Media Alert for Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006

HAAM BENEFIT DAY
TO PROMOTE MUSIC — AND HEALTHY MUSICIANS —
ON SPECIAL DAY OF GIVING

“Keeping Music in Austin Alive and Well”

What: Media is invited to cover the first HAAM Benefit Day, what will become an annual fund-raiser for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, when businesses across Austin donate 5% or more of the day’s proceeds and live music will be heard at participating businesses, City Hall, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and other locations around the city

Available for interviews before and during the day are representatives of organizations responsible — Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (and member-musicians), Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David’s Community Health Foundation and the SIMS Foundation — and businesses taking part

Media is invited to schedule pre-HAAM Benefit Day interviews,
and coverage of the day’s events is welcomed.

Media can also ride along on Gibson Guitars’ bus to music performances throughout the day starting at 11 a.m. at City Hall
When:

6 a.m. Wendy Colonna performance at Whole Foods café, Sixth & Lamar, kicks off music that lasts all day and evening Tuesday, October 3.

Gibson Bus route starting and ending at City Hall:

  • 11 a.m. Seth Walker at City Hall, 301 W. Second St.
  • 11:35 a.m. Michael Austin at Thundercloud Subs, 2308 Lake Austin Blvd.
  • 12:10 p.m. Jenny Reynolds at Maria’s Taco Xpress, 2529 S. Lamar Blvd.
  • 12:50 p.m. Debra Peters & the Love Saints at City Hall
  • 4:30 p.m. Porter Davis at Amy’s Ice Creams/Phil’s Ice House, 5624 Burnet Road
  • 5:30-7:30 p.m., ME Television Studios, 2130 S. Congress Ave.
    (private party for sponsors & participating businesses with special guests Marcia Ball and Joe Ely)
Where: At more than 100 businesses large and small, restaurants, nightclubs, shops and retail outlets (www.healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org for complete list)
Who:

Reaping the benefits of HAAM Benefit Day will be:

  • residents of Austin who eat out, shop, grab a snack before taking a flight, stock up on groceries — and get earfuls of live music to boot
  • member-musicians and future members of Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, to whom primary medical care through Seton Family of Hospitals, basic dental care through St. David’s Community Health Foundation and mental health services through the SIMS Foundation will become available
Why: * Because up to $50,000 in funds raised will be matched by one of two foundations, The Topfer Family Foundation and the Moody Foundation
* Because it’s good business for the City of Austin to keep its musicians healthy 
How: Folks can learn more about participating businesses, making a donation and services available to Austin’s uninsured professional musicians at www.healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org or at 512.322.5177
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
Mo Stoycoff, director of development, the SIMS Foundation, 512.472.1008, mstoycoff@simsfoundation.org

# # #