Sponsorships can be tailored to a company’s ability to give.

Relay For Life events will take place in more than 4,800 communities nationwide. The local event is expected to include approximately 1,000 community members. Approximately $760,000 in has been raised in the past seven years for the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life/Westlake.

Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event, held from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. It raises money for the American Cancer Society. Teams take turns walking laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Relay For Life helps communities celebrate the lives of those who have faced cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease.

Anyone who would like to become a corporate sponsor or find out how to build a team should visit www.RelayForLife.org/westlaketx or call Barbara Bearden at 751-9735.

EEF administrators are still tallying proceeds and expenses from the night, but say they expect net proceeds to be strong, despite a 20-percent reduction in the number of partygoers from last year. They attribute the decrease in participants to a sluggish economy and competition with several other community events.

“While our revenue was off its peak, we were able to cut our expenses and net more proceeds available to be granted to the Eanes school district,” said Jerri Ann Yznaga of EEF.

The foundation hopes to raise close to $1 million in support of the Eanes school district for the 2011-12 school year. EEF members have already raised more than $700,000 through their annual giving campaign. Board members and administrators are banking on Saturday’s gala to provide the remaining funds.

The district garnered local student bands the Loose Wheels and High on Hotdogs to play the event along with Austin band the Kopy Kats. Tyler Rhodes performed classical guitar at the entrance of the gala.

Those attending the event seemed in high spirits as they enjoyed dinner, wine, games, entertainment and the chance to participate in live and silent auctions. Local author and photographer Kirk Tuck was there with his wife, Belinda Yarritu. They attended with their friends, Matt and Anne Hagan.

“We have been longtime supporters of the EEF and were delighted with the outpouring of generosity displayed collectively and individually by Eanes parents,” Tuck said. “The quality of EISD is why we live in the area. The evening was great fun and a very effective way to raise funds for important teaching positions, which otherwise would have to be left unfilled. Events like these are full of energy and good spirits. This year was one of the best we’ve ever attended. We can hardly wait for next year.”

EEF executive director Wally Moore and his wife, Polly, were also at the event.

“We are extremely grateful to the community, grateful for their commitment to this high performing Eanes school district and their willingness to be a partner in educational excellence,” Moore said. “As we move toward our goal of funding 20 teachers in the 2010-2011 school year, the support we receive through our annual gala is crucial, bringing in one-fourth to one-third of our annual revenue. We look forward to reporting more good news as we continue to move through our fundraising year.”

The event features a rockwall, super slide, gaming theater, jumps, games, cakewalk and unique items in the silent auction such as vacation-getaways, interior design services, family portraits, spa services, jewelry, summer camps, parties, dining, fitness packages, dental packages, country club packages, sports and celebrity items.

To preview the items, visit www.bcebc.dojiggy.com, and anyone can bid without attending.

The Truck Farm Farmers Market will have everything from produce to natural meats and cheese, eggs, salsas and fares from local merchants, including Texas French bread, said Pat Swanson, owner of Pots and Plants. He is even expecting fresh shrimp from the Gulf Coast.

The market will run every Thursday from 3-7 p.m., come rain or shine.

Pots and Plants may quickly expand the activity to Saturdays as well, if community interest is as large as he expects it to be.

Parking for the market will be in the Pots and Plants lot.

Claunch, who was elected mayor two years ago after serving as chairman of the WLH Wastewater Commission, was singled out for a history of volunteering. He helped build consensus after a long delay to extend centralized wastewater service to the business community, persuaded the Capital Area Metropolitan Transportation Organization and Texas Department of Transportation to allocated $6.3 million to complete the stalled Bee Cave Road Improvements Project and ended what had become regular contentious City Council meetings.

Claunch began by thanking the WCC board for the honor and quickly segued into a lighthearted explanation of why he was successful as chairman of the wastewater commission, which he called, “a crappy job.”

He said the key was making sure every agenda had only two choices, “so that we would have to choose from doing number one or doing number two.”

Fueled by an eruption of laughter from the crowd of approximately 75 business people in attendance, Claunch went on to say that he got roped into the job.

“At the time, the sewer project was headed for disaster, and we needed to get the business owners on board,” he explained, blaming that situation in part on assumptions by his predecessor that the residential system should be built before the commercial phase, and that business owners would pay three times that of the residents.

