Daily Archives: 10/28/2010

(Community Matters) Yesterday was a bit of a challenge because I would normally have made not unsubstantial charity gifts to some of our favorite nonprofits – take immediately for example Foundation Communities and Austin Habitat for Humanity.  I hope our friends will understand our redirecting a lot our charitable dollars in 2011 & 2012 to political contributions and the costs of my traveling and working on behalf of the President’s reelection.  I’m citing FC and AHFH first because the connection is so direct – the goals & objectives of these two organizations will be helped immeasurably more if the investment of not only our money but also our time helps reelect Pres Obama and an administration which believes in the same principles as these two organizations.

We believe this is true for most philanthropists – even Bill & Milinda Gates + Warren Buffett + Michael & Susan Dell (all combined) don’t have the philanthropic budgets to equal the impact of a sound, even fiscally prudent, yet deliberate and impactful social investments by the US government.  What’s happening at the Dept of Education, HUD and HHS today far exceeds what US philanthropists would be able to otherwise accomplish.

(Community Matters) Speedy day between events and good causes.  Taking them backwards – Habitat for Humanity blew the doors on their second annual gala, their 25th Anniversary Gala.  Sure helps to have mucho grande Brian Sharples and Jeff Serra as co-chairs. Their friends and colleagues snapping up the pricey sponsor tables at $10k, $5k, $2.5k and $1.5 a piece.  HomeAway even way beyond that as the event sponsor and an annual major supporter of Habitat.  Addt’l sponsors last night included: Wilson Sonsini, Austin Ventures, Maxwell, Locke & Ritter, Silicon Labs, Silicon Valley Bank & the Entrepreneurs Foundation.  Everyone was at the event, Kim Hughes and I arrived just as everyone being seated so I missed most socializing.  Can’t wait to hear the final take – bet it nearly doubles their original budget.

ADL at the Adler/Land home – quick drive by and a few chats at Steve & Diane’s for an ADL event honoring the new GLI class.  Guests included the class, Austin ADL steering committee members and major financial supporters.  Regret wasn’t able to stay, mingle as much as I’d like or hear the guest speaker.

PeopleFund ribbon cutting for our new building.  While we celebrated at the new site for East Night, the staff hadn’t moved in.  Now that they’re in (not especially unpacked but in), we celebrated with a ribbon cutting.  Long ribbon cutting line including Lynn & Tom Meredith, Margo Weisz, EDA’s Pedro Garza, Congr Lloyd Doggett, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez, CM Randi Shade, CM Sheryl Cole, CM Chris Riley, Adrienne Neely, PF Pres/CEO Gary Lindner & moi.  Spent most of the time catching up with Lynn – feels like forever since we’ve had much time to chat.

Austin Community Foundation – goodbye for Ken Gladish attended by staff, board and former board members.  Ken was toasted, roasted and said a few words.  Nice event hosted by Ballet Austin.  We’ll miss his leadership yet at Seton Fund he’ll do much good.

Foundation Communities – hosted at Redeemer Baptist Church, just across the railroad tracks from their under-construction M-Station, yesterday’s annual fundraising luncheon was very well attended, and I bet they added many new regular contributors at the home builder level.  Walter Moreau’s affordable housing nonprofit is the most important player in that space in Central Texas. Ran into Chris Long on the way in – congrats on being #2 in Austin home sales so far this year, following only Laura Gottesman.

and my husband is home from Traverse City – gail force winds Tuesday night which knocked out electricity in most of downtown, including our favorite hotel overlooking Lake Michigan. Michael Willard, my apologies for sneaking out a bit early, was eager to reconnect with Steven.