Austin nonprofit Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) announces their fundraiser and celebration of community, titled “Courage to Hope,” taking place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, starting at 6:30 p.m. The event is currently open for sponsors and supporters - to sponsor “Courage to Hope,” please go here. iACT encourages the local community to come together for this life-changing Zoom event, which will feature uplifting conversations, music by legendary country musician Jimmie Dale Gilmore and more.

“Courage to Hope” also serves as a major way to donate directly to iACT to help them continue their critical services for the local community such as Hands on Housing, which repairs the homes of low-income seniors and people with disabilities, the iACT for Refugees program, which provides Basic English instruction and other supportive services to refugees from around the world, as well as many other programs.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, iACT has been working to keep some of the most vulnerable and most impacted people in central Texas afloat, providing basic human needs and connections and continuing to promote diversity, inclusion and kindness. Funds raised during “Courage to Hope” support iACT directly and allows the nonprofit to continue to sustain and meet the needs of the people they serve during this pandemic of disruption and loss.

“Courage to Hope” will honor those who make Austin a welcoming haven - honorees include Cookie Ruiz (Executive Director of Ballet Austin), The City of Austin and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The event will feature an intimate conversation on “The Courage of Love and Support of Others” between Cookie Ruiz and Nora Linares Moeller, Executive Director of Housing Works, as well as words from Executive Director Simone Talma Flowers. The online event will conclude with a performance by Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Event sponsors and supporters not only gain access to “Courage to Hope,” but will also be recognized and thanked during the event and in iACT’s promotional materials. To sponsor this event and to donate to iACT, see here.

“This is the first in my lifetime to experience a global pandemic, yet, iACT’s vision is much clearer to me now,” said iACT Board President Jeanmarie Rust. “We must lift our most vulnerable in the community with the hope of brighter days ahead. It is in this moment that true purpose and passion are abundant.”

Leading up to “Courage to Hope,” iACT will host a virtual Interfaith Prayer Service for Healing & Hope to bring people together in solidarity, and to build hope and peace. This service will take place on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. For more information, see here. Additionally, to keep up the spirits of the people they serve, iACT is currently sharing inspiration from faith leaders throughout Central Texas in their series, The Daily Dose of Hope. The Daily Dose of Hope features messages, lessons and optimism in these dark times, updated every day at interfaithtexas.org. iACT will continue to share The Daily Dose of Hope as long as the need to shelter-in-place is still in effect.

“Each person has the power to make a difference when they exercise the courage to connect across our many differences - to say, ‘I care, and you matter,’ and here is what I can do to make a difference,” said iACT Executive Director Simone Talma Flowers.

The mission of iACT is to cultivate peace and respect through interfaith dialogue, service and celebration. For more information, see interfaithtexas.org.