austinbar.org DEC. 2019 / JAN. 2020 | VOLUME 28, NUMBER 10
Join Us for “Boots and Bourbon” at the Austin Bar Foundation Gala
T
he 17th Annual Austin Bar Foundation Gala will be held on Sat., Jan. 25, 2020 at the new Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa. The “Boots and Bourbon” themed event is being chaired by Amanda Arriaga, along with auction chair Mary Ellen King. Proceeds from the Gala benefit the Austin Bar Foundation. The Foundation supports programs of the Austin Bar such as the Veterans Assistance Programs, the Self-Represented Litigant Project, Austin Adoption Day, and the CANLAW Clinic. The Foundation typically awards approximately $20,000 in grants each year in grants to area law-related programs such as CASA of Travis County, American Gateways, Volunteer Legal Services, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA), and many more. In addition, the Foundation supports the Justice Mack Kidd Fund by providing confidential financial assistance to attorneys who suffer from depression or other mental illness so they can get needed help and support. Since its inception, the Justice Mack Kidd Fund has given out $50,000 in mental health assistance and is currently down to its last $10,000. The Austin Bar Foundation plans to give the fund a grant from a portion of the
proceeds raised during the Fund-aNeed segment of the live auction at the Gala. Donors who give $500 or more to Fund-a-Need will receive a commemorative paver named for themselves, or in honor or in memory of someone else. The engraved pavers will be placed in the main walkway at the front of Hilgers House. The Justice Mack Kidd Fund Trustees, Ann Greenberg, Woodie Jones, and Velva Price, have engraved the first paver in memory of Justice Mack Kidd.
The Gala will begin with a cocktail party at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. Dinner will include an awards presentation and a live auction, presided over by the Siren Sisters Auctioneers. Following dinner, guests can try their luck at the casino tables, or dance to music provided by The Nightowls. The Gala will feature silent and live auctions for such items as vacation homes in Costa Rica and Marfa; a condo in Breckenridge, Colorado; a two-night stay at the Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa, including 18 holes of golf for two; a two-night stay at Camp Lucy and dinner for two at Tillie’s in Dripping Springs; plus much more. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for numerous gift baskets valued
at more than $500 each and participate in a jewelry pull with jewelry provided by Laura Elizabeth. New this year is a wine pull where a $25 purchase of a bottle of wine could result in acquiring a bottle with a much higher value. Bourbon tastings and hand-rolled cigars will also be available. The Barton Creek Omni Resort & Spa provides valet parking for $15 and plenty of self-parking in the parking garage. If using a ride-share service such as Lyft or Uber, the resort will send out a call to drivers at the end of the event so there will be plenty of cars available for the ride home. Visit austinbar.org to purchase tickets or tables or to become a sponsor. Discounted tickets are available for AYLA members. continued on page 8
