The Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf (GAFD) hosted its festive Holiday Gala at the Austin Country Club, bringing together over 140 attendees in a celebration of community achievements and aspirations. The event, themed "Sunday Afternoon on the Green," showcased the vibrant spirit and accomplishments of the Austin Deaf Community. Hostess Peggy Ann St. John started the afternoon with a bang!
The guests at the gala were treated to an engaging display of GAFD's history through eight illustrative posters. These were showcased in the Riverside Room, where attendees could enjoy the exhibits with the iconic Pennybacker Bridge forming a picturesque backdrop.
The afternoon was graced by the presence of Rebecca Giuntoli, the inspiring Miss Austin, who is also a proud member of the deaf community. Her participation added a special charm to the gala, highlighting the diverse talents within our community.
Austin Country Club member and respected dentist Dr. Jerry P. Katz shared insights from his CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) experience, growing up with his deaf parents, Joe and Rosie Katz. He expressed his honor in being a part of GAFD and contributing to the success of the afternoon's event.
Paul Rutowski, spearheading the program, eloquently spoke about GAFD's impactful initiatives in 2023 and the exciting plans for 2024. Highlights from the past year included a successful partnership with Zach Theatre for the Cinderella performance and a collaboration with Deaf Austin Theatre for The Laramie Project. The Foundation also proudly supported the University of Texas Men's Basketball for the community and hosted Troy Kotsur at a SXSW panel, again for the community.
We showcased briefly on AT&T’s sponsorship of a new technology on football helmets that partnered with Gallaudet University. Brandi Rarus spent a few minutes giving us the backstory of what transpired to make this technology possible with new future developments coming up soon.
The event was enlivened by a Silent and Live Auction, expertly led by the charismatic duo of Tim Rarus and Karl Ewan. These auctions featured a range of exclusive items,
including a rare Texas School for the Deaf 1935 photograph, A rare wine bottle labeled “Intercept” by Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, Austin FC Lexus suite experience, a cameo donation from actor Tate Donovan, a luxurious beach house stay, and a couple of art works by the late Chuck Baird, among others.
Looking ahead, GAFD is thrilled to announce its first-ever legacy event in April 2024, honoring the late Dr. Kelly Haygood Stevens. This event will take place at his former residence, now under the stewardship of the German-Texan Heritage Society.
We were honored to have the support of our generous sponsors, including dozanü innovations, ZP Relay, Relay Texas, Vince & Jan DiMare, Dr. Jerry Katz, Kody's Restaurant & Shorty's Bar of Port Aransas, Communication by Hand, Dovetail Communications, Kramer Financial, Let's Kelly, Mark Seeger and Jeffrey Harper, and Common Capital.
A pivotal moment of the evening was the introduction of the GAFD Legacy Club, recognizing influential figures in the Austin Deaf Community. This year's honorees included Jeffrey McGuire, Julius Seeger, Ruth Taubert Seeger, Rosie & Joe Katz, Fran Herrington Borre, Evelyn Kamuchey, Ralph White, Loyd Williams, Texana Faulk Conn, and the actively contributing Frederick J. Newberry and Jerry G. Hassell.
The Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. Together, we are forging a path towards a more inclusive and vibrant future for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Austin.