It seems like every other day as I scroll through my social media feeds, I see a news story about Austin being among the best places to live. In fact, just this month, U.S. News & World Report named Austin the second-best place to live in the United States.
The reasons for this recent ranking include the local job market, our education system and, surprisingly, commute times. However, I believe there’s much more to it.
In my opinion, the best things about Austin are the people who live here and their charitable spirits, which is why I am particularly “amped” about this year’s Amplify Austin Day.
On March 8, 2016, I Live Here, I Give Here (ILHIGH) will launch its fourth annual Amplify Austin Day, a fundraising initiative designed to increase philanthropy in Central Texas by encouraging Central Texans to donate as much as possible to their favorite charity(s) online during a 24-hour period. This year, ILHIGH is aiming to raise $9 million (up from its $7.7 million total in 2015), and participants will have the opportunity to choose from more than 600 charities.
ECPR has had the privilege of working with ILHIGH since its inception, and over the past three years, Amplify Austin has raised more than $16 million for local charities.
This year, I challenge you to challenge yourselves! Start small or give big—whatever works for you. I should warn you, though—as you scroll through the list of participating nonprofits, it may be difficult to choose just one. I suggest you don’t! Allow each member of your family to pick a charity to support. It’s a great way to get everyone involved and teach children about the importance of helping others.
Amplify Austin starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, and ends at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9. You can watch the countdown here.
How will you #AmplifyATX?
-Erin Ochoa
Vice President, Account Management
