The Holidays are a joyful time rife with holiday parties and spending time with family and friends. Traditions are made and observed. Voices are raised in song. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year.

But one of the best parts of all holiday celebrations is giving gifts to others. These gifts send many different messages. We say, “Thanks for being a great friend”; “You’re a wonderful sister”; “I couldn’t have made it this far without such fantastic parents”; or simply, “I love you”.  Regardless of people’s differences, we all give to those we care for.

At LifeWorks, the atmosphere is no different. We are festive and jolly, and want to thank all who help us give to youth who need a happy holiday. LifeWorks Project Holiday Help will reach 400 families this holiday season! Donors adopt families to whom they give gifts, host holiday parties where volunteers interact with clients, give supplies towards our backpack drive for street outreach, and donate gift cards for a gift card drive.

Our holiday donors give so much more than supplies to youth who need them—they also give compassion.  Your gifts say, “You are cared for.” And that is the greatest of gifts given during the holiday season.

We at LifeWorks want to wish all our donors a safe and happy holiday season!

For more info on how you can share in the holiday spirit,please email Maureen Engle.

Are you ready to celebrate Thanksgiving!?

At LifeWorks, we already started! In our merriment, we learned some fun facts about Thanksgiving that we wanted to share with our readers!

Did you know that Thanksgiving was not made an official holiday by Congress until 1941? Though the Pilgrims celebrated it in the 1620s, and Abraham Lincoln declared it a holiday in 1863, the holiday was not recognized by the federal government until 1941. Until then, Thanksgiving was considered a tradition.

Did you know the cranberry is one of three fruits entirely native to North America! The others are the blueberry and the concord grape.

 Did you know the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long?According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust.

Did you know that  Snoopy has appeared as a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade more times than any other character? The flying ace made his sixth appearance in 2006.

The first time the Detroit Lions played the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving was in1934? They have played them every year since, except for a brief period between 1939 and 1944.

The first Thanksgiving celebration was a symbol of cooperation and interaction between those who had and those who had not. Every year, we remember not only the gift of the meal, but the gift survival taught to the Pilgrims by the Native Americans. So, there is no more perfect holiday than this, to say thanks to those that make what we do possible.We could not achieve anything without our wonderful donors and volunteers. You are the backbone of what we do, and you make it possible for us to teach those less fortunate about surviving in this world. On this Thanksgiving, LifeWorks gives thanks for you.

For more fun facts about Thanksgiving and other holidays, visit the History Channel.

Join I Live Here I Give Here for lunch at 12 PM on November 16th  for a Community Spotlight forum on youth in crisis.

Thousands of Youth in Central Texas face enormous obstacles to becoming healthy, productive adults. Youth advocates agree more should be done to offer hope and opportunity, providing at risk youth the means to build strong relationships with caring adults and the tools to achieve a better life.

$10 is all that is necessary to come learn about youth in crisis and the mission and needs of area non-profits working actively to answer their cries for help.

LifeWorks transitions youth and families from crisis to safety and success by providing a comprehensive network of counseling, education and housing programs. Check here to see a full list of area non-profits and their wish lists.

Join us, have lunch and learn!

November 16, 2009

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Mexi-Arte Museum

(419 Congress Ave.)

$10 includes lunch.

Space is limited, so please RSVP at: rsvp@ilivehereigivehere.org

For more information contact I Live Here I Give Here.

If you’re looking for some fun this weekend, join LifeWorks and Captiv8 Promotions at Stompin Grounds Coffee and Cocktail Lounge at 8PM for the “Anything But Clothes” Fundraiser and Holiday Drive! This night of fashion will feature attendees constructing attire from recycled and repurposed materials including bubble wrap, newspaper, cardboard, and magazines!

If that doesn’t sound like enough fun, there will be a complimentary dessert bar offering three delicious flavors from the Yogurt Spot, and drink specials all night!

There will also be prize raffles for Ipods, gift cards, and a free bar tab. A silent auction will also be held, featuring an Ibanez Guitar autographed by Colbie Calliat!

The best part is, the event benefits a good cause! LifeWorks representatives will be at the event to give information about the LifeWorks mission and volunteer opportunities in the community.

