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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 3, 2008
HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR AUSTIN MUSICIANS
& MAYOR THANK BUSINESSES TAKING PART
IN 3RD HAAM BENEFIT DAY,
LAUNCH ANNUAL PSAs
Organizers Remind Residents of Musical Fundraiser at Antone's Tonight,
of Annual Day of Giving to Musicians Health on October 7
Austin, TX - At a press conference today at City Hall, Health Alliance
for Austin Musicians organizers, board and committee members, service
providers and member-musicians as well as Austin Mayor Will Wynn and
philanthropic group representatives joined together to thank the nearly
200 area businesses that have already signed up to take part in the
3rd HAAM BENEFIT DAY, to be held on Tuesday, October 7.
At the same time, radio and TV public service announcements were launched
that will air from today until October 7 to remind Austin residents
and neighbors to dine out, shop and enjoy the music and community spirit
on the annual day that gives back to the hard-working, uninsured musicians
who contribute so much to the city's quality of life and reputation
as a great place in which to live. Created by GSD&M Idea City and
Time Warner Cable-Central Texas, the PSAs feature two HAAM member-musicians
who praise the help they got when they faced health issues and underwent
treatment.
To kick off the City Hall press conference, members of the local band
Driver, one of eight slated to compete Wednesday night at Antone's in
HAAM's first-ever Corporate Battle of the Bands fundraising contest
and concert, gave a preview of things to come.
After greetings from Wynn and comments by Tim Taylor, partner in Jackson
Walker LLP and second-year chairman of the HAAM BENEFIT DAY Committee,
Wofford Denius of The Cain Foundation announced the organization will
provide a $10,000 matching grant to funds raised on October 7. "As
an entertainment attorney who has worked in the music industry for many
years, I understand firsthand the struggles that musicians face and
I recognize what a difference HAAM can make in the life of a musician,"
Denius said. "I hope this encourages the community to make a donation,
no matter how big or small, to show support for the musicians who make
Austin 'the live music capital of the world'."
On HAAM BENEFIT DAY, area businesses pledge 5 percent of the day's
profits or make cash donations to the groundbreaking group that helps
HAAM member-musicians (now more than 1,200) gain access to low-cost
primary medical care provided by Seton Family of Hospitals, dental care
by St. David's Community Health Foundation Leadership and mental-health
and addiction-recovery services by The SIMS Foundation.
More than 90 bands, most with HAAM member-musicians, have volunteered
to play at restaurants, clubs and retail outlets across Austin during
the 3rd HAAM BENEFIT DAY, many for the second and third year.
Last year, the 2nd HAAM BENEFIT DAY raised $180,000 from the 175 community-spirited
Austin-area businesses that participated, the unprecedented ME Television
telethon, and challenge grants from the Topfer Family Foundation and
The Moody Foundation.
This year, 184 businesses have already signed up, including third-year
presenting sponsor Whole Foods Market and returning underwriters Sony
Online Entertainment and Time Warner Cable-Central Texas along with
The Cain Foundation. Partners are The Epiphone Company, GSD&M Idea
City, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, KGSR, 101X, KLBJ-FM,
ME Television and Wal-Mart.
2008 Sponsors are Amy's Ice Creams/Phil's Ice House (13 locations),
Austin American-Statesman, The Austin Chronicle, Austin Hotel and Lodging
Association, Comerica Bank, Delaware North Companies (operator of Austin-Bergstrom
International Airport outlets Austin Java, Austin Warehouse District,
Book People, Down on 6th Street, Earl Campbell's Sports Bar, Lefty's
on 6th Street Bar and Grille, Mangia Pizza, Maudie's Tex-Mex, Ray Benson's
Roadhouse Bar, Schlotzsky's Deli, The Austin Chronicle, The Longhorns
Store, The Salt Lick BBQ, The Salt Lick Taco Bar and Waterloo Records/Austin
City Limits), Eli Lilly, Half-Price Books (5 locations), IBC Bank, Jackson
Walker LLP, Joseph & Williams, McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP, Neiman
Marcus, Potbelly Sandwich Works Inc. (3 locations), Strait Music Company,
ThunderCloud Subs (22 locations), and Twin Liquors.
Supporting Sponsors are Frost Bank and Public Financial Management
Inc.
5% Donors are Allandale Painters Supply, Antone's, Antone's Record
Shop, Applebee's (7 locations), Artz Rib House, Austin Kula Yoga, Austin
Visitors Center, Baby Greens, BD Riley's, The Belmont, Betsy's Bar,
Birds Barbershop (2 locations), Book People, By George, Casa de Luz,
Changos Taqueria (2 locations), Chuggin' Monkey, Clancy's Guitar School
and Store, Clearpoint Wellness, Club de Ville, The Continental Club,
Dizzy Rooster, El Interior, El Sol y La Luna, Evangeline Cafe, Flamingo
Cantina, Frontgate Tickets, Groovy Automotive (3 locations), Guero's
Taco Bar, HiLo Bar, Iguana Grill, Irie Bean Coffee Bar, J. Black's Feel
Good Lounge, Jo's Coffee (2 locations), Lamberts Downtown Barbecue,
Lavaca Street Bar, Lift Beverage Cafe, Longhorn Collision Center, Manuel's
(2 locations), Mecca Gym, Mohawk, Momo's, Nada Moo!, Pangaea International,
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe, Radio Room, Red 7, Red Fez, Room 710, Ruby's BBQ,
Sabia, Sam's Town Point, San Jose Hotel, Saxon Pub, Shady Grove Cafe,
Shoal Creek Saloon, Sweetish Hill Bakery & Cafe, Threadgill's (2
locations), The Veranda Restaurant & Bar, Waterloo Icehouse (7 locations),
Waterloo Records & Video, Whole Earth Provision Co. (3 locations),
Wyndham Garden Hotel, and Zanzibar.
Friends are Affordable Sound, Austin Motel, Bettysport, Callie Richmond
Photography, C3 Presents, Fun Fun Fun Fest-Transmission Entertainment,
Jessica Attie Photography, Joe DiMaggio's Italian Chophouse, Justice
Records, Magnolia Cafe, Motorblade Postering Service, R&R Limousine
& Bus, Souper! Salad! Inc., Stubb's Bar-B-Q, S.W.E.A.T. Medical
Team and The Soup Peddler.
More information for businesses: Carolyn Schwarz at 512.324.8976 or
cschwarz@healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org.
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians was founded in April 2005 when
Seton Family of Hospitals and St. David's Community Health Foundation
Leadership joined forces with The SIMS Foundation to provide medical,
dental, and mental health care to the city's hard-working, low-income
musicians. More than 1,200 member-musicians, most 35 and younger, have
been served.
Contacts:
Jill McGuckin, McGuckin Entertainment PR, 512.217.9404; jill@mcguckinpr.com
Carolyn Schwarz, executive director, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians,
512.324.8976; cschwarz@healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org
Pam Crowther, Seton Family of Hospitals, 512.324-3170, pcrowther@seton.org
Kim Usey, St. David's Community Health Foundation, 512.879.6612; kim@sdchf.org
Mark Grossman, The SIMS Foundation, 512.472.1008; info@simsfoundation.org
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