Freedom Solar launches Texas’ first solar financing vehicle

Freedom Solar Financial Services LLC, the first solar financial vehicle of its kind in Texas, has raised an initial round of $7.5 million in funding to finance commercial solar projects. Financing through Freedom allows companies to finance up to 70 percent of the cost of an entire solar installation and ensures that an investment in solar is cash-flow positive from day one. The company offers a simple one-page application and a rapid one-week underwriting process.

The Freedom Financing program is based on more than a decade of experience working with hundreds of business owners to make solar work for them. Securing financing for commercial solar projects, which can be key to creating an attractive investment profile for onsite solar generation, can be difficult and complicated. Read more

Emancipet returns from second Spayathon for Puerto Rico trip

Emancipet just returned from their second trip to Puerto Rico to provide much-needed medical care and spay/neuter services as part of #SpayathonforPR. The trip was a huge, record-breaking success; the team spayed/neutered 1,137 animals in just 7 days in challenging conditions.

They’re heading back in February for the third of what will be four trips, to continue spreading their mission of providing low cost, high-quality treatments, and spay/neuter services to pets and people who love them. Emancipet is one of 26 organizations working with #SpayathonforPR, organized by The Humane Society of the United States

To help support these trips, and Emancipet’s work around the country including in Austin, Houston, and Philadelphia, go this link to donate: https://bit.ly/2B4hsND.

The Trail Foundation receives $1.1 million gift to seed all future projects

Colin Corgan, retired partner with Goldman Sachs, is the donor, and the Foundation’s Canopy Fund will be named in his honor. The Fund will serve as a reserve of dollars for trail projects already in the pipeline, and will be replenished by community fundraising. Read more

Emancipet featured on ‘My Cat From Hell’ TV show

Emancipet, the nonprofit on a mission to make veterinary care affordable and accessible for all pet owners, was featured on “Cat Daddy” Jackson Galaxy’s television show My Cat From Hell on Animal Planet on Oct. 20. If you missed it, click here to stream the full episode.

The episode was shot in Philadelphia, where Emancipet has a clinic, and featured CEO Amy Mills and Emancipet staff working with other nonprofits and volunteers to trap/neuter/release community cats (also known as feral cats). It was an emotional and dramatic episode and was the finale of this season of My Cat From Hell. During the show, Emancipet announced a new initiative and fundraising effort to help even more community cats and their caretakers in Philadelphia and the other four cities where Emancipet has clinics, and to help Emancipet expand to even more cities across the U.S.

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Bernstein100Austin gives grants to 31 nonprofit collaborators

Merick Strategies-produced production of MASS the largest arts event in Austin history

The unprecedented, beyond-expectations success of Bernstein100Austin, the groundbreaking Austin production of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers more than two years in the making, has made it possible for the producers to give grants from the proceeds to 31 of the nonprofit collaborators, producers Merick Strategies announced today.

The production was the largest arts collaboration in the city’s history, involving more than 300 local performing artists and production experts, a year of events (in Austin, around the country, and as far away as Australia), hundreds of sponsors and donors, a thousand students and family members (who attended a special dress rehearsal), and nearly 5,000 people who packed the Long Center for two nights of sold-out performances June 29 and 30. Read more

Two clients win Austin ‘Best of the Best’ Awards; three are finalists

The Austin American-Statesman announced the winners of its inaugural “Best of the Best” Awards, and we’re thrilled to announce two of our clients won first place in their categories. Congratulations Dr. Michael C. Bell, DDS, PC on winning Best Dentist, and to ThunderCloud Subs on winning Best Sandwich Shop!

We’d also like to commend our clients who were selected as top three finalists for the Best of the Best Awards including Belmont Village Senior Living (nominated for Best Assisted Living Facility and Best Retirement Community), Emancipet (nominated for Best Veterinarian), and The Trail Foundation (nominated for Best Nonprofit).

To read the Austin American-Statesman insert listing the winners and nominees in each category, go to http://statesmanmedia.com/epaper/bestofthebest/2018/. Photos from the event can also be