How do you get into an event this awesome? It’s simple! A $5 minimum donation is being accepted at the door, but guests are also encouraged to donate in-kind gifts such as backpacks, clothing, and giftcards to H-E-B, Target, or WalMmart.

So join LifeWorks and Captiv8 Promotions on Friday, November 6 from 8PM to 11PM at Stomping Grounds Coffee and Cocktail Lounge for truly good fun! For More information, check out Do512 and Unreal360 or email development@lifeworksweb.org

LifeWorks has meet and greet passes! Each donation you make to LifeWorks today, Oct 22, will enter you into a drawing for a chance to win passes to meet Colbie Caillat.

Winners will be notified by phone and will be invited along with a guest to meet Colbie after tonight’s performance at Stubb’s. Drawing will take place after 5pm.

Enter now.
A special thanks to captiv8 productions, and Colbie Caillat and team.

On Friday September 25 2009, lives were changed. Some staff began as early as 6 AM to prepare for teams arriving to help with LifeWorks 5th Annual Home Improvement Challenge. Apartments may have been renovated, but at days end, the real improvement was in the lives of LifeWorks clients.

The Clients:

LifeWorks clients live in a supportive housing program offering subsidized housing to kids who need a “getting on your feet period.”  LifeWorks clients are former foster care children, former homeless youth and teen parents who may have never before received the help they need for a fresh start. Having worked hard to come up through the ranks of other LifeWorks programs, these clients are preparing to soon be self-sufficient.

The Challenge:

Through LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge (HIC), corporate and community teams partner with a volunteer decorator to design the space of a LifeWorks client. Groups must use environmentally friendly and recycled materials and work on a very small budget. They have exactly one day, from 8 AM to 4 PM to complete the transformation.

Morning:

At 8 AM, chilled to the bone from unseasonal 60 degree temps and full of Maudie’s breakfast tacos, Einstein Brothers bagels, and Starbucks coffee, 9 teams officially started to makeover the homes of deserving LifeWorks clients. The clients were enjoying the day off site at the Wyndham Garden Hotels  waiting for the big  reveals of their apartments later that afternoon.

Morning work for almost all teams mostly consisted of painting living room, bedroom, and bathroom walls, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, patio screens, etc. and basic furniture assembly. With many teams singing, dancing, and laughing, morning quickly passed into lunch time. Lunch was made possible by Which Which who donated enough boxed lunches to feed the LifeWorks staff, volunteers, and clients.

Afternoon:

The relaxation of lunch time quickly passed into an afternoon filled with the feeling of urgency. Volunteers began the task of setting up for the big afternoon celebration. They moved tables, chairs, set up a large buffet of food donated by H-E-B Central Market, hauled ice chests loaded with drinks, set up a makeshift stage, and more. Teams still had much to do. Many were assembling furniture, unloading groceries, unpacking microwaves and blenders, ironing and assembling curtains, making beds, and many other tiny design features that make the apartment renovations truly come to life.

Reveals went off without a hitch and started at 4PM with clients being ushered into their newly furnished apartments by their LifeWorks Advocates. Shock and tears of happiness were the norm for most of the clients when they finally got to homes they only dreamed they would someday have.

Awards:

Tables brightly decorated in bright blue and accented with IKEA centerpieces made of green watering cans greeted happy clients, teams, and their families for a celebration. Munching on an array of treats like fruit, chicken, and quesadillas, many volunteers relaxed for the first time that day and eagerly awaited the awards results.

LifeWorks awards are issued at celebration for the teams that were the most green, teams that had the best use of recycled resources, and finally the challenge champion team with the best overall design. Judging was handled by Matt Briggs of Four Hands, and Celicilia Camp and Lori Atkinson from IKEA.

Keeping it Green was awarded to Dell Legal and Vivid Design Group

Design on a Dime was awarded to New York Life Longterm Care and Patty Sifuentes

Challenge Champion was awarded to American Campus Communities and Sixth River Architects

All the apartments were fantastic so it was hard for the judges to choose winners. A parade of homes was conducted after the celebration so other volunteers and their family members could see all the hard work other teams had done for other clients. The clients were exhausted, but happy and eager to spend some time with their families in their homes. Many sat and chatted with the volunteers who had worked in their apartments. No matter how small the time spent, clients and volunteers formed a bond. Volunteers shared an intimate space with clients and truly made someone’s dream come true. When the clients do eventually move to new places and live on their own, they will not only take furniture, but will also be able to take the heart put into every facet of the renovations with them, and for many, that is the real improvement.

