Big Hair Country Fair 2013 Wrap-Up
Wow! This year’s Big Hair Country fair was our biggest yet. And we couldn’t have done it without you!
Janet Allen and Vicky Gregg enjoyed the Cake Walk carnival game. See more photos from Big Hair Country Fair the Creative Action Facebook page.
Thanks to you we raised $150,000 to help further arts and character education to children and youth across Central Texas — that’s more than double the amount we raised last year!
“We couldn’t be happier,” says Karen LaShelle, executive and creative director of Creative Action. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who helped make the evening a success.”
Did you get your photo taken at our Photo Booth? See them all on the Creative Action Flickr page!
Co-chairs Elisabeth Tyneberg and Fredericka Middleton rallied a stellar committee to create one of the funnest, most magical nights in our history. More than 350 attendees made the pilgrimage to the Salt Lick Pavilion to enjoy delicious barbeque, Deep Eddy Vodka and the good company of friends… and an out-of-control mechanical bull!
David Clifton was one of many guests who braved the mechanical bull. See more fun photos on the Creative Action Facebook page. Like us!
Every element of the fundraiser was a success. Guests competed for live and silent auction packages including a sailboat trip through the British Virgin Islands and a five-night stay in an artists cottage in Marfa. Tickets for the carnival games were also a hot item. And many friends and supporters pitched in during “raise the paddles.”
Elisabeth Tynberg celebrates a winning bid. Thanks to all our bidders!
The highlight of this year’s Big Hair Country Fair was the earnest and moving performance by Creative Action’s Changing Lives youth ensemble. Changing Lives, a collaborative project with Safeplace, recruits youth from across all walks of life and invites them to share, create and perform their own work throughout the school year. In 2012, Changing Lives was a finalist for the 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, selected by the President’s Committee on the Arts.
The Changing Lives youth ensemble gave a powerful performance! Just one of the many programs we offer — all to help more Austin youth grow socially and emotionally.
“Changing Lives is always a show-stopper,” says LaShelle. “It’s amazing to hear these young people describe in their own words the pressure they’re feeling from their peers and the media. And to offer solutions.”
Changing Lives is just one of many Creative Action projects that inspire children and youth to channel their creativity for their own personal growth. Creative Action hires teaching artists to take our programs into schools and into the community. In 2012 more than 16,000 Austin kids participated in a Creative Action program.
Guests take in the Changing Lives performance. Every day Creative Action takes programming like this to more than 16,000 Central Texas kids. See more photos like this on the Creative Action Instagram page.
Every guest of Big Hair Country Fair is invited to get involved! Creative Action works with hundreds of volunteers; public, private and parochial schools, community events and donors to take our programming to more Austin kids. Ready to learn more? Send us a note – we’d be happy to help!
(Love what we do? Make sure to sign up your kids for our popular Summer Camps!)
Sponsors
Real Ale Brewing Company
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
QuickDraw Photo Booth
Dru Brown of Wilson Goldrick Realtors
Coco Coquette
Gary Knight of Merrill Lynch
Deep Eddy Vodka
Media Sponsors
Austin American-Statesman
Austin Chronicle
GivingCity Austin
Tribeza
Event Co-Chairs
Fredericka Middleton
Elisabeth Tynberg
Event Committee
Laura Buehler
Chris Cavner
Carly Christopher
Susan Kirr
Marnie Near
Monica Gill
Meredith Walker
Virginia McRee
Sallie Wright Milam
Host Committee
Janet and Wilson Allen
Clary and Mark Auler
Sabrina and Jay Brown
Dru Brown
Suzanne and Colby Denison
Bruce Ezell
Melissa and Monte Goertz
Mary and Chico Korth
Clayton and Andrew Maebius
Carrie and Jeff McDowell
Fredericka and David Middleton
Wendy and Bruce Nakfoor
Marnie and Dave Near
Sharon and Tim Peddecord
Elizabeth and Rob Rogers
Gretchen and Daniel Scardino
Rich and Anne Smalling
Danielle and Kevin Sweeney
Elisabeth and Alex Tynberg
