Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2010 > January > 22 > Entry
AU40 Nomination Wrap Party at the Driskill Hotel
The Austin Under 40 Awards are justifiably renowned. At least locally. And whichever smarty came up with the gold-themed “AU40” abbreviation deserves a gold-plated marketing prize. But I knew next to nothing about the groups that established the awards, conferred on civic leaders under the age when the body and brain begin to slow.
Kate Stoker and Maria Orozova
It was not until I spoke with the miraculously polished Erin Geoffroy and Ryan Kelly that I discovered the awards, now in their 12th year, were devised by young men and women’s business associations that go back 100 years. And that the ceremony benefits the Austin Sunshine Camps and the Young Women’s Alliance Foundation.
Anthony De Jesus and Christopher Clary
By now, everything this group does is a celebration — of Austin, of civility, of youth. A full 600 people were expected at the Driskill Hotel upper lobby for a happy hour on Thursday — just to toast the wrap of the nomination process. The awards ceremony is not until March 6 at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. (Note: Same night as the Heart Ball at the Long Center.)
Gordon Moore and Erin Geoffroy
Traffic kept the early birds from noshing on mixed nuts and popcorn, or filing up to the cash bars. By 8 p.m., however, the place was swarming with young professionals, dressed in an alarming array of styles from ultra-casual to near-formality.
Megan Powell, Brandyn Balmos and Stephanie Bell
I traded dish with various outstanding leaders, including salon owner Barbara Kelso, whose troubles with her SoCo landlords have been in the news. But I also just admired the folks who really seem to be energized by the will to do good in the community.
Samantha Stone, Ted Stanfield and Catherine Yong
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