2020 Honorable Mention: A Christmas Affair

The 2020 Honorable Mention in Fund Development goes to the Junior League of Austin, TX.

In 1972 the League’s Ways and Means Committee began looking for a long-term fundraising program that was different from the usual charity balls, style shows, tennis exhibitions, and family rodeos. The League held the first “A Christmas Affair” (ACA) in 1976. 44 years later, A Christmas Affair has become the “kickoff to the holiday season” in Austin.

ACA is 100% run by League volunteers. A committee of 80-90 women each put in over 100 hours during the 5-day event, and this does not include the many hours worked in planning and preparing for the event starting in January the year before. The ACA committee is made up of 18 subcommittees. These subcommittees work on specific areas of the event and are in charge of planning, strategizing, and managing their area. From Logistics and Finance, to Event Production and Raffles, the event is run entirely by the ACA committee.

While other League holiday markets have struggled, A Christmas Affair has remained a successful long-term fundraiser for the Junior League of Austin (JLA). ACA has consistently brought in net revenues of over $800,000 each year. The net revenue in 2018 was over $1 million. This revenue is used to support the mission of JLA by providing trained volunteer and financial support to 36 nonprofits, fund the League’s Signature programs CFK-Coats for Kids, FIT-Food in Tummies, and KICS-Kids in Cool Shoes, and fund the operating budget of the League to train and develop their 2,500 members.