LIVE HERE GIVE HERE

Amplify Austin Day kicks off 24 hours of fundraising for local nonprofits

The fundraising goes from 6 pm on March 1 to 6 pm the next day and covers seven Central Texas counties.

Photo courtesy of I Live Here I Give Here.

The biggest giving event in Central Texas kicks off March 1 at 6 pm, and runs 24 hours. The results of Amplify Austin Day, started by nonprofit I Live Here I Give Here (ILHIGH) in 2013, span seven Central Texas counties to support 700 organizations. The annual event has raised nearly $93 million to-date for local nonprofits, businesses, and initiatives all over the Central Texas region.

ILHIGH’s plan for 2023 is to reach $100,000 in donations for the Amplify Fund – with several Austin businesses joining in to help accomplish that goal. Amy’s Ice Creams is offering a new ice cream combo, “Central Texas Swirl,” and will donate five percent of sales from every Austin location to the Amplify Fund. Italian eateries Juniper and Uncle Nicky’s have agreed to donate 10 percent of their overall sales from March 1. Uncle Nicky’s will also donate 10 percent of its sales from March 2.

Large companies such as Google and NXP Semiconductors have donated $10,000 to the general ILHIGH Amplify Fund, while others have chosen to make donations to specific categories. For example, Juiceland committed $10,000 to support LGBTQIA+ nonprofits by donating 100 percent of net sales from all of its Central Texas stores’ net sales on March 2. The Shield-Ayres Foundation will match donations up to $10,000 for every nonprofit in the housing, shelter, and homelessness category.

In their own Amplify Austin Day campaign, the Red River Cultural District is offering three special giveaways for supporters that give between $10 and $50 with prizes valued at over $1000:

Red River Weekender ($10 to $20 donation for entry): a two-night stay at the Alexan Waterloo’s private guest suite, two general admission tickets to any 2023 Empire Control Room & Garage show and $100 bar tab, and a $25 gift card to Vaquero Taquero.
Moody Center Sleepover ($21 to $30 donation for entry): A two-night weekend stay at The Hotel Indigo Downtown, two general admission seated tickets to a 2023 Moody Center concert, and a $50 gift card to Italian restaurant Marinara Miracles.
Mohawk Madness ($31 to $50 donation for entry): a “Golden Ticket” that gives the winner and a guest free access to every Mohawk event, daytime and nighttime, from March 10 to 19, a Mohawk custom t-shirt, tote bag, and grinder, and a $50 gift card to Jersey-inspired pizza spot Hoboken Pie.

The 24-hour virtual day of giving will begin at 6 pm on March 1 and end at 6 pm on March 2. More information about Amplify Austin Day and the nonprofits it supports can be found at amplifyatx.org.

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Taste of 2025

Austin's Wine & Food Foundation announces 3 big events for 2025

Photo by Erica Wilkins Photography

Theses Wine & Food Foundation events raise funds for local initiatives.

Austin's food scene is booming, but smaller businesses could always use support. The Wine & Food Foundation is one of Austin's leading industry protectors, and it's just announced three events to help support its mission over the next year.

The three events — Big Reds and Bubbles, Toast of Texas, and the Rare & Fine Wine Auction Gala — are spread out between March and November of 2025, and all offer something a bit different.

They'll all benefit the Wine & Food Foundation and, by extension, the local organizations it supports. Those include Keep Austin Fed, which diverts food surpluses from grocery stores, catered events, and other sites of professional food service; and Sustainable Food Center, which helps Texans access healthy food through SNAP and WIC incentives, hosts farmers markets, connects farmers with resources, and more. The Wine & Food Foundation also offers scholarships for hospitality professionals.

Big Reds and Bubbles, held Friday, March 28, will bring together more than 100 red and sparkling wines for a tasting event. In addition to comparing wines back-to-back, guests will get to try them with bites from popular Austin restaurants to discover interesting new pairings. They'll also get to dress to impress and see the new LZR space — formerly La Zona Rosa, an old Austin music venue that had its last official performance in 2013.

Next up is Toast of Texas on June 8. This is another tasting event that focuses instead on 20 local wineries. The food menu at this event is also more specific, featuring local barbecue and paella, among other local tastes. It'll be located at Assembly Hall, an event space on East 7th Street adjacent to the East Austin Hotel.

Finally, there's the premier event: the Rare & Fine Wine Auction Gala on November 8. This is a big fundraising opportunity not just because of potentially high auction tickets, but the chance to experience something truly out of the ordinary for the wine industry. Guests will also enjoy "an elegant dinner" according to the press release and wines by a featured maker. It'll all happen at the JW Marriott Austin.

The release counts more than 50 other events slated for the year, so there are plenty more opportunities between the big three. Some of these include wine tasting courses, which will be available again soon.

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