“I helped put together a deal that would preserve the commercial property owners’ interests and make sure they were going to pay roughly what residential guys would pay,” he said. “It ended well. We got the commercial guys on board, rescued the system and created a financial solvency that we needed to keep our residential customers from going in the toilet.”

Because 70 percent of the city’s revenue comes from sales tax, Claunch said he feels good about making sure the business people were not forced to pay an unfair portion of the wastewater costs.

Although he revealed to the crowd some bad news that TxDOT’s accounting issues might result in a significant delay of up to three years in the Bee Cave Road project, he promised to continue working toward getting the project funded.

Troxell, a longtime Rollingwood resident who is dedicated to helping improve opportunities for homeless people, accepted check saying, ‘It’s not bad to finish second in this town.”

Claunch, the owner of Liaison Resources, later said that he was honored to receive the award from a chamber that has a history of networking, community service and philanthropy.

“This award is truly the result of a team effort at City Hall,” Claunch said. “Everyone there works daily to make me and the City Council look good, and I thank them for their efforts. I especially thank Robert Wood, our excellent city administrator, for bringing calm and steady leadership to our team.

“[My wife] Susan and I thoroughly enjoyed the award ceremony last week, and we were touched by the kind words and support of this great organization.”

Also receiving awards at the banquet were Vicky Gouge of Full Moon Design, WCC member of the year; Jillian Houghton of As the Hair Turns, ambassador of the year; and counselor Ryan Harkryder, Eanes school district faculty member of the year.

The presentation featuring the latest research findings, information and tactics that seniors can use to maintain healthy brain functions is part of an ongoing speaker series, Querencia at Barton Creek senior living community

Seating is limited. RSVP by calling 410-2429.

For more than a year now, they’ve spent at least 20 hours a week, not including the constant barrage of e-mails planning out the event that raises more than half a million dollars for one of Austin’s oldest charities. But through it all, they’ve maintained a sense of humor and a sense of fun.

“We go into Lucy in Disguise and dress up for every single meeting,” Little said. “Even if no one else thinks it’s funny – we crack ourselves up.”

It’s this mentality that’s kept the operation running smoothly and kept the volunteer work from feeling more like a chore. And through the fun, they’ve remained focused on the mission.

“You’re helping orphans that just don’t have anywhere else to go,” Prickett said.

Founded in 1893, Helping Hand Home began when an abandoned newborn baby girl was found in a shoebox at Austin’s railway station. A group of women from various missionary societies came together to help her, and soon they became the go-to group when a child was in need.

They pooled their resources to buy a small cottage on Guadalupe Street, and since then, the organization has become one of the only places in the country for many severely troubled children. In 2008, the home opened an onsite charter school through a partnership with the University of Texas.

“By the time they get to us, they’re not even foster eligible,” Little said.

The March 6 gala brings in about 25 percent of the group’s proceeds each year and sees more than 1,500 participants at the luncheon, 1,900 at the ball and coordinates more than 200 children for the debutante and girl portion of the evening.

Despite the sheer magnitude of decisions, Little and Prickett decided that in the economic climate, they couldn’t simply run with every company used last year. They price shopped every decision and created more spreadsheets than a champagne bottle has bubbles.

“We felt like we had to go outside of some of the things we were normally doing… the decisions went on and on,” Prickett said.

While the main theme each year is The Crystal Ball, various chairs can add their own spin, and this year, the longtime friends from West Texas have created an ice palace.

“All of the colors are light blue, silver and pearlized white,” Little said.

They’ve also added mystery boxes to the menu of auction items. For $20, attendees can purchase the box that is guaranteed to be valued at $20 or more but could include everything from jewelry and gift certificates.

“People have still just been so generous this year,” Prickett said of donors who’ve helped made the gala possible.

And, the women gushed about everyone involved in the gala that have made their jobs so much easier.

“Our committee members are just so good and smart and capable,” Little said.

Beyond the fun, the work, and the valiant mission, Prickett and Little have been able to use their charity work to instill a sense of community in their children.

Little and her daughter were in the charter group of the National Charity League of Austin, a mother-daughter volunteer organization. Prickett’s children always throw in a helping hand and her oldest son spent last year working in Argentina at two orphanages.

After the huge time commitment they’ve put in, both women said they’ll likely opt for smaller roles in the organization next year, but they won’t be able to breathe easy until they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor March 6.

“I keep waking up thinking, are we forgetting something?” Little said.

