charity

Update: the BLUE Theater was victim of a fire a couple of days ago, so the fundraising needs are now even greater. Please support this group if you can.

The BLUE Theatre Hosts Fundraising Event – Help Support the arts in East Austin!!!
Austin, TX , July 2010

The BLUE Theatre, the hippest artist-operated performance space on Austin’s east side, is now under new artistic management! The previous company is taking all of their lighting equipment with them; nobody blames them (this stuff’s expensive!). However, in order for The BLUE to continue business as usual, all of this equipment needs to be replaced. So, the BLUE is reaching out to the community and local businesses for help …

On Sunday, August 1st, 2010, the BLUE Theatre will team up with local bands Home By Hovercraft (http://www.myspace.com/homebyhovercraft), Abandoned Warehouse (http://www.myspace.com/homebyhovercraft), and other local talent to host BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL, an all-day music event designed to raise money for the overhaul.

The entire community is invited to come rock out while supporting a local arts institution in raising money for a complete lighting equipment overhaul. Give till it hurts while listening to great music, drinking fantastic cocktails courtesy of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and mingling with music lovers, artists, patrons, and neighborhood family and friends.

Details …
What: BLUE Light Special benefiting the BLUE Theatre
When: August 1, 2010 beginning at 3pm
Where: BLUE Theatre, 916 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78702

The BLUE Theatre is ‘home’ for many of our communities’ performing and visual artists and with the community’s help we will continue to bring powerful, innovative, thought-provoking works for Austin audiences to enjoy.

About The BLUE Theatre
The BLUE Theatre supports and presents artists whose work challenges the traditional boundaries of art, theatre, music, dance, film and performance. An artist-operated, multi-disciplinary performance space, community center and gallery with roots deep in the Austin arts scene. We produce our own shows, help support all artists and activists with our programs and can be rented for productions, rehearsals, events and auditions.

For more information, visit www.bluetheatre.org.

The BLUE Theatre, 916 Springdale Road, Austin, TX, 78702
CONTACT: Nicole Portwood, Executive Director (512) 743-8089, info@bluetheatre.org

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Some of you may remember when, earlier this year, a good friend of my dad’s passed away. Well, the next step was to add Harold’ s name to the Memorial Golf Tournament. There are also plans to install a memorial bench at the course, like the one there in memory of Daddy.

Larry Salter & Harold Morrison Memorial Golf Tournament
benefiting the Prairiland Academic Trust Foundation
which supports Prairiland ISD schools, namely scholarships for graduating seniors who might not have funding to attend college

My has the tournament grown since that second year when we became involved. (The first year, Daddy played in the tournament. The next year, he died just before the event and the planners named it in his memory.) The first year we were involved, there was one flight of four-man teams. A couple of years later, they went to six man teams and then to two flights just after that. This year, both flights were brimming over: 21 and 24 teams on an 18-hole course.

It was a very windy day that constantly threatened rain. But, all in all, the weather was not to warm or cool and made for a nice day for golf. Emil even got to use the driver he won as a door prize last year. He played on the As You Wish team, which came in last in their flight and won free golf lessons.

No Shoes.
One Day.
Make a Statement.

Today, we announced the closing of Brazos Valley QueSt, the 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit that we started back in the fall of 2003. We’ve been hosting the “big gay fundraiser”, GAYla, each spring and a Homecoming-themed scholarship event each fall. It’s been a great way to give back to an often-hated part of our community.

There is one big reason and a particular catalyst for the closing. A lack of volunteers was, of course, the group’s biggest challenge. Because of this and the catalyst, we had considered closing twice last October and decided to give it one more try for the 2009 GAYla. We scaled the event way back and had a great time at a relaxed party where we were entertained by the area’s only (and award-winning) improvisational comedy troupe, Freudian Slip. As committee members, we had a great time…and it was for a good cause.

In writing our “goodbye” letter today, I reviewed our donations over the years. Wow. I didn’t realize how much we had done. And, I only had rough/big numbers handy; I didn’t take the time to chase down all the little things we did in between. You can’t really ask for a happier ending to a good thing. GAYla didn’t start with us; we just picked it up when it ran out of volunteers. We then expanded on that with other events. Hopefully, someone else will take the next chapter in working with this part of our community.

To all of you who have traveled in, attended, donated money/services/product, volunteered, sent your love and support from afar, etc: Thank You! Your support of humanity means more to me, personally, than you’ll ever know.

Our annual GAYla this past Saturday was a huge success! I have really been honored to work with this event since 2004.

We have a couple of surprises for this year’s recipients. We plan to unveil total funds raised in just a few days! yippie!

Many cities are holding “Twestivals” (a festival promoted and put on by Twitter users) to support this worthy cause. There is one in Austin next week!

I only have one more week to make bail. Help me BREAK OUT by making a donation to the MDA. You can give the donation directly to me, or donate online.

The minutes are ticking away until the 2008 B/CS Telethon Executive Lock-Up . Only 4 business days left!

