Pay It Forward with Daniel Curtis Benefit - Austin, Texas

PAY IT FORWARD WITH DANIEL CURTIS BENEFIT

FEATURING ROTEL & THE HOT TOMATOES AND

AUSTIN’S MOST CELEBRATED CHEFS

AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, along with Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, will host Pay It Forward with Daniel Curtis on Thursday, August 8 from 6:00 to 10:00pm at the AT&T Conference Center.  In its third year, the benefit’s goal is to raise money for those with spinal cord injuries. Rotel and The Hot Tomatoes, a popular cover band named one of the top ten party bands in the United States by Harper’s Bazaar magazine, will perform your favorite songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. In addition, the evening will feature a dynamic lineup of Austin’s top culinary talent guaranteeing a memorable night.

In May 2011, Daniel Curtis was injured in a diving accident, which resulted in a severe spinal cord injury. His family, friends and co-workers teamed up with Lone Star Paralysis Foundation to stage a fundraiser in July 2011, raising over $65,000 to help with his medical expenses not covered by insurance. Now following two successful years, Daniel, in partnership with Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, will pay it forward once again to raise awareness about the spinal cord injury community and help those in need of medical assistance.

“I’ve now spent a little over two years of my life in a wheelchair and have gone from being the newbie to playing more of a mentor role,” Daniel said. “Because of the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, Austinites with spinal cord injuries have a recovery center they can go to five days a week for free. It’s not just a gym and it’s not just for physical recovery; it’s a family, a support group and therapy for the body and the mind. Pay it Forward is about making the necessary resources available so that people can face their life’s greatest challenge with not only a sense of hope and purpose, but knowing the chair is just a temporary solution.”

The benefit has brought together Austin’s most celebrated chefs including Chef Josh Watkins of The Carillon, Chef Plinio Sandalio of The Carillon, Chef Tatsu Aikawa of Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Chef John Bates of Noble Sandwich Co., Chef David Bull of Congress & Second Bar + Kitchen, Chef Steven Cak of Parkside, Chef Shawn Cirkiel of Parkside, The Backspace and Olive & June, Chef Mat Clouser of Swift’s Attic, Chef Jason Dady of BIN 555 and Tre Trattoria, Chef Ned Elliott of Foreign & Domestic, Chef Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Chef Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine, Chef Jack Gilmore of Jack Allen’s Kitchen, Chef Harold Marmulstein of Salty Sow, Chef Rene Ortiz of La Condesa & Sway, Chef Laura Sawicki of La Condesa & Sway, Chef Callie Speer of Swift’s Attic, Chef Philip Speer of Uchi & Uchiko and Chef Shane Stark of Kenichi, each offering will be matched with cocktails from local spirit distillers as well as hand crafted cocktails by Tipsy Texan, David Alan and tastings from Casa Brasil Coffees. Live auctions and silent auctions will be held throughout the evening.

Tickets begin at a suggested donation of $75 and VIP tickets for $125. VIP tickets grant early entry into the benefit at 6:00 pm, which includes a happy hour, an early opportunity to bid on silent auction items, as well as a chance to mingle with the award-winning chefs.  To make reservations or donate to this cause, please visit www.payitforwardwithdaniel.org.