The Power of Kindness Gala In Austin Unites Festive Crowd

Andra Liemandt’s The Kindness Campaign Hosts Annual Art of Kindness Events

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography by Ben Porter Photography

THE SCENE: SKYBOX on 6th in Austin was the recent setting for a night of great fun and fundraising. A sold-out crowd of over 300 turned out for The Kindness Campaign’s annual Art of Kindness gala. Always, one of the most-anticipated Spring galas, the event, held on a picture-perfect Austin Spring evening featured a mix of sociables, philanthropists, community activists and families that benefit from the organization’s services. The gala also kicked off a weekend of fun including a festival that included 1,000 students from Title I schools, who had the opportunity to experience an array of artistic and positive emotional-health activations.

THE VIBE: The Austin chic crowd was greeted on the ground floor of SKYBOX on 6^th with champagne and the opportunity to pose for photos in front of a lush step and repeat. Guests then headed up to the top floor open-aired space where against the backdrop of stunning Austin views were treated to a fun cocktail hour where guests had the opportunity to mingle with others while sipping on their favorite spirits along with the opportunity to write and create positive images on a Kindness mural that was created specifically for the event.

Guests then took their seats, which took the innovative approach of providing uplifting words such as respect, love, and empathy as opposed to the customary table numbers for the evenings program. As guests dined al fresco on a delectable multi-course meal provided by Contigo Catering, they were treated to words from The Kindness Campaign Founder Andra Liemandt and touching tribute videos on how the organization has positively impacted so many lives.

Patrons were then introduced to Roshawn Brown III, who was given the opportunity to record a song through the organizations KindMusic™ program and performed the song he created live for the audience which brought the crowd to their feet. Next came a spirited live auction helmed by Heath Hale of Cowboy Auctioneer, which featured a host of amazing experiences including an Austin Arts All Access experience, a curated 7 day trip to one of three destinations in Africa and a Texas sports package which included the opportunity to attend games for multiple Texas sports franchises including the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Astros and the Texas Longhorns. The fun was capped off with an after party where guests danced well into the night to the tunes of the band Love & Happiness.

THE NON-PROFIT: The event, co-chaired by Lisa Juaregui and Susan Thomson, raised over $700,000 for The Kindness Campaign. Founded in 2015, by Austin philanthropist Andra Liemandt, the organization provides curriculum and programs to create an engaging space for both children and adults to realize the emotional impact of health in our society. All curriculum is created by utilizing the SEEC method that highlights four pillars for emotional health including self-image, emotional awareness, empathy, and community.