Art of the Gala 2018

Art of the Gala is back and it’s bigger (and better!) than ever.

The annual training day for do-gooders returns on October 23rd with an all-star cast of speakers, ready to inspire and equip nonprofit organizations and leaders.

This year’s Art of the Gala keynote speaker is Austin’s own Grammy nominee and ACM award-winning country music artist, Jack Ingram. Ingram is no stranger to giving back, having founded Mack, Jack & McConaughey (MJ&M) with Coach Mack Brown and actor (and Austin legend) Matthew McConaughey. MJ&M has raised nearly $10 million for local children’s charities over the years, and Ingram plans on continuing to invest and empower in philanthropic causes and leaders.

In addition to Jack Ingram, Art of the Gala will also feature a lineup of over 40 noteworthy speakers, including Michael Barnes, Society Editor at the Austin American-Statesman, Sunny Howard, Chief Development Officer for American Red Cross, and Sheena Wilde, Director of Philanthropy for Kendra Scott.

Over 150 attendees from over 100 nonprofit organizations across Texas are expected to attend the event hosted by GivingCity, and they come prepared to learn new fundraising techniques and strategies from the pros. Roundtable discussions and panel topics will include: Building and Managing Volunteer Base, Managing Vendor Relationships, Tips for a Successful Auction, and many more.

These folks #giveadamn, and we like it.

The 2018 Art of the Gala will be held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at the JW Marriott. Tickets are available here.

ACL Fest Gives Back

Austin City Limits Music Festival is finally here! Did you know that ACL partners with local nonprofits that help save and improve lives? Their mission is to support good causes and provide an opportunity for select organizations to gain support from thousands of enthusiastic, like-minded people. We can’t think of a better place for these nonprofits to gain exposure than at ACL.

Some of our favorite nonprofits including The Central Texas Food Bank, HAAM, SAFE, and The SIMS Foundation will be on-site at ACL so make sure to check them out between performances. For a full list of nonprofits that will be at the festival, click here.

ACL Fest is also introducing the ACL Cares Academy this year, where you can learn from and engage with organizations and causes through interactive panels, meet and greets, and fun activities including yoga. This academy will be hosted by local comedian Lisa Friedrich, and feature organizations such as PETA and the Austin Music Foundation. Check out the schedule for the ACL Cares Academy here.

In an effort to make the festival greener this year, Austin Parks Foundation is encouraging recycling and composting as well as educating fans about their Recycling in Parks initiative. You can even win a specially designed ACL Fest line-up tee by picking up a bag of recyclables from the grounds. To see all of the eco-friendly organizations that APF is partnering with, head to this link.

Lastly, there’s still time to sign up to be a volunteer for ACL Fest. Volunteers spread the word about APF’s greening programs and encourage fans to get involved. Plus, all volunteers get to enjoy the festival before or after their shift for free. Sign up to be a volunteer here.

Whether you’re attending Weekend One or Two, Good Party wish you a safe and fun ACL!

Written by: Madison Lammert

HAAM Day 2018

It's that time of year again! The annual HAAM Benefit Day will take place this Tuesday, September 11. Each year on HAAM Day, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians hosts over 200 free concerts across Austin, beginning at 6:00 AM and continuing late into the night. Enjoy a cold beer (or coffee for morning concert-goers) while discovering new artists and helping to provide healthcare for Austin's musicians. We compiled a list of our top ten picks:

• Cale and the 45's: We Are Blood’s HAAM Day Showcase - Banger's Sausage House (6:00 PM)
• Sour Bridges: Bumble and ATX Music Office Present HAAM Day - Guero's Oak Garden (5:00 PM)
• Akina Adderley: Whole Foods Downtown (8:00 AM)
• Billy Broome: The Hole in the Wall (7:00 PM)
• Chido Machine: Austin Daily Press (12:00 PM)
• Shy Beast: FVF Law & SXSW Present HAAM Day - The ABGB (7:00 PM)
• Johnny Goudie: Antone's Record Shop (4:30 PM)
• Hannah Barakat: Wholly Cow Burgers (6:00 PM)
• Texas Music Office, Dubois Bryant & Campbell, and Sendero Health Plans Present: Marcia Ball - Threadgill’s World Headquarters (7:30 PM)
• Jackie Venison: The 3rd Annual RECA Showcase - Antone’s Nightclub (7:30 PM)

To view the full lineup, click here.

More about HAAM: 

HAAM provides access to affordable health care for Austin’s low-income working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness. By resolving challenges such as long-neglected teeth to hearing loss, heart problems and depression, HAAM and their partners improve and save musicians’ lives and enhance Austin’s economy and quality of life.

