Good afternoon to you all on this beautiful Sunday! The year is coming to an end before we all know it and as I sit here at the Groundwork house finalizing any 2007 business I wanted to once again thank all of you who for contributing to an amazing year! We are so blessed to still be bringing music to young children's lives and bringing the amazing sounds of the Groundwork Music Orchestra to the community! We could not have made it through the year without you all. We are so looking forward to all that is to come in 2008 - more 1st Saturday benefits with the help of our amazing sponsors (WHIP IN AND SO MANY MORE!!!!) with the orchestra, a new recording and supplemental book (one way or another we are determined to make this happen!), getting the word out about Groundwork to new circles of people, hopefully finding local businesses who will be on board to sponsor the classes at Open Door Preschool, and most importantly living up to our mission - BRINGING MUSIC TO PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WHO COULD OTHERWISE NOT AFFORD IT! Yes there is indeed much to look forward to and we hope all of you will be along for the ride with us! May 2008 be better and brighter than we ever imagined!

If any of you are looking to contribute one last time before 2007 is over - your contribution is tax deductible - please feel free to visit www.groundworkmusic.org and make a secure online donation or you can certainly send any contributions to 4201 Wilshire Parkway, Austin, TX 78722. Your donations are always appreciated NO MATTER WHAT THE SIZE- EVER BIT COUNTS and goes directly back to bringing music to the children! Help us ring in 2008 in the best way possible!

Happy Holidays to all of you! May the season be bright, peaceful, AND FULL OF MUSIC!!!


My Very Best,
Emily Fagan
Groundwork Music Project, Executive Director
361-646-5670

A great big hello to all of you friends and family of Groundwork Music Project! I know this is certainly a BUSY BUSY time of year for everyone, but if you'd take a quick moment to read this message I would be much obliged AND I know you'll find out FOUR WONDERFUL WAYS to help bring music to children's lives AND all of them will bring you something in return!

FIRST AND FOREMOST....I, Neal, we, everyone involved in Groundwork Music Project THANKS YOU for an AMAZING, OUTSTANDING, FABULOUS, ENTERTAINING, BREATH TAKING 2007! YOU have helped us to bring music into young children's lives - whether is by attending an event, making a donation, sponsoring an event, sending you support in words, spreading the news to friends, serving on the board, volunteering your time...ALL of it contributed to a year that will not be forgotten! Once again we cannot thank you enough. Groundwork is a grassroots organization that cannot survive without this amazing community! We are blessed to have you on our side!

Alrighty... HOW ARE WE GOING TO END 2007 WITH A BANG YOU ASK?

THIS THURSDAY, Nov. 29th - an INFLUENCES HOOT NIGHT at RED SCOOT INN to benefit GROUNDWORK MUSIC PROJECT!!!!
Doors open at 6pm, Music begins at 8pm $5 COVER
Featuring: Matt the Electrician, Southpaw Jones, Abi Tapia, Slowtrain, Little Aurora,
AND MANY MORE!!


THIS FRIDAY, Nov.30th - Groundwork Benefit at Club 115 (2nd & San Jacinto)
RSVP at DO512.COM to get in FREE or $5 at the door Music Starts at 9pm
Featuring: The Boxing Lesson, Built by Snow, Neal Kassanoff & the Infidels
The Heirs have sadly had to cancel due to an unforeseen conflict - their time slot will be filled


THIS SATURDAY, Dec.1st - Onthecornermusic.com Presents
the GROUNDWORK MUSIC ORCHESTRA
Ruta Maya from 4pm-6pm
All are welcome, donations go back to the classroom!
You don't want to miss this - music kids of ALL AGES LOVE!!!!


LAST, BUT NOT LEAST -
If you are unable to attend one of these events
and want make a tax deductible donation before 2007 is over -
simply go to www.groundworkmusic.org
to make a secure online donation!

I believe I covered it all! I certainly hope to see you all out at one or ALL of the events! Help us end 2007 with a BANG! You'll have a blast and YOU will be a part of bringing music to young children's lives!


My Very Best to you all and Happy Holidays!

