Page 20 - Waterways_Winter_2018_Neat

SOCIAL SCENE

Robert Frachtman, Evie and Cash Nickerson Judy Maggio and Emmitt Smith chat onstage

“I’m a firm believer that God touched each and every one of us with

a measure of talent, and we have to find out what that talent is and

we have to maximize every moment of our lives,” said Smith.

He added the importance of sharing one’s talent to inspire and enable

others to do the same. “We have to inspire others through our lives.”

the need to come together to strengthen a communi- And dig deep they did. After the live auction and Fund
ty. Lynn used the analogy of staggered breathing, the choir the Mission onsite donation drive led by the enthusiastic
technique in which each singer takes a breath at staggered cowboys of Heath Hale Auctioneers, Caritas of Austin had
times while the others continue to hold the long note so raised nearly $200,000, double the total it aimed to raise.
that the music is uninterrupted. “It is the strength of the Combined with other monies raised in advance of the event,
whole that allows the note to be carried forth,” she said. For the organization raised nearly $500,000.
the couple Austin is “a great choir joining together to hold The evening concluded with Dallas Cowboys running
notes for each other to make this the most impossibly good back Emmitt Smith on stage with long-time local news
place for a person to live and to thrive and to give back.” anchor Judy Maggio to answer questions about his life, his
Another featured speaker was Sandy Wolff, one of the career and his own philanthropic work. He touched on how
organization’s clients who exemplifies its work. Thanks to football showed him a world of opportunities outside his
Caritas, as she explained, at age 58 “for first time ever in childhood in the projects of Pensacola, FL, and his drive in
my life, I have a home of my own, a place to feel safe and later years to offer “not a handout but a hand up.”
secure, especially from the demons of my past.” She has “I’m a firm believer that God touched each and every one
a job she loves is taking college courses. “In all actuality of us with a measure of talent, and we have to find out what
the list of successes from homelessness to becoming a that talent is and we have to maximize every moment of our
productive member of society grows each and every day lives,” said Smith. He added the importance of sharing one’s PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW STERLING AND SANDY CARSON
for me.” talent to inspire and enable others to do the same. “We have
Wolff closed by encouraging attendees to “dig deep” to inspire others through our lives.”
to help Caritas to continue to turn homelessness “from His words of hope and the words of hope offered by the
scary nights on the streets, despair and unforgivable acts other speakers that night will continue to drive Caritas of
to success stories for families and individuals who need to Austin’s mission to end homelessness in the Austin commu-
live a better life and succeed off the streets.” nity, not simply manage it.

18 WATERWAYS | Winter 2018