Yesterday, I posted about Rio Grande’s Philanthropy Week, during which they’re donating 10% of bar sales during happy hour to a different nonprofit each day. You can see the details here.

Lots of local businesses contribute a portion of their sales to a local nonprofit from time to time. Why? Is there anything in it for them besides the potential for profit?

The fact is, it takes lots of planning and coordination with a local nonprofit – and probably an accountant – to make the whole thing work. So it can’t all just be about attracting customers. Plus, if you do use it to attract customers, the fact is you’re only going to attract a certain kind of customer – the kind that has a conscience. Most other restaurants don’t care if their customers have consciences or not; they kinda just want your business.

So it is special when a restaurant hosts a “philanthropy week,” like Rio Grande is doing this week. The thing is, restaurant owners are people, too. Duh. When they feel compelled to give back, they usually do so through their business, creating a win-win for the community: You get a nice drink, they get a little money, and a local charity gets a little money. Why not?

Here’s a real live restaurant owner – a person! – talking about why his restaurant, Rio Grande, is giving back.

It seems like there are opportunities to support local charities in just about everything you do. Here’s another example.

Anyone like tequila? From May 4-8, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant on San Jacinto is donating a percentage of the day’s bar profits to five selected charities (one each night).

Monday, May 4: A Legacy of Giving, 5-7:30pm
Tuesday, May 5: Austin Sunshine Camps, 5-7:30pm
Wednesday, May 6: Lance Armstrong Foundation, 5-7:30pm
Thursday, May 7: The Austin Theatre Alliance, 5-7:30pm
Friday, May 8: Red Cross of Central Texas, 5-7:30pm

Wow. Great cross-section of local charities there. So let me get this straight:

Q. Is this the first time Rio Grande’s done someting like this?
A. Yes, this is the first annual Rio Grande Philanthropy Week.

Q. It’s a nice mix – kids, health, basic needs… how were the charities selected?
A. Rio Grande wanted support a mix of organizations that do so much for the Austin community.

Q. How much does Rio Grande hope to raise in total for all charities this week?
A. The amount they raise will really depend on how many people come out each night to support the charities. Groups like the Austin Theatre Alliance are pushing out to their members of more than 20,000. So it goes without saying, the more visibility we raise for this event, the more Rio Grande will be able to contribute.

You heard ‘em, folks. It’s reason enough for me to make Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant Mother’s Day Date Night Headquarters. And I GUESS I’ll have to have A DRINK or two. It’s for a good cause, right?

Please feel free to send this link to a friend of colleague. Also, thanks for adding us to your media list – we’d love to hear more about your organization and cause.

To download your copy, just click on the cover or on the link below. Please let us know what you think. Feel free to send me any feedback or post a comment below.

(File size 5MB)

CLICK HERE TO OPEN

Have you heard of 2-1-1? It’s like 4-1-1 except that it offers free, statewide, 24-hour access to health and human services and disaster information through its multilingual helpline.

As you can imagine, it’s a great resource for people all over southeast Texas who are being displaced by the hurricanes. They call to find out where to find shelter or food, how to get help moving special needs people, even how to get help moving pets.

Thanks to Gustav, the 2-1-1 line had a 300% increase in volume of calls over one weekend. And hurricane season is not over yet. You’re heard of Ike, right?

There are a couple of ways you can help:

The first is to make a donation to 2-1-1 so they can get the folks and other resouces they need to serve the people displaced by Hurricane Ike.

The second is to VOLUNTEER YOURSELF in Austin this weekend. There will be training, and all you need to get the job is the ability to care about people and help them find their way. If you’re bilingual, you’re especially needed. Just register with United Way Capital Area to get started.

OR if you are interested in becoming a Disaster Response Volunteer for 2-1-1 Texas, call 2-1-1 or email Kimberly Blackburn.

Thanks for your help!

Central Texas Red Cross just sent out an email asking for volunteer help in their shelters. This is a great opportunity to go over there and spend some helping out. 

We need shelter workers. 

Are you available????? 

Volunteers are needed for the 6AM – 6PM shift and for the 6PM -6AM. Volunteers are needed Wednesday, September 3 – Sunday, September 7 (Must be at least 18 years old).

To volunteer, please call 512-929-1200 or 512-928- 4271. Or email rturner@centex.redcross.org. 

Thank you in advance for serving your community! 

Kim Landry, Director of Volunteer Services, American Red Cross of Central Texas

I’m reading about how the floods in the Midwest may effect meat prices - corn and soybeans grown there are grown to feed cattle. For some of you, the immediate thought is how that will affect people and nonprofits already on the edge of being able to afford meat at all. It’s the gas crisis on the table.

Maybe it’s just me, but since September 11, there seems to be one disaster after another, right up to the floods in the Midwest. It’s estimated that 35,000 people have been displaced and everyone in the area is dealing with toxic water teeming with raw sewage, farming chemicals, and whatever was in the toilets, basements, refrigerators and buildings across thousands of acres of the Midwest. Most of us can’t imagine what it’s like to be flooded out of our communities and homes, but we want to find an easy way to help.

(NOTE: I don’t think there’s any shame in looking for an easy way to help. In gift-giving it’s the thought that counts, but when you’re giving to people in need, just thinking about it isn’t enough. It’s the job of the nonprofits to make it easy for the rest of us to make a difference in someone’s life.)

Here are some organizations that are helping Midwest flood vicitms – and who accept donations online (how easy is that?):

American Red Cross: You can choose to give specifically to the disaster relief fund.

Adventist Community Services: This is the humanitarian-aid arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Click to donate and choose whether you want to give open-ended cash or cash for a specific need like clothes or water.

The Salvation Army: The organization is also helping in China and Myanmar now. Easy online form.

AmeriCares: An organization that helps worldwide. Has shipped more than 200,000 bottles of water to the Midwest so far. You can direct your donation so U.S. disaster relief specifically.

Consider, also, giving directly to the local chapters of some of these organizations. Look for them in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

This past week’s storms knocked the power out for thousands of Austin Energy customers and probably damaged just as many roofs, but while the rest of us are calling our insurance agents and wondering how we’re going to pay that deductible, the Red Cross of Central Texas is, too.

The emergency-aid agency was busy all last week helping Central Texans navigate the storm, only to find out its own building on Manor Road had been damaged, too. Here’s a note from their Web page:

“We always expect to be the ones giving assistance to others,” said Derrick Chubbs, executive director. “But now we find that not only do we need help assisting our community, we need help to repair our own building so we can stay focused on our mission.”  The Central Texas chapter of the American Red Cross serves nine counties. Consider making a donation today.