Emily Fagan

Groundwork Music Project, Executive Director

Hello to all of you Groundwork Music Project supporters!  I hope your week has begun well.  We wanted to send you all a GREAT BIG thanks for supporting us - whether it was this past weekend at Back-To-Schoolapalooza at The Vortex as a patron, as a bidder at the Silent Auction, as a musician, an actor, a volunteer.....OR if you were unable to make it this weekend - we thank you for your support in past events and in ones to come!
 
 
October holds many great events - our regular spot at Ruta Maya on the 1st Saturday of the month  (Oct. 6th) from 4pm-6pm with the Groundwork Music Orchestra, Oct. 12th at Club 115 with a variety of OUTSTANDING bands, and a special event for the whole family on Oct. 21st at Red Scoot Inn!
 
 
We also know that many of you are quite busy and your schedules fill up before you know it! You can still be a part of the Groundwork family by spreading the word when we have events and by telling friends and family that they can make a secure online donation by visiting our website at www.groundworkmusic.org
 
 
If you EVER have any questions, comments, ideas, time to volunteer, etc. - PLEASE feel free to give me a call at 361-646-5670 or shoot me an email!  We are so very happy to have you all supporting us and being a part of bringing music to children's lives!
 
 
See you all soon! Have a FANTASTIC rest of the week!
 
 
My Very Best to you ALL!
 
Emily Fagan
Groundwork Music Project, Executive Director

Look at this list!

SO here is the list of silent auctions items for BACK-TO-SCHOOLAPALOOZA that we already have and we'll have more to come! Tell EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!!
THESE ARE SOME AMAZING ITEMS!!!!!


- Applebee's : $10 Gift Certificates

- Dr. Bert Vasut: Free Kids (Age 15 or younger) Dental Cleaning, Dental Exam, Necessary X-Rays

- Ben & Jerry's : 14 $1 off coupons

- Texas Roadhouse: $15 Gift Certificate

- Schlotzsky's: 5 Free Small Sandwich Coupons (limit one coupon per use)

- The Anchor House : Two Night Stay in Port Aransas, Texas - $600 value, sleeps 8 in 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Nice view of the Gulf of Mexico and the neighborhood pool and hot tub. Certificate to be redeemed for any two nights during the periods of September 4, 2007 to December 20,2007 or April 1, 2008 thru May 20, 2008.

- Mari Schwanke Barreda, CPA: 2 hours of CPA services – Form 1040 (and accompanying schedules) tax preparation for 2007 only. Two hours should be should be sufficient time to prepare a "normal" return "(personal deductions, charitable contributions, dependent care and child tax credits, minimal stock transactions, no Schedule C). Additional time may be purchased at regular rate of $100 per hour)

- Hotel San Jose: One night stay in a standard room (any day of the week) - $165 value
- Richard Linklater : An Autographed School of Rock Poster

- Bess: Gift Certificate

- Wink: Gift Certificate for two 5 course tasting menus, tax, tip, booze not included

- Sola Boutique: Top, earrings, necklace, sunglasses, $50 GC

- Blackmail: TBA but they are in

- Yarddog: TBA

- Alamo Drafthouse: TBA but they are in.

- Private Donation: Antique Kilim rug, $1200-1500 value

- Sugar Cosmetics:lovely gift basket/makeover included

- ServiceLab: Nixon watch or equivalent

- Peter Black: archival quality, framed large format picture of Pinetop Perkins at his 93rd birthday party

- Double J Hacicenda and Spiritual Retreat (Mineral Wells, TX): Registration and Lodging for 2 for yoga/TBA retreat at this 1930's dude ranch on the high bluffs over the Brazos!

- Darcie Fromholz: Three hour private wine class, subject to be decided by recipients, wine not included

I just felt the need to update any of you blog readers! KOOP radio has kindly agreed to be a sponsor for BACK-TO-SCHOOLAPALOOZA! A PSA will be recorded on Saturday and will begin to run on Monday. Tito Vodka and Sweet Leaf Tea will be providing beverages for the VIP lounge and Mi Madre's, East Side Pies and MORE will be donating food! The auction items are piling up - a night's stay at San Jose, dinner for two at Wink, dinner at Yen Ching, jewelry, posters signed by the great Richard Linklater, wine from Virtuoso Selections...the list goes on! This event is sure to be such a blast! I couldn't be more thrilled! I hope you all are planning on coming out and telling everyone you know! We only are a success because of our supporters! :)

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SAVE THESE DATES!!!!!

