Tag: afba

 It is once again time for Cupcakes and Cocktails, the Austin Food Bloggers Alliance largest fund-raising project of the year. I have had the pleasure of working on all three of our big fundraisers. The first year was a pie social at the Alamo Drafthouse with a screening of the movie Waitress which went to benefit SafePlace Austin. Last year was the first Cupcakes and Cocktails at the AT&T Executive Center to benefit BakeAWish Austin.

This year on July 19, 2013 we have several fantastic bakeries whipping up cocktail themed cupcakes to serve at the event, tasty cocktails from Treaty Oak Distilling and T1 Tequila plus beer from Hops and Grain, and also passed appetizers furnished by our hosts at the Le Cordon Bleu Austin. Further sponsorship comes from Central Market and Google Local Austin. There will also be a silent auction featuring many local businesses like the Tipsy Texan’s new book , Casa Brasil’s fabulous Up and Down tour with South Austin Brewery, Tiff’s Treats, East Side Cafe, Tecolote Farms, and many more.

All of this hard work and generosity is going to benefit a charity that is very near and dear to my heart, the Arc of the Capital Area , a non-profit organization that provides services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They provide all kinds of services that you would not necessarily think of when it comes to dealing with clients with special needs like gang prevention counseling to those that are more susceptible to peer pressure or helping under-resourced families with the huge expense of obtaining guardianship of a client as they reach the age of 18.

The Arc was a huge part of my childhood with the assistance they gave my family with my older brother Charles. Being the sibling of someone with disabilities can be both a blessing and a curse. There is no doubt which child gets the most attention because they need it the most. That can be hard to understand as a child. But the rewards of having someone in your life that only knows how to love unconditionally teaches you so much more. The emotional and practical support the Arc offered my parents lightened the burden of the constant demands of a child with special needs.

Charles passed away last year on Thanksgiving day surrounded by family. He was the light of our lives. Despite recommendations of doctors at the time he was born, my parents were committed to raising him at home and not institutionalizing him. Because of the excellent care he received from my parents as well as the caregivers from programs like the Arc Charles lived to be 48 years old, decades past his life expectancy. It is in his name I ask my friends in the foodie community to come together on July 19 to raise funds to help other families.

Hope to see you there!

Eventbrite link