CharityBash Masquerade Ball

Austin-based non-profit Citizen Generation, really knows how to throw a party. Their legendary social events have been covered by Austin360’s A-list and Out & About, Tribeza, and other media outlets. Through their CharityBash events, 80-100% of the proceeds benefit a local-nonprofit.

This year’s CharityBash theme is Winter Wonderland and the proceeds from this event benefit the Food Bank. Early bird pricing is over, but tickets are still available for $80 each or $150 per couple which includes open bar, food and entertainment at the Mansion.

So, bring your fancy mask, your favorite black tie attire and your wallet to bid on some great auction items. It will be a night to remember. Purchase tickets online.

2nd annual CharityBash benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
Saturday, February 18 at 8 p.m. – midnight
The Mansion
2312 San Gabriel
Austin, TX

VIP Bottle service packages available at info@CitizenGeneration.org

Sponsored by: Calendar Club

by Dale Morris, Member at the Office of Sustainability at Applied Materials

Celebrating our third year, the Applied Materials‘ solar car race is showing no signs of slowing down.  Affectionately called the Solar Car Smackdown, the race is organized by the employee resource group, the Austin GreenTeam, to raise funds for the Capital Area Food Bank. The event draws upon both the technically-trained and the curious-tinkerers, who do their best to design the right mix of wheels, gears, and chassis in combination with the standard-issue motor and solar panel. And it’s all to produce first-place speed.  While the event is geared toward raising money, for many teams the bragging rights are serious business.  Teams can be found huddled around whiteboards, scheming up their secret ideas that will hopefully place them ahead of the other teams.  With the solar car race, weather is a particular challenge, since it can significantly alter the car’s performance. How do you design for less-than-perfect sun or wind conditions?  If it is especially windy, additional weight can provide benefits.  During the Smackdown, teams must take those variables into consideration and be prepared to make race-day or even side-line adjustments to be most competitive.

To add to the fun of the race (and raise more money), ‘smack talk’ is encouraged.  The day before race-day, the cars are displayed in the cafeteria and employees are encouraged to place money toward their favorite design.  During the pre-race exhibition, team captains are able to size up the competition, and the gawking turns into an engineering boastfest about modifications made to improve their cars.  Certainly some new ideas are exchanged and last-minute adjustments are made.  More importantly, it raises awareness about the race and it raises cash, as employees vote for their favorite car with dollar bills.  The team that raises the most money collects not only their own money, but also half of the money from each of the other cars.   As the voting winds down, fundrasing tactics increase. Phone calls to other employees are made to encourage support.  Our final voter this year was our site engineering director who dropped in money for the car that he felt was technically superior. He also donated a few bucks to last year’s winner for a “job well done.”

The 120-ft race course is a straight, five-lane course divided by weighted fishing line.  The cars are attached to the fishing line to avoid runaway chaos.  This year teams can “buy” unlimited advantage — a $1 donation can get you a foot closer to the finish line.  Yes, you can pay to cheat, but it’s all for a good cause to provide meals for Central Texas families. Some teams have been collecting money for weeks in preparation for a big advantage in the race. So, technically the best design doesn’t always win. But, we do host a special, final race — the grudge match. It is based purely on technical merit: no advantages – just the fastest car wins.  And they win big. Bragging rights for an entire year. And the Food Bank wins big as well. All money is donated to the Food Bank and matched dollar-per-dollar by the Applied Materials Foundation as part of the company’s annual food drive.

As the sun sets on another successful solar car race, teams are already scheming, designing and planning on how they can build the fastest car for next year.

If you’re looking for a great place to take family for the holidays, join CAFB at the Wildflower Center Luminations event this season. More than 3,000 luminarias and 5,000 twinkle lights will transform their gardens into an incredible holiday scene while bands and performances take place around the courtyard. Children can even make their own decorations to take home or enjoy a puppet show, on Saturday at 7:45 p.m.

The event is Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is free with a donation of two canned food items.

For more information on the event, click here.

In the spirit to help a little more? On December 9, we need volunteers to help build a giant Christmas tree out of canned goods. Not feeling crafty? We can also use your help on December 11 and 12 to help set up activity tables, assist visitors with crafts, and clean up after the event.

Sick of Thanksgiving leftovers? Like Bar-B-Q? Want to be a part of ending hunger? You can help CAFB by eating at any participating Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q. For every pound of meat sold from November 30 through December 2, Rudy’s Bar-B-Q will donate $1 to local food banks.

Click here to find the closest Rudy’s near you. Bring friends, relatives or just a big appetite to help hungry families eat this holiday season.

Want to do a little more? Add Rudy’s Bar-B-Q to your social networks anytime between November 30 and December 2 and they’ll donate 50 cents for every new follower on Twitter and “Like” on Facebook.

The Capital Area Food Bank in collaboration with the Texas Association of Builders, Tilson and Temple Inland is committed to serving one lucky North Central Texas family and the community where they live. A family worthy of a hero’s welcome will have their lives changed forever when the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition bus rolls into town. With your help, we’re turning hungry holidays into happy holidays and inspiring our community to help our hometown heroes.

Join us at the Heart of Texas Build Pep Rally, Tuesday, November 30 at the Corbin J. Robertson Center – Southwestern University, Georgetown from 6 – 8 p.m. This event is FREE to the public with a suggested donation of two healthy, non-perishable food items.

Click here to RSVP.

Stay tuned for more exciting news about our work with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

STG Design, Spaw Maxwell – “I think I CAN!”
Team: Brittney Couch – Captain, Carrie Clemons, Ashley Elgie, Ashley Hargrove, Denisse Valle
Cans Used: 2,513

Last week we posted a CANstruction “Viewer’s Choice” contest for the annual CANstruction event. CANstruction brings together teams of design and construction professionals and students to build fantastic sculptures from thousands of cans of food.

This year, CANstruction collected 25,906 pounds of food—more than 6,000 pounds from last year’s event! Thank you again to all of the teams, sponsors, and volunteers for your creativity, great design, and commitment to ending hunger. A special thank you to our sponsors: Austin Monthly Home, Chick-Fil-A, MOVECORP, Barton Creek Square Mall, Society for Marketing Professional Services, Ridgways and Panera Bread. Your efforts helped provide more than 19,000 meals to hungry Central Texans.

Click here for pictures from the event.

Ready, Set, Bag! is a documentary that celebrates the unsung hero of the grocery store world – the grocery store bagger – and showcases the talents of the best baggers in the country as they compete for the title of “Best Bagger in America.” Watch the trailer.

[blip.tv http://blip.tv/play/AYHMsRAC]

Through the power of social media, and Groupon, the filmmakers are raising money for food banks across the nation including CAFB!

Ready, Set Bag! is playing on Monday, Nov. 22 at Alamo Lake Creek (13729 Research Blvd., 78750) and Tuesday, Nov. 23 at Alamo Ritz (320 E 6th Street, 78701). Showtimes are 7 p.m.

Here’s how you can make an impact on hunger:

• $1 of each regular-priced ticket at the theater will go to CAFB
• Save $1 on your ticket price by bringing your donation of three non-perishable food items to the theater
• Participate in their Virtual Food Drive.
• Shop online and 10 percent of the proceeds benefit Feeding America.
• Revenue from the videos on their bliptv channel (I highly recommend the “How to Be a Good Bagger” clip) goes to Feeding America.