this is life in austin & aspen

Austin, being the philanthropic, giving city we are, has already seen many benefits and fundraisers in the short week since an earthquake rocked Haiti to the core. Here are a couple of places I’ve donated and a few benefit events coming up this week.

Thirst No More’s PAKs

Austin company Thirst No More has been active in major disaster areas and found that one of the most important things we can do for people on the ground is give them help with basics. Their PAKs (Primary Assistance Kits) are usually involved in Thirst No More’s initial responses to major disasters like the Haiti earthquake. For families who have literally lost everything, a PAK gives them some essential items to help them begin their recovery. A typical PAK will include a cooking pot, utensils, rice, beans, a flashlight, pain medicine, a towel, soap, toys, and a container that can be used to carry water.

You can purchase and deliver a PAK for a family in Haiti for $50. http://www.thirstnomore.org/

Doctors Without Borders via CrossFit Central

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. Today, MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need, like the victims of the Haitian earthquake.

CrossFit Central, where I train, is collecting donations here. Doctors Without Borders is backed by big-name celebs like Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Gisele Bundchen, who have donated over a million dollars each to the organization, but you can help in whatever you can while taking comfort in knowing that 87% of donations go to directly funding programs (in the nonprofit world, that’s a pretty high percentage).

If parties are more your style, check out Wednesday night’s CharityBash at Molotov:

… or Sunday, Jan 24′s crazy fundraiser put on by Direct Events at Austin Music Hall.

The lineup includes almost every big-name band from or somehow related to Austin that there is, including Asleep at the Wheel, Band of Heathens, Bruce Robison, Charlie Sexton, The Flatlanders, The Gourds, Guy Forsyth, Jack Ingram, Joe Ely, Kelly Willis, Kinky Friedman, Patricia Vaughn, Paula Nelson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Reckless Kelly, Robert Earl Keen and Shawn Colvin.