LifeWorks wants to thank all of our donors, volunteers, teams, and designers for all the hard work and effort they put into the 2009 LifeWorks 5th Annual Home Improvement Challenge.

We also want to thank KVUE, News 8 Austin, and My Fox Austin for coming down to check out what HIC is all about! Take a look at the articles and news casts that were broadcasted throughout the day.

Not only has Sixth River Architects accepted LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge, they have begun a project of their own. Sixth River has started a blog chronicling their adventures leading up to the Home Improvement Challenge. Check out their blog to see design ideas and glance at pictures of what has been donated.

You don’t have to be a member of an awesome architectural firm to help out with HIC! If you don’t have time to volunteer, you can still help by purchasing something from the LifeWorks Charity Market. We thank Sixth River Architects and apartment sponsor American Campus Communities for all their hard work, and look forward to seeing the final results of the Home Improvement Challenge on September 25th!

The Christie Cookie Company is donating $25,000 to charities! In celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Nashville based company is opting out of a big bash and instead choosing to celebrate by giving back.

Through October 15, you can help us by entering LifeWorks in their Charity Giveaway. The charity with the most nominations receives $10,000!

Christie’s Cookies was founded by Christie Hauk in 1983. Christie left his corporate job and set out to create the perfect cookie. 25 years and millions of cookies later, the Christie Cookie Company is known for its “elegant packages and unique corporate gifts.” Christies uses real butter, fresh nuts, and french chocolate to make its most popular flavors, chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and white chocolate macadamia nut! Every batch is hand mixed and made to order.

“We are fortunate to have achieved success by doing what we love for so many years. We want to extend heartfelt gratitude to those who devote themselves to improving the quality of life of others,” said Christies President, Fleming Wilt, in a statement released earlier this month.

Check out the website, indulge yourself, nominate LifeWorks, and treat us to a helping of sweet, sweet charity. Be sure to tell your friends!

For more information on the cookie company, or to set up a tour contact Sue O’Donnell by email or phone: 645-212-3847

Parent Needs:
– Adult-sized backpacks
– High School supplies (binders, paper, dividers, pens, pencils)
– Socks

Children Needs:
– Diaper Bags
– Umbrella Strollers
– Formula (Similac Advanced brand)
– Diapers (sizes 1-5)
– Onesies
– Nursey Kits

Texas has the highest teen birth rate in the country. Each year, more than 1400 Travis County teens give birth. Without support, 23% of these young mothers will give birth again within a year, and 33% will drop out of school. The goal of the LifeWorks TPS is to help young people complete their high school education, prevent subsequent pregnancies, and attain self-sufficiency. We hope you’ll join us at Malverde to support LifeWorks and TPS.

Free Sangria served from 6-7 pm  |  Light fare from La Condessa also available  |  For more information on the donation drive, please visit LEAP’s new website. 

Volunteer at the upcoming “Back to School Bash” August 12th.

Join us this Saturday, August 1st at Elevation Burger in the Arboretum
and cool off with a delicious milkshake. Fifty cents from every
hand-crafted milkshake sold from 2-4 p.m. will be donated to LifeWorks.

The family fun day is being hosted by Elevation Burger along with
Blanton Art Museum and Fergus’s Funhouse. The event is free to the
public and will feature arts and crafts projects with the Blanton Art
Museum, and story time with the cast of the new television children’s
show “Fergus’s Funhouse.”

Elevation Burger recently opened at 9828 Great Hills Trail in Austin.
With the slogan “Ingredients Matter,” the restaurant uses free-range and
grass-fed beef, sustainable suppliers and practices, and produce
delivered and prepped fresh daily.  The store has an aggressive
recycling program – even converting the olive oil from the French fries
fryers into bio-diesel.

For more information, call Danny Bone (512) 608-4054 or visit
www.ElevationBurger.com.