Amplify Austin 2019

Amplify Austin Day, a program of I Live Here I Give Here, returns in full force on February 28 with a 24 hour day of online giving. With new Executive Director Courtney Manuel at the helm and the goal to make Austin the most generous community in the nation, Amplify Austin calls on locals to pitch in and give what they can to their favorite nonprofit groups to maximize donations raised. This is no joke, Amplify Austin has raised over $45M for hundreds of local organizations over the past six years. When you give on Amplify Austin Day your donation is matched through generous event sponsors, boosting your dollars and creating a ripple effect of goodwill for participating beneficiaries who have the chance to win hourly and grand prizes. Over 700 Austin area nonprofits participate in Amplify Austin, and many of them host and happy hours and watch parties during this time to get donors pumped up to give back. We’ve rounded up some of the standouts here, and encourage you to check out the impressive list of participants, you might find a few new favorites.

Amplify Austin Kickoff with Emancipet, Feb 28. 5-7pm, Buzz Mill

Austin Doga will be hosting a yoga class at 6pm, $5 suggested donation goes back to Emancipet.

Oskar Blues Celebrates Amplify Austin, Feb 28. 6pm-10pm, Oskar Blues Brewery

Join a whole bunch of Austin nonprofits for a night of incredible music by Riders Against the Storm, Shy Beast, and more. Beneficiaries include HAAM, Austin Humane Society, Creative Action, Kids in a New Groove, and more.

Amplify Watch Party, Feb. 28 6-9pm, Parlor & Yard

Come for happy hour and help Austin Child Guidance Center raise money during Amplify. Now through March Parlor & Yard and Stereotype bar will donate $1 from every “Hometown Mule” ordered back to ACGC.

Amplify Austin Day runs Feb. 28 6pm - March 1 6pm. For a full list of participants and details visit here.

Good Party's December Event Series

Looking for ways to give back this December? Good Party has 3 events planned this month that are sure to be fun for everyone.

For the women, Good Party will be at Wonder Woman Wednesday, a self defense class at Fit and Fearless that’s open to the public and for women (and women identifying) only. Come solo or bring a friend at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5th. We’ll learn important moves while also getting in a good workout.  This class is FREE for everyone, and we'll be collecting donations for SAFE.

For the dog lovers, Good Party is hosting a pet friendly market at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden on Dec. 9th at 2 p.m. There will be s'mores, festive cocktails, fun vendors, and selfies with Santa. $1 from 'Tis the Season' cocktails will be donated to Austin Animal Center and we'll be collecting supplies they need onsite (durable dog/cat toys, leashes, collars, and treats) to stuff a giant stocking. AAC will be present for attendees to meet adoptable dogs and learn more about fostering for the holidays. Vendors include: KollarKouture, Pupology, @moxietov_makes custom embroidery, and Pawsome Blossoms.

Last but not least, the Laid Back Give Back: Care Kits for Caritas event will take place at The Buzz Mill on Dec. 20th (6:30 p.m.). We'll be collecting supplies for Caritas of Austin and assembling care kits just in time for the holidays. $1 from every purchase off the Holiday Drink Menu will go back to Caritas of Austin, and Caritas will also be onsite to tell you more about the organization and how to get involved. See our Amazon wishlist for a list of donations needed, and order online or bring them in person.

As always, make sure to join our Facebook group to stay connected. We can’t wait to give back with you this holiday season!

Written by: Madison Lammert

The Good Guide: Giving Back this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer this holiday season. As many of us can’t wait to stuff our faces with turkey and stuffing, thousands in Austin will struggle to just put food on the table. Good Party rounded up 6 different ways to give back this Thanksgiving:

Empty Bowl Project:

The Austin Empty Bowl Project is an effort by Austin area potters to fight hunger. On November 18, you’re invited to select your favorite locally crafted ceramic bowl, have it filled with gourmet soup and bread, and listen to live music while enjoying your lunch. Your $25 donation goes to Kids Cafe, a program of the Central Texas Food Bank, and Meals for Kids, a program of Meals on Wheels Central Texas. For more information on attending or volunteering at the event, click here.

HEB Feast of Sharing:

The annual Feast of Sharing on November 20 takes place at the Palmer Events Center and is the largest community Thanksgiving meal in Austin. H-E-B provides 14,000 meals to hungry Austinites with the help of 1,400 volunteers who plate and serve food, do crafts with children, and many other tasks. For information on how to volunteer, head to this link.

Operation Turkey:

Operation Turkey aims to bring communities together, across the nation, to feed and clothe the homeless and less fortunate on Thanksgiving Day. Sign up to volunteer the day before Thanksgiving at the Turkey Tailgate or the day of Thanksgiving by visiting their website. This year’s goal is to serve 75,000 meals, and if you wish to assist you can also make a donation online.

Central Texas Food Bank volunteer shifts:

The largest hunger relief organization could use your help to provide meals to families during this food-centered holiday. In the days before Thanksgiving, volunteer to sort food donations at the Food Bank to prepare for distribution through its partner agencies across Central Texas. Can’t find the time but want to give? Every $10 donated will provide 80 meals for those in need. Link to volunteer and donate.

Thundercloud’s Turkey Trot:

With almost 20,000 people participating on Thanksgiving Day, the Thundercloud five-mile race is one of the largest Turkey Trots in the country. ThunderCloud Subs donates all of the proceeds from the Turkey Trot directly to Caritas of Austin, a local nonprofit that’s dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness for people in Greater Austin. ThunderCloud has raised more than $2.5 million for Caritas since the event began in 1991. To register to run or volunteer at the event, click on this link.

Gobble Gobble Give:

Gobble Gobble Give is a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving. A community of volunteers delivers food, clothing and toiletries to the homeless in eleven cities (including Austin) across the country on Thanksgiving morning. All meals are made possible by donations and volunteers before and on the day of Thanksgiving. For a list of items you can donate as well as the link to contribute financially, click here.

Written By: Madison Lammert

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