Written by: Madison Lammert

How to Get Involved This August & September

As summer comes to an end, the number of local volunteer opportunities continues to increase. Good Party reached out to 5 different nonprofit organizations in Austin to find out their volunteer needs for the next two months and how to get involved:

Central Texas Food Bank: 

• The CTFB always has a need for volunteers, but that’s especially true through the end of August when their summer feeding programs are going on. In their kitchen, they prepare thousands of meals and snacks to distribute to kids 18 and under at about 90 sites throughout the Austin area. Sign up for a volunteer shift here.
• August is filled with fun events that benefit the Central Texas Food Bank: Rock 'n' Restock on August 23,  Quesoff 2018 on August 25, The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival on August 26, and Austin Restaurants Weeks from August 16-September 3. 

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM):

• HAAM Day is on September 11, and over 400 volunteers are needed to make the event possible. On this day, Austin businesses and music venues host over 200 performances from local musicians all over the city and donate a portion of their daily sales to support HAAM. Sign up to volunteer for HAAM Day here.
• HAAM also needs year-round volunteer help that involves taking donations at concerts, spreading the word about HAAM, and helping the small but mighty HAAM staff out in a variety of ways. Sign up to be a HAAMbassador here.

Austin Pets Alive!:

• Paddle for Puppies is on August 26 and benefits the Parvo Puppy Program at APA! Register here to paddle down Lady Bird Lake for a cause. If you're interested in volunteering at this event, contact Hannah at hannah.horstman@austinpetsalive.org for more details.
• As always, APA! is in need of volunteers to help keep Austin the largest no kill city in the country. For more information on how to get involved, click here.

Austin Animal Center:

• AAC is at capacity with over 450 animals and is in desperate need of short-term fosters. Spread the word to your family and friends and sign up to be a foster here.

SAFE:

• Families struggling to lead violence-free lives can feel extra strain when kids go back to school. SAFE is gratefully accepting school supply donations through the end of August. The list of donations can be found here.
• The inaugural SAFE & Sound music festival featuring Emily Wolfe is on August 23. Purchase tickets here to enjoy a night of celebrating Austin local music and raising funds to support SAFE.

As always, feel free to send over any August/September volunteer opportunities so that we can continue to update this post with more info!

Written by: Madison Lammert

The Good Guide: Austin Food and Drink Specials that Give Back

With the hectic pace of living in Austin, it can be easy to forget to take a moment to give back. Many local eateries, coffee shops, and breweries donate to causes year-round, making it easier than you think to support charitable organizations. Good Party made a list of Austin food and drink specials in August that make an impact:

Juiceland- 50% of proceeds from the Razzle Dazzle smoothie go to Family Eldercare in Austin. This smoothie is made with almond milk, banana, blue majik, ginger, lemon, coconut oil, & a raspberry puree swirl. We can't wait to try this one!

Shake Shack- 5% of proceeds from the Apple Pie Oh My concrete support the Austin Humane Society, a nonprofit that offers life-saving programs for Austin's adoptable dogs and cats.

The ABGB- 5% of the brewpub's profits go to Hell Yes Project charities such as Austin Habitat for Humanity and the Central Texas Food Bank.  Check out their calendar of events that give back here.

Hopdoddy- $1 of each sale of the Goodnight/Good Cause Burger goes to helping those with spinal cord injuries through the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation. With Angus beef, Tillamook Cheddar, caramelized onions, jalapeños, and both hickory barbecue and tangy sassy sauce, it’s one of the tastiest burgers on the menu. 

Thirsty Planet Brewing Company- A portion of the proceeds from the Silverback Pale Ale go to the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, and each month's tasting room gratuities go to different charitable organizations.

Southside Flying Pizza- A percentage of all online sales benefit the Texas School for the Deaf.

Greater Goods Coffee Roasters- With each bag sold, a portion of proceeds goes to benefit one of four local organizations: Austin Pets Alive!, The Autism Society of Central Texas, Capital Area Food Bank and Boys & Girls Clubs of Austin. To check out which roasts go to which charities, click here.

Revival Coffee- 10% of profits go to local charities that customers pick, such as APA!, Explore Austin, and Casa Marianella. 

Patika- 10% of sales from the second Sunday of each month go to different charities. Past organizations have included RAICES and Big Medium.

Cane Rosso- A portion of the local restaurant's proceeds go to Cane Rosso Rescue, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization with the aim of supporting local dog rescue groups, creating a network of foster homes, and ultimately finding homes for abandoned or homeless dogs.

We hope you check out these awesome specials!

Written By: Madison Lammert