Here’s an update on some of the Jailbirds

Luis Cifuentes, TAMU, $2,575
Earl, Bledsoe, West District Methodist Church, $2,000
Kathy, Montoya, Reveille’s Convenience Store, $2,000
Chief Tyrone, Morrow, Chief of Bryan, $1,665
Jo Ann, Muzny, Noel’s Wonderful World of Travel, $1,504
Kristy, Roe, Voter Registration, $1,488
Anna, Erskine, Harley Davidson Motor Club, $1,375
Carol, Laird, Walmart, $1,100
Carla, Henderson, Carla Henderson Realtor, $942
Bill, McGuire, Franklin Bank, $900
Wayne, Tomilson, Kroger, $900
Lisa, Biasiolli, Stretch & Grow, $769
Sheila, Dotson, International Association of Admin Professionals, $759
Andrea, Goodson, Aggieland Title Company, $655
Lewis, Cobler, The Suit Club, $600
Carl, Ryder, Elliott Electric Supply Inc, $595
Paul, Bullard, Paul Bullard & Co, $590
Joshua, Reinbolt, Association of Former Students, $577
Jim, Elmquist, Asap Inspections, $575
Mel Hohlt, Hohlt, Kalkort, $562
Lynn, Powell, At Home Property Management, $485
Jennifer, Fountain, Bead Fountain, $476
Bernice, Spink, The Bryan Fairfield Inn, $392
Sherri, Roberts, Sign Language Interpreting, $390
Dudley, Stark, Varsity Ford Lincoln Mercury, $375
Brandon, Terry, Carter’s Burgers, $375
Charon, Marshall, Lawrence Marshall Dealership, $367
Travis, Ward, Square One, $355
Dante, Castillo, Texas Veterinarian School, $350
Joe, Salvato, 1st National Bank, $350
Melinda, Berlan, First Victoria, $300
Bradley, Newsom, HEB, $300
Dave, Stevenson, Brenham National Bank, $300
Melissa, Simmons, Target, $295
Harry, Francis, Bryan High School Athletic Dept., $290
Thomas C., Holt, Lone Wolf Couriers, $290
Deanne, Huebner, Let’s Go Dreamin, $290
Chuck, Simmons, Target, $285
Christine, Cruz, Brazos Family Medical Center, $280
Dawn, Thompson, Realty World Aggieland, $270
Stephanie, Jeter, Association of Former Students, $255
Barbara, Clemmons, TAMU, $250
Kimberly, Livingston, Jack & Jill Preschool, $250
Dennis, Norris, Batteries Plus, $250
Dave, Ferguson, Mac Bolt & Steel, $250
Pat, Shields, Brazos County Livestock Commission, $235
W Steven, Steele, Davis & Davis, $235
Tiffani, Dean, Pharmacy Shop, $230
Mark, Price, Brazos County Appraisal District, $225
Melissa, Marek, Fantasy Lingerie, $215
Debbie, Kelley, Texas Aggieland Bookstore, $210
Teresa, Swonke, Da Vita Inc, $210
Kathy, Brick, Helping Hands Personal Assistant Services, $200
William, Cangelose, State Bank, $200
Barbara, Hensley, Denny’s, $200
Dianna, Reimer, All American Sleep & Mattress, $200
Kristen, Dixon, Coufal-Prater Equipment LTD, $195
Mitchell, Reyes, Wells Fargo Bank, $195
Meredith, Stancik, Channel 3 TV, $190
James, Suttle, Hill Country Electric Supply, $185
Howard, Bleekman, Dispute Resolution Center, $150
Ben, Roper, College Station MIS Department, $150
Rusty, Spencer, Varsity Ford Lincoln Mercury, $150
Susan, Rogers, Bryan Community Health Clinic, $140
Canyon, Baxley, Sew Vac City, $125
Sherry, Piper, Texas Home Health Hospice, $125
Deborah, Rogers, Baskin’s Department Store, $125
Robert, Schoppe, Reed Arena, $120
Greg, Belcheff, Conoco Phillips, $117
Robert, Person, Brazos County Juvenile Justice Department, $117
Raymond, Marshall, Reliance Baptist Church, $105
Candy, Paterson, In Zone, $105
Barry, Biggar, Bryan/College Station Convention Center, $100
Kim, Hinton, Brazos County, $100
Jennifer, Scott, Courtyard by Marriott, $100
Melissa, Senkel, Talbots, $100
MARIE, TAYLOR, Woodmen of the World, $100
Bill, Woodson, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill, $100
Aaron, Clemmons, Gold’s Gym, $95
Natasha, Williams, College Station Ambulance, $95
Mary, Johnson, History Department, $80
Cathy, Plagens, City of College Station, $80
Mary, Crabb, First Convenience Bank, $75
Jo Lynn, Dunn, Mosaic, $75
Kolby, Horner, Mattress Sleep Center, $75
Melissa, Fisher, Brazos Family Center, $65
Steve, Marchant, New York Life Insurance, $65
Larry, Beavers, Walmart, $60
John, Rhodes, RAI Design Inc, $51
Joe, Aker, Papa Murphy’s, $50
Sergio, Carrera, Signs by Sergio, $50
Brenda, Heredia, Pizza Hut, $50
Donna, Lamarche, Royal Oaks, $50
Rosa L., Mata, Brazos Valley Urgent Care, $50
Debbie, Goswick, $45
Becca, Amos, Brazos Valley Toy Library, $40
Chelsea, Barton, Main Street Homes, $35
Lauri, Dean, Compass Bank, $30
Nick, Medina, Buffalo Wild Wings, $25
Nick, Seaton, Papa John’s Pizza, $25
Tex, Stokely, $25
Diane, Walters, $25
Rebecca, Cella, Sunglass Hut, $25
Lisa, Williams, Southwest Homes, $15
Elizabeth, Szymanski, College Station Family Medical Center, $10