GROUNDWORK MUSIC PROJECT
Proudly Presents
BACK-TO-SCHOOLAPALOOZA
A three day live music and live theatre EXTRAVAGANZA!

Groundwork Music Project is a nonprofit organization that provides free music education to children under five who could otherwise not afford it. (All proceeds from this event go back to the classroom.) BACK-TO-SCHOOLAPALOOZA is Groundwork's biggest event of the year! By combining live music from more than 6 local bands (including the amazing GROUNDWORK MUSIC ORCHESTRA), originally written sketches, special twists on old nursery rhymes, children's favorite books, musical numbers from Grease, Little Shop of Horror, and more, games, face painting, A HUGE SILENT AUCTION, and the environment of the beautiful yard at the VORTEX – there is CERTAIN to be something for EVERYONE – of all ages! This is a weekend not to be missed – one that is not only a blast, but will help bring music to children's lives!

WHEN: Friday, September 7th from 3pm-6pm
Saturday and Sunday, September 8th and 9th from 1pm-6pm

WHERE: The VORTEX
2307 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722
½ mile East of I-35 between Chestnut and Maple
Bus Route 20, Free Parking, Wheelchair accessible
Now serving Beer and Wine and EATABLES in the Vortex Café!

TICKETS AT THE GATE – CASH OR CHECK
FRIDAY - $5 SATURDAY and SUNDAY - $10 Children under five are FREE!

LIVE MUSIC BY: Groundwork Music Orchestra, Sunny Sweeney, Cattywompus, Jack Motley, Ash Blaize, Neal Kassanoff, The Drawing Board and MORE!

Sponsors include : Sweet Leaf Tea, Whip In, DO512.COM, and Onthecornermusic.com

www.groundworkmusic.org For more info or questions – contact Emily Fagan at 361-646-5670 emilynfagan@hotmail.com

Hello friends! July has quickly become a sure to be EXCITING month for Groundwork Music Project! We hope to see you all out at EVERY event! :)

JULY 7TH!

OntheCornerMusic.com Presents the Groundwork Music Orchestra Hour

OntheCornerMusic.com Presents the Groundwork Music Orchestra Hour on Saturday, July 7th from 4pm-6pm at Ruta Maya! There is no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Enjoy the exciting, fun, and creative sounds of so many talented Austin musicians while supporting an outstanding organization - THE GROUNDWORK MUSIC PROJECT! All proceeds will benefit the Groundwork Music Project's mission - To provide free music education to children under five. Learn more about the Groundwork Music Project by visiting www.groundworkmusic.org

JULY 14TH

Groundwork Music Benefit: Infinite Partials, The Heirs, The Boxing Lesson, Crawling with Kings

Come Join Groundwork Music Project at Club 115 on July 14th to hear some amazing tunes from four OUTSTANDING bands! Groundwork Music Project is a nonprofit organization that provides free music education to children under 5. To learn more about Groundwork and its mission please visit www.groundworkmusic.org Support an amazing organization while enjoying a night on the town! It is sure to be a fun filled night!

RSVP here to get in for $5!!! $10 at the door otherwise.

Doors at 8pm.


JULY 28TH

2nd Annual FunkFest

The Groundwork Music Orchestra will be playing from 11am- 3pm at LaZona Rosa for the 2nd Annual FUNKFEST!

Hello friends! Groundwork is really groovin thanks so many supporters and to the Groundwork Music Orchestra! We THANK YOU ALL for all you do!

We have set a goal to raise $11,000 this summer to keep the music coming and the children learning! If you can help in any way - NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL - please visit www.groundworkmusic.org and if you click on DONATE we now have a paypal link set up - so it is quick and easy for you to contribute. Tell your friends and family - all donations are tax deductible being that Groundwork Music Project is a non profit organization.

Thank you for your support and your contributions! We couldn't keep on keepin on without all of you!

** If you are unable to contribute monetarily - there are MANY other ways you can help Groundwork to continue to provide free music education to children under 5! Be in touch and we would be THRILLED to have you on board!