During the Austin Fashion Week Kick Off Party at GSD&M’s Idea City I met an amazing young woman by the name of Grace Kim who happens to be working with the United Nations Girl Up Campaign on a fundraiser event happening in Austin at the end of September. When I told her about all of the various projects and ventures I have completed and am currently working on she invited me to be a guest speaker as a representation of Austin women entrepreneurs and strong female role models. You can imagine just how honored I was to accept the invitation! The Girl Up Campaign is a United Nations Foundation initiative specifically set aside to empower young girls with proven United Nation programs that have the greatest outcomes for adolescent girls ages 10-14, in hard-to-reach developing countries such as Ethiopia, Guatemala, Liberia and Malawi. 100% of all proceeds generated from the benefit will be allocated towards Girl Up, which helps provide girls with basic needs such as access to educational resources, clean water, leadership skills, girl empowerment centers, protection from violence and more.

On September 30th from 7 to 11pm at The Dogwood in Austin, Texas we will be holding a massive benefit to raise funds for the Girl Up Campaign. We’re mobilizing the local Austin community to get involved in a global cause and make a difference for girls living beyond our borders. Our VIP guest list and target demographic are young philanthropic Austin professionals who comprise the 21-45 age group and lifestyle brand demographic. We expect to have a turnout between 350-400 guests that evening. We currently already have 300 confirmed RSVPs.

One of the Southwests’ largest dance music concert promoter (Nabiya de Grace), Austin Chronicle Best DJ/Live Performer (Toddy B), Marketing Powerhouse (Melissa Hess), Austin’s Hippest Philanthropy (Charity Bash) and yours truly, Gabrielle Faust, will be presenting this global campaign. The Statesman, Austin Chronicle and other local media outlets will be covering this event as well.

We presently have the following sponsors pledging product/service contributions in making our event very special as we are highlighting and celebrating a gathering of Austin’s hippest socially-conscious entrepreneurs.

Maria Maria
Delish Cupcakes
Tart Frozen Yogurt
Bon Bon by Micah Yancey Jewelry
Catherine Nicole Jewelry
Unreal 360 Photography
Jonathan Garza Photography
Joie De Vie Salon & Spa
The Girl Next Door Boutique
Spectacle Sunglasses Boutique
On the Spot Body Art
Gabrielle Faust by Overall Beauty

As of Friday my good friend Rebecca Guenther, the fabulous photographer responsible for my new PR photos, will also be contributing a portrait session to the auction which will be paired with a stylist contribution and makeup & hair session from two other local businesses for a package you will definitely want to bid highly on!

Asides from presenting a speech that evening relating a story about a woman who mentored me as a young child and changed my life, I am also one of the sponsors contributing to the swag bags and will be donating individual samples of my new eye shadow collection “Gabrielle Faust by Overall Beauty” so attendees will have a chance to try out the makeup all of the beauty bloggers have been raving about! In addition, I am working to put together one of the amazing auction packages which attendees will be able to bid on throughout the night. The package I am creating, entitled “Indulge Your Inner Author”, will feature signed copies of novels by a variety of authors, a gift certificate to a local book store and a private wine education and tasting experience. At the moment authors, including myself, that have offered to contribute books are Skylar White, Patrice Sarath, Giovanna Lagana, Rhodi Hawke, Christine & Ethan Rose and O.M.Grey. If you are a novelist and would like to contribute a signed book please email me! We need all books by the middle of September and no later.

Please help me to spread the word about the Girl Up Campaign and this fabulous fundraising event so that we can make it the most amazing event it can be. More information on the Girl Up Campaign can be found at www.girlup.org. RSVP on the Facebook invite by CLICKING HERE.