HAAM Day 2022 Celebrates Frontline Workers as Hometown Heroes

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians’ (HAAM) and PNC Bank will celebrate Central Texas frontline workers with free food, drinks, and gifts as a thank you for their community service during the most difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the Sept. 13 HAAM Day, powered by PNC Bank.

 HAAM, PNC Bank and all HAAM Day sponsors invite Austin metro area frontline workers to Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. for free food, free drinks and great live music from HAAM member artists performing on the amphitheater stage.

HAAM Day 2022 will put the “live” back in live music with free to the public performances - while simultaneously celebrating frontline workers as Hometown Heroes - all day on Sept. 13 at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park.

 The day’s schedule includes:

6 a.m. – 8 a.m.: Wake Up w/HAAM

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.: Hydrate w/HAAM

  • Free Juiceland Cucumber Kale Agua Fresca - while supplies last

12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Lunch w/HAAM

  • Free slice of pizza courtesy of Via 313, while supplies last

  • Free Uchi gift card for first 100 frontline workers to show their badge, courtesy of Hai Hospitality

3 p.m.- 6 p.m.: Happy Hour w/HAAM

“When COVID-19 hit, we were unsure when we would return to our original format - one that is so loved, cherished and deeply missed," said Paul Scott, CEO of HAAM. "As we return to our first live-and-in-person HAAM Day, we wanted to also take the opportunity to invite city and state public service workers, healthcare heroes, teachers, fire, police, EMS workers, grocery store employees and all of our dedicated community members who took care of us all during the most challenging days of the COVID lockdowns and variant spikes. It's not lost on us that our music community is safe and well because of the countless hours of care and service provided by our frontline workers."

Dillan Knudson, PNC regional president for Austin & 2022 HAAM Day Committee Co-Chair

“We are thrilled to be presenting sponsor of HAAM Day, a day highlighting Central Texas artists and celebrating our region’s unique music culture,” said Dillan Knudson, PNC regional president for Austin. “As we celebrate the importance of live music to our community, it's also an honor to spotlight and celebrate our community's frontline workers who have made it possible for live music to return. Live music is not only part of our cultural identity, but also an indispensable economic engine for the region and is something we believe is worth protecting. Without the service, sacrifice, and dedicated commitment of our teachers, healthcare workers, and public service employees, none of the HAAM Day celebrations would be possible.”

HAAM provides a lifeline to Austin musicians. Since 2005, HAAM has helped nearly 6,000 musicians access more than $123 million in healthcare services, ranging from primary and specialty care, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, basic needs and other services.

Funds raised on HAAM Day will provide these direct services to musicians, which means every dollar donated will be used to help artists continue to create the music we all enjoy. Every dollar donated to HAAM is leveraged into $7 of direct services to musicians, meaning a $100 donation provides $700 dollars of services.

In May, PNC Bank announced it committed to a partnership with HAAM, and today’s announcement of the bank as presenting sponsor of HAAM Day 2022 levels up that commitment.

As part of its HAAM Day sponsorship, PNC Bank will host live music at branches throughout Central Texas.

“We are so grateful for PNC Bank and its commitment to the betterment of the Austin music community,” said Scott. “It is because of their continued support that we are able to grow and provide healthcare services to as many musicians as possible. Without them, and other local businesses and individuals, our musicians would be in a substantially different financial situation than they are today. COVID-19 severely impacted their livelihoods, and we are here to help them thrive and continue to play music.”

PNC Bank has made strides in becoming known as the bank of music in the Austin community, starting in October 2021 when the bank announced it had become the official bank of ACL Live and Austin City Limits. PNC is also the Austin Chamber of Commerce’s exclusive live music partner, allowing it to continue supporting local artists by providing live musical entertainment at all in-person chamber events throughout the year. The bank also formed a new residency program that showcases a different local musician each month exclusively at PNC Plaza at ACL Live.

This year, HAAM Day is introducing a new online fundraising platform, which will allow supporters to raise donations through an easy-to-use website. Users will be able to set up their own fundraising page, which will enable them to raise money within their own communities of family, friends and coworkers. Rewards and prizes will be given to fundraisers as they hit certain milestones.

To register your own page please visit https://p2p.onecause.com/haamday, to begin supporting HAAM Day today.

Marc Fort