austinbar.org MARCH 2021 | VOLUME 30, NUMBER 2
2021 Virtual Gala Raises $56,000 for Austin Bar Foundation
T
he 18th Annual Austin Bar Foundation Gala, held on Jan. 28, 2021, may not have looked like all the rest, but it was a successful evening of fundraising and camaraderie nonetheless. The virtual program included a live auction and an awards presentation honoring five esteemed members of Austin’s legal community. The Gala’s “Around the World” theme celebrated diversity and illustrated the idea that despite our differences, we are all connected and all part of the human race. While separated by distance temporarily, the Gala showed us that we are not separated in spirit. Austin Bar members joined together and raised $56,000 to support the many legal-related programs and projects the Foundation funds throughout the year, such as Austin Adoption Day, the CANLAW Clinic, Veterans Legal Assistance Program, the Self-Represented Litigant Project, the Diversity Fellowship Program, scholarships for Texas LGBT law students, and the Justice Mack Kidd Fund. The Fund-a-Need portion of the auction raised $11,050 in support of the Foundation’s grant program, falling short of the $20,000 goal. Donations are still being accepted to help close this gap. The Foundation has awarded more than
TOP, (from left): Judge Aurora Martinez Jones; Mary Ellen King; Hon. Rudy Metayer; and Judge Tim Sulak (ret.) and family. BOTTOM, (from left): Judge Jessica Mangrum; Justice Chari Kelly with Snickers, Amanda Arriaga, and Abbey Fowler; Mary Ann Espiritu and Daniel Conejo with Abby; and Pete Reid.
While separated by distance temporarily, the Gala showed us that we are not separated in spirit. $168,500 to date in grants to legal-related organizations. Past grant recipients include American Gateways, Volunteer Legal Services, Austin Community Law Center, Austin Classical Guitar’s Guitar and Juvenile Justice Program, CASA, and the Texas Fair Defense Fund. Ticket holders were able to purchase party bags that were delivered to their homes prior to the
event. Bags included a DIY flower arrangement with flowers and a vase, insulated champagne flutes, and more. A signature cocktail kit was also available from HipStirs. To support restaurants struggling due to the pandemic, guests were able to order dinner to be delivered from several local restaurants offering a variety of ethnic cuisines. A Spotify playlist of world music was curated especially for the evening. Attendees, many wearing clothing that reflected their cultural heritage, uploaded photos to the virtual photo booth. Murad Auctions provided the live-stream platform and hosted the live auction portion of the evening. Guests bid on a Charleston culinary experience; a
Camp Blanco weekend getaway; a mountain vacation in Winter Park, Colo.; a stay at the Villas near Dripping Springs; a ski package in Jackson Hole, Wyo.; a “U.S. Explorer” package with a choice between five U.S. destinations; and a stay in a Paris apartment plus roundtrip airfare for two. In addition, several online silent auction items drew bids. An awards presentation followed the auction. 2021 Austin Bar award winners were: • Larry F. York Mentoring Award—Amanda G. Taylor; • David H. Walter Community Excellence Award—Adam Loewy; • Joseph C. Parker, Jr. Diversity Award—Judge Aurora Martinez Jones: and • Distinguished Lawyer Awards— Betty Blackwell, Bill Jones, and Judge Tim Sulak (ret.). Videos honoring all three Distinguished LawyerAUSTIN Award winners LAWYER AL AL can be viewed at austinbar.org.
