Last Wednesday night, under the canopy at Q2 Stadium, Goodwill Central Texas welcomed 350 guests to celebrate its annual event, A Good Night for Goodwill. Almost $315,000 was raised to benefit programs that transform lives through work.
Indeed CEO Chris Hyams and his wife Lize Burr were honored with the inaugural Henna Award for Philanthropy. The award was named for Marci and Louis Henna, for which Goodwill’s Education Center is also named.
A surprise video message from actor Cristo Fernández, who plays the character Dani Rojas on the hit television show Ted Lasso, further highlighted the night’s theme of ‘Believe.’ Guests enjoyed dinner, drinks, and stadium tours, adding to the excitement of Austin FC in the playoffs.
Videos during the event featured the success stories of the 2022 Hall of Honor recipients.
Michelle Bailey, Outstanding Achiever
Thomas Lawless, Outstanding Team Member
Robbie Lutz, Client of the Year
“We’re incredibly grateful to the community and our donors and sponsors who celebrated with us. Their generosity makes our mission possible,” said CEO Rob Neville.
The ‘paddles up’ portion of the evening raised funds for the new UFCU Bridge Fund which provides emergency funds for basic needs to keep the people Goodwill serves in school, training programs and jobs. Presenting Sponsor University Federal Credit Union (UFCU), along with HEB, Frost, Higginbotham, Texas Capital Bank, CSW Development, Texas Mutual, among other sponsors supported the event.
Over 10,000 Central Texans who face employment obstacles are served annually through Goodwill’s mission-based services, including job placement assistance for underserved populations, career training through the Goodwill Career and Technical Academy (GCTA), and adult high school education at The Excel Center, the only adult high school in the state.
As one of the region’s largest employers and a leader in inclusive hiring practices, Goodwill Central Texas currently diverts almost 80% of all donations from the landfill, with a goal of increasing to 90%. In addition, eighty-nine cents of every dollar spent at one of Goodwill’s 38 stores and outlets in the Greater Austin area helps fund the organization’s free services and community programs.
If you would like to contribute to the success of these vital community service programs, please make a donation today!
