For Immediate Release
Sept 5, 2007

BUSINESSES COME TOGETHER
TO SET STAGE FOR
OCTOBER HAAM BENEFIT DAY

PSA That Invites Rest of the City to Join In Premieres

Austin, TX — Today at Austin City Hall, Mayor Will Wynn welcomed and thanked the more than NEW businesses that have already signed up to take part in the first HAAM BENEFIT DAY, slated for Tuesday, October 2, and invited others to join in on behalf of the NEW-month-old Health Alliance for Austin Musicians and its expansion of medical, dental and mental healthcare services for the city’s hard-working, uninsured professional musicians — the talented artists who contribute to Austin’s reputation for great live music.

Wynn was joined by representatives of the City and the music community — along with organizers of Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, the groundbreaking partnership made up of and providing primary healthcare by the Seton Family of Hospitals, basic dental care by St. David’s Community Health Foundation and mental-health counseling by the SIMS Foundation — as well as businesses that have come together in an unprecedented display of unity to further a cause that benefits the entire city and its quality of life.

NEW In addition to John T. Kunz, president of Waterloo Records & Video, on hand were representatives of other businesses that have taken on a role for HAAM BENEFIT DAY: Laura Zappi of Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America’s first national certified organic grocer; John Blakely of Sony Online Entertainment Austin, a recognized world leader in massively multi-player online games; and Kevin Grandin of White Lodging, the fully integrated hotel ownership, development and operating company that has more hotels in Austin than any other area.

“HAAM Benefit Day is a great way for businesses in Austin to give back to musicians,” said Kunz, who is also a member of the HAAM Board of Directors. “After all, who makes this city’s music, makes visitors want to come here, makes it a fantastic place to be? The musicians, of course. And I should know.”

On HAAM BENEFIT DAY, slated for Tuesday, October 2, businesses large and small across all of Austin will have either pledged 5% of the day’s proceeds or made a cash donation and become partners or sponsors. More than 95 Austin bands, acoustic artists and singer-songwriters (many of them HAAM members) have volunteered to perform at locations during this day dedicated to music, giving and living well in the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

Wynn, while recognizing those businesses that have already committed to HAAM BENEFIT DAY and its goal of expanding service capacity to even more than the NEW musicians who have become members of Health Alliance for Austin Musicians since its creation, made it clear that more businesses can sign up their support for HAAM. Funds raised on HAAM BENEFIT DAY will be matched by The Topfer Family Foundation and The Moody Foundation.

Businesses already signed up for HAAM BENEFIT DAY include Whole Foods Market (both Gateway and Sixth & Lamar locations) as the presenting sponsor, White Lodging, Sony Online Entertainment Austin, Time Warner Cable Austin, 107.1 KGSR-FM, The Austin Chronicle, Texas Monthly, Austin American-Statesman, Gibson Musical Instruments, Lucas Arts, HEB, The Continental Club, Antone’s, Antone’s Records, Waterloo Ice House (all four locations), The Iguana Grill, The Parish, Guero’s Taco Bar, Jazz Louisiana Kitchen, Jo’s Coffee, Ruby’s BBQ, Threadgill’s World Headquarters, Charity Partners of Austin, Hotel San José, Book People, Amy’s Ice Creams, El Arroyo, Sweetish Hill Bakery, ME Television, Mariposa Spanish School, Beerland and Music Lab Inc. Music will be produced on HAAM BENEFIT DAY by High Beam Event. All HAAM artwork and promotional materials created by GSD&M.

At the City-owned Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Delaware North Companies — operator of The Salt Lick Bar-B-Q; Mangia Pizza; Matt’s El Rancho; Schlotzsky’s Deli; Schlotzsky’s Coffee and Pastries; live music venues Highland Lakes Bar (The Main Stage), Hill Country Bar, Lefty’s on 6th Street Bar and Grille; The Salt Lick’s Taco Bar; The Longhorns Store; www.news (soon to be The Austin Chronicle News); Book People; Austin City Limits; Gadgets to Go; Texas Wild Flower and Bluebonnets; and Texas Sports Unlimited — will also donate 5% of the day’s proceeds.

Three city business groups — Austin Independent Business Alliance, Downtown Austin Alliance and West End Alliance — have endorsed participating in HAAM BENEFIT DAY, too.

Also today at City Hall was the premiere screening of a Public Service Announcement that will be shown on 47 cable outlets so that all of Austin — its businesses and its residents — learns of area musicians’ healthcare needs and looks forward to HAAM BENEFIT DAY. The PSA was co-produced by Time Warner Cable and the HAAM Communications Committee. Music critic, entertainment TV correspondent and radio DJ Andy Langer provided the voice-over, and guitarist and HAAM member Kevin Carroll starred and contributed background music; performance footage was provided by ME Television. Broadcast-quality beta-SP format copies of the PSA will be distributed to local network affiliates.

Contacts:
Jill McGuckin, McGuckin Entertainment PR, 512.217.9404; jill@mcguckinpr.com
Pam Crowther, Seton Family of Hospitals, 512.324.3170; pcrowther@seton.org
Carolyn Schwarz, director of services, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, 512.324.8976; cschwarz@healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org
NEW, director of development, the SIMS Foundation, 512.472.1008; mstoycoff@simsfoundation.org

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