Art of Kindness Kicks Off Two-Day Festival With Party At The Pershing

By Rob Giardinelli         Photography by Ben Porter

THE SETTING: The Pershing, a private club in Austin, was the recent setting for an evening that kicked off two days of fundraising for a very worthy cause. Over 150 of the city’s most notable sociables, VIPs, and philanthropists arrived at the Art of Kindness Kickoff party. They were treated to a fabulous evening those fortunate enough to attend will not soon forget.

THE STYLE: The fun mix of cocktail and Austin-chic attire exuded a kind and welcoming environment that could be felt from the moment the guests walked up to the Pershing to pose for photos in front of the large-scale Art of Kindness light installation at the venue entrance. Once inside, all sipped on spirits during a fun and lively cocktail hour, became acquainted with old friends and made new ones.

Guests then gathered in front of the venue’s stage for the evening’s program. Highlights of the program included words from the organization’s leaders and touching video tributes. A live auction followed where guests bid on a series of stellar items, including a trip to Costa Rica, an ATXclusive Package, and a Flight to Space courtesy of World View. The festivities for the evening were capped off with dancing courtesy of tunes by DJ Cassandra. The evening set the tone for the second day, held at Easy Tiger, where the organization distributed 1,500 vouchers to children from Title 1 schools for a community-focused, festival-style event. 

THE PURPOSE: The two-day event, co-chaired by Lisa Jauregui and Loreal Sarkisian, raised over $620,000 for The Kindness Campaign. Funds from the event will create and provide accessible mental health programs for children and adults in homes and classrooms. The organization’s core message, I AM ENOUGH, is driven by four core pillars: self-image, emotional awareness, empathy, and community.