Attend Boots, Business and BBQ to help raise money for those hit the hardest by Hurricane Harvey. Courtesy photo
Time to don some blue jeans and boots for a cowboy-themed fundraiser to help rebuild small businesses in the communities hit the hardest by Hurricane Harvey.
Set for 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center, Boots, Business and BBQ is a joint effort from across the entire Coastal Bend. Involved in the fundraiser are area chambers of commerce, visitors bureaus, economic development corporations, elected officials and big businesses, like main sponsor AEP Texas.
All money raised from Boots, Business and BBQ will stay in the Coastal Bend and be fairly allocated to businesses to aid in rebuilding, restoration and recovery.
“These small business are the backbone of our communities,” said Cleo Rodriguez Jr., president and CEO of the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce.
He believes it’s important for the whole region to work together to show that small businesses are supported and appreciated.
Sandy Jumper, director of Tourism and Events for the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, is optimistic about the rebuilding despite the long road ahead.“We’ve got over 300 businesses back open … but we have over 1,000 to go,” Jumper said. “We’re a tourism town, so we’re excited to see the businesses open up.”
So far, more than 1 million cubic yards of debris have been removed from the town as people gut their homes and businesses and prepare to rebuild.
“Even to us that live here, you can see a change: the removal, electricity and water back on,” Jumper said of the cleanup and recovery. “But if you’re just visiting for the first time, it looks like total devastation.”
The fundraiser features a night of fun, food, live music and live and silent auctions with major prize packages. Food will be prepared by the Corpus Christi Mustangs.
“In Corpus Christi and the entire Coastal Bend region, we firmly believe small businesses are the lifeline, and without them, we won’t be able to prosper,” said Elvia Aguilar, director of Business Affairs for the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Participating organizations include:
- United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce
- Portland Chamber of Commerce
- Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce
- Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau
- Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce
- Ingleside Chamber of Commerce
- Corpus Christi Black Chamber of Commerce
- Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corp.
- San Patricio Economic Development Corp.
- Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau
Sponsorships include $5,000 tables for state-elected officials in Aransas, Nueces and San Patricio counties; $3,500 tables for mayors of cities in the affected areas; and $1,500 tables. Purchase sponsor or individual tickets at ortizcenter.com.
