HAAM Day is Four Days Away: Why Your Support Matters
Dear Friends,
We’re so excited to bring to you our first virtual HAAM Day this Tuesday, September 15th! This year marks HAAM’s 15th anniversary of celebrating Austin’s live music and the musicians that make it all possible.
Now, more than ever, HAAM’s work plays a vital role in keeping Austin’s music community supported and safe until things get back to normal. Not only are our musicians an essential part of Austin’s cultural identity as a city, but also an important economic engine, drawing in millions of dollars each year.
In March, like many other nonprofits, HAAM sent out a distress call. With news surrounding the pandemic developing rapidly, we wanted to make sure HAAM
remained a constant in an uncertain world. We urgently needed help as cancellations of live fundraising events impacted our funding at the same time that the need for our services increased - and Austin came through. We were awarded
donations, grants, and funding that not only allowed us to continue our normal operations, but allowed HAAM to implement emergency funding for basic healthcare needs and social determinants of health such as help with food insecurity, emergency prescription drug assistance, insurance assistance, and more.
Even with these emergency fundraising efforts, HAAM is still very much relying on the success of HAAM Day to get us through the rest of this year. In one day, we need to raise more than $600,000 to ensure we can continue our life-saving healthcare services for Austin musicians.
While everyone has been affected by COVID-19, our music community, many of whom already live in a very fragile ecosystem, has been completely devastated and need our support.
Thank you Austin, for the love and support you have given HAAM during this difficult time. The fact that HAAM is so beloved, shows just how much you love live music and support our work. And while it might not be the same as it has been in the past, HAAM Day will still bring you a full day of rich and diverse Austin music.
We know our musicians are missing us too. Many have lost their livelihoods and have been challenged to maintain their craft without the ability to gather with bandmates and friends. Most are grieving the loss of important stages, and some have even lost their homes. Now, more than ever, musicians need to feel your love.
Austinites may differ on many things, but on this we can all agree: we are proud to live in “The Live Music Capital of the World.” This community is vital to keeping Austin’s economy thriving, and we need to ensure that when this is all over, there are still musicians alive and well and living here. To protect our musicians and the music scene we all hold so dear, we must band together to support our musicians now - when they need us the most. HAAM is working tirelessly to provide musicians access to medical and dental care, mental healthcare, and hospital and specialty care services. But we can’t do it without your support. On HAAM Day, hundreds of musicians will declare their love for our city as well. Musicians playing on FOX7 Austin, on HAAM’s social channels, or on their own social media will all be sending love back to HAAM and all of you for showing them unyielding support.
Please tune in on Tuesday to hear from musicians whose lives have been saved by our healthcare partners and your generous donations, gifts and support. Hear
musicians tell you that without HAAM, they would not have stayed here and may have given up playing music altogether. But most of all, tune in on Tuesday, September 15th to listen to a great lineup of Austin music we hope you’ll love.
Austin, we love you so much. We love our musicians. We love our music clubs and venues. We love all of our music industry that work behind the scenes in support of the live music we all love so much. We love the heart and soul of this beautiful city.
Please join us on HAAM Day by tuning in and showing Austin musicians just how much you love them back.
Rock on,
Reenie Collins
Chief Executive Officer, HAAM