The Gift of Hope

Generous Austinites give and get holiday cheer at Frost Bank's donation drive-through

Austinites in the mood to give had a worthy place to direct their energy on December 10: the Frost Bank and CultureMap donation drop-off, benefiting Central Texas Food Bank.

During the two-hour event, more than 700 pounds of nonperishable food items — which CTFB will turn into nearly 600 meals — were handed over at Lamar Union Plaza, and those who donated received a few surprises in return.

Santa Claus himself was there, visiting with those who drove up to donate and neighborhood residents who stopped by on their evening walks.

Frost Bank swag was waiting for those who donated, along with $10 Frost It Forward cards to continue spreading optimism.

This generous gesture from Frost Bank echoed the Optimism Starts With You mural by Mike Johnston, which was located directly across from the drop-off point in front of the Alamo Drafthouse.

Those who attended the donation event also got a head start on entering the social media contest by snapping a selfie by the mural and using #OptForOptimism to enter.

If you'd like a shot at winning the grand prize packages from Lamar Union Plaza — which includes a $100 gift card to Caffe Medici, $40 to Finley's Barbershop, $50 to Shake Shack, $50 to Jjim BBQ, two gift cards for a small treat at Lick Honest Ice Creams, a 10-pack of classes to Orangetheory South Lamar, a 500 mg Broad Spectrum tincture and 400 mg Spot Cooling Lotion from Greenbelt Botanicals Co. (worth $90), $50 to TLC, and $50 to Soto South Lamar — there's still time. Get your post up before December 31, when we'll pick one lucky winner.

The items received from the event are more important than ever to Central Texas Food Bank, which is on the front lines of hunger for an average of 200,000 people each month.

When CTFB was established in 1982, its goal was to help the hungry in the community. Over the years, the weak economy has increased challenges for clients who have turned to food pantries for food assistance.

Now it works with partner agencies in 21 counties across Central Texas, and it provided more than 39.2 million pounds of food to families in need during the 2017-18 fiscal year.

If you missed the event but would still like to contribute to CTFB's important mission, please make a donation this holiday season.

Those who stopped by were encouraged to snap a photo at the nearby mural.

Courtesy photo

Those who stopped by were encouraged to snap a photo at the nearby mural.

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MESSAGE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE

Austin theater auctions off chance to write message on iconic marquee

Paramount Theatre/Instagram

The Paramount Theatre is auctioning off the chance to share a holiday message on its marquee.

Austinites craving the limelight might get the chance to see their name in lights — or at least a personalized holiday message — illuminated on one of Austin’s most historic marquees.

As part of the Austin Theatre Alliance’s final 2020 auction to raise funds for the Paramount and Stateside theaters, the nonprofit is offering up an array of unusual and very “Austintatious” items for bid, including the chance to share a customized holiday message on the iconic Paramount Theatre marquee.

The auction item is one of several dozen currently up for bid through ATA’s online holiday auction, which runs through December 11.

With a starting bid of $1,500, the Paramount marquee message is one of the pricier items in the auction, but it may be well worth the glory, as the winning bidder can treat all of Austin to a two-line, 80-character custom holiday message that will be professionally photographed and live on the marquee for a minimum of four hours. (It should be noted that the chosen message is subject to review. After all, this is a nonprofit theater marquee, not the infamously sassy El Arroyo sign.)

Having to cancel or reschedule hundreds of planned shows because of COVID-19 concerns, the Paramount Theatre has had a particularly rough year but recently reopened at 25 percent capacity for limited engagements, like its Holiday Film Series, which is currently underway. Funds raised from the auction enable the ATA, which manages the Paramount and Stateside, to reach Central Texas students through virtual programs, employ venue staff, and help the historic theaters survive the pandemic.

In addition to the Paramount marquee message item, the auction also includes other perfectly weird items befitting a homegrown Austin event, like Matt Lankes photos of Willie Nelson playing chess and the late, great Billy Joe Shaver looking contemplative while perched on a bridge in Waco; and several autographed guitars, including one commemorative acoustic guitar signed by 10 of Austin’s most notable musicians, Ruthie Foster, Carrie Rodriguez, and Tameca Jones among them.

Of course, there is no lack of booze-forward packages, hotel stays, and artist-signed prints also up for grabs. But true lovers of the Paramount Theatre will find the item with the highest opening bid ($5,000) steals the show: a private catered dinner for four on the Paramount stage.

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