But with the endless hours of preparation, the answer is likely no.

Tickets are still available for the Crystal Ball and preceding luncheon. The luncheon and fashion show will be held at 10 a.m. March 6 at the Palmer Events Center, with a champagne bar and silent auction at 10 a.m., and a fashion show with presentation of princesses and debutantes at 11 a.m.

The gala begins at 7 p.m. on the same day in the same location, kicking off with cocktails and a silent auction. Presentations will begin at 8 p.m. with dinner, catered by Rosemary, being served at 9:30 p.m.

Various pricing options and levels of sponsorship are available.

For more information on these, visit www.helpinghandhome.org or contact Erin Whitehead at 459-7705 or ewhitehead@helpinghandhome.org.

“This is an exciting time for us,” EEF executive director Wally Moore said.

Moore attended his first EEF gala in 2000 in the Shriner building. Asleep at the Wheel headlined.

“We want people to come and have fun with their neighbors every year,” he said. “It’s a great community builder, and it brings in a fourth to a third of our annual funding.”

This year, EEF hopes to fund 20 teacher positions for the school district at a price tag of about $1 million. Property-wealthy school districts in Texas have come to depend on foundations like EEF to make up for the shortfall of funds they receive from the state. Donations to EEF passed on to the Eanes school district are not subject to state recapture laws, something that takes more than half the district’s tax dollars each year and sends the money to other school districts with poorer population bases.

EEF runs an annual giving campaign each fall, asking parents to donate to the organization without the auspice of a special event. Despite the downturn in the local economy and the disastrous recent impact on many local nonprofit organizations, EEF has remained strong in 2009 and 2010. The organization has already raised more than $700,000 for the Eanes district next year.

Moore said the organization has something unique that keeps it healthy – motivated parents. A large portion of EEF donors are parents with children in Eanes schools. Other supporters include businesses that depend on family customers and district alumni sup-port.

“We all make our charitable donations for different reasons,” Moore said. “But people always want to preserve their children’s schools until the very end. It is so heartening to us, and we acknowledge that we are very lucky. These are very committed parents with the desire and the ability to support their schools.”

EEF has been able to sustain a moderate growth in its membership base, something other nonprofits around the country would be happy to be able to boast. Last year, EEF said it wanted to broaden its membership among district parents, and it did that. In 2009, roughly 25 percent of district families contributed to EEF. This year, that percentage has risen to 35 percent.

But that doesn’t mean Moore or others at EEF can sit back on their laurels and wait for the money to roll in. Even in Eanes, getting people to give to schools takes some gentle reminding in these hard times. Headed into a probable bond election in 2010, many voters are wary.

“We want to people to understand how important their donations are to this community of excellence,” he said. “We want to continue to build and strengthen that community through giving. Gifts to the foundation help to build financial flexibility for each district principal. It allows them to staff their school and to reach their full potential. It fills in the gaps.”

Moore said the benefits of community go far beyond growing great schools and successful students. The reputation of the schools keeps property values strong, even during the recession. And the community attracts others looking for a healthy family lifestyle.

“We form a kind of a three-legged stool,” Moore said. “The community, the schools and EEF. There is a lot of trust based on history out here.”

The 2010 EEF Austin City Limits Gala is presented by Heritage Title Company of Austin and Treaty Oak Bank and features music by two local bands, High on Hotdogs and The Loose Wheels and a third band, Kopy Kats.

Auction items, which are still coming in, feature vacation time in Cabo San Lucas, a guitar signed by the Eagles and diamond earrings from All About Diamonds.

Individual tickets to the gala are $150. Table purchases range from $1,750 to $7,500. To view auction items, purchase tickets or tables or to find out more about the event, visit eaneseducationfoundation.org or call 732-9065.

“”It’s the best party in Westlake,” Moore said. “Don’t miss it.”

EEF depends on proceeds from the event for a significant portion of the foundation’s annual budget.

Individual tickets to the event are $150. Table purchases range from $1,750 to $7,500. To view auction items, purchase tickets or tables or to find out more information about the event, visit eaneseducationfoundation.org or phone 732-9065.

There will be door prizes, and event representatives will be available to discuss forming teams, being a team captain, joining the planning committee, buying/decorating luminaria bags or simply volunteering to help out.

Relay For Life will be held May 1-2 from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. at Chaparral Stadium. For more information, contact Teresa at tdwilbanks@aol.com.