FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
2/01/2021
Linda Thompson, Director of Development
Seedling
512.323.6371
Linda@seedlingmentors.org
Austin’s Fab Five 2021
Annual Gala Honors Five Local Heroes
Austin, TX: Each year, Seedling honors five local heroes who have significantly impacted the
lives of youth in our community, and raises vital funds to create opportunities for thousands of
children affected by parental incarceration in Central Texas. This year, local business
executives, dignitaries, and change agents will join Austin’s Fab Five event co-chairs, Beverly
Vandegrift and Wendolyn Washington in celebrating the honorees: Nora Comstock, Simone
Talma Flowers, Yvette Ruiz, Mark Williams and Victor Sáenz. Bios and headshots attached.
On April 23rd, 2021 at 6:00 PM, Seedling will host its 9th Annual Fab Five Gala – This year’s
hybrid model hosts $5,000+ VIP sponsors on the lawn of Four Seasons-Austin for dinner and
drinks while safely distancing before a program that kicks off at 7:00 PM. The program will be
live streamed with live auction, honoree awards, testimonials and Fund a Need. Individual ticket
holders, couples and bronze sponsors will be able to participate from the comfort of their
homes. “At Home” packages will include specialty drinks from Tito’s / JuiceLand and a full
course meal from Hestia delivered to their homes where they can join the fun online for bidding
and donating. Last year’s Fab Five event, held one month after COVID-19 canceled all
in-person gatherings, was a “virtual only” event which has garnered 2,400 views on Facebook.
Proceeds from the event support Seedling’s mentor program, which provides mentors and role
models to children whose parents are absent from the home serving a jail or prison sentence.
Since March of 2020, Seedling’s program has moved completely online through a custom-built,
interactive, virtual platform specifically created for youth mentoring. The platform was created by
one of Seedling’s long time mentors, Dr. Brett Lee, to help the children experiencing a unique
trauma to reconnect with their trusted mentors in a secure and fun way during an especially
difficult time.
For information on the event or Seedling’s impact in the lives of children in our community,
please visit bit.ly/FabFive2021 or contact Sarah Littler at Slittler@seedlingmentors.org or (512) 323-6371. Sponsorships are available here: bit.ly/2021SponsorFabFive.
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About Seedling: Seedling has provided school-based mentoring for children impacted by parental incarceration since 2006. During the 2019-20 school year, Seedling provided mentoring for 682 school aged children making new matches in Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, Pflugerville ISD, KIPP Public Schools, and Hays CISD. Each year, Seedling also awards scholarships to 8th grade students to use toward their post secondary education.