2024 (Division 4): Austin Entertains

The Junior League of Austin's annual fundraising initiative, Austin Entertains, is a cornerstone of their mission-driven fundraising efforts and showcases women in the vibrant culinary scene of Austin while raising vital funds for Food In Tummies (FIT), a program dedicated to eliminating weekend hunger for children in the Austin community. This year Austin Entertains raised 33% more funds than the previous year, over $88,000 in total.   

 Austin Entertains is not just a culinary event; it’s a celebration of women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship in the culinary arts. By spotlighting top female chefs, bartenders, spirit purveyors, and industry leaders, Austin Entertains supports local businesses and provides a platform for aspiring women in the culinary field to thrive. In addition, funds raised from this event are used to grant fellowships to culinary artists to help them reach professional goals.    

With an increased attendance of 450 this year, including 200 VIP attendees, Austin Entertains built upon its past successes by engaging an even more diverse audience. The 2024 lineup had a wide range of types of cuisine and drinks, making for a unique and varied culinary experience, with offerings for vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and non-alcoholic palates. The Austin Entertains committee secured an additional 27 beverage sponsors from in-kind donations for the event, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The committee procured nearly $79,000 worth of in-kind donations for the entire event. Congratulations to the Junior League of Austin!