.org

oct 5 “Building Bridges” Art Celebration & Auction6–10 pmHilton Austin HotelBenefiting: The Arc of the Capital AreaArcofTheCapitalArea.org

oct 6 March of Dimes Signature Chef Austin6:30–10 pmThe Driskill HotelBenefiting: March of DimesMarchofDimes.com

oct 13 La Dolce Vita6–9 pmAMOA – Laguna GloriaBenefiting: Austin Museum of Arts Education ProgramsAMOA.org

oct 13 Lone Stars & Angels7–10 pmThe Bob Bullock Texas State History MuseumBenefiting: St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalStJude.org/austin

CALENDAR

http://www.arcofthecapitalarea.org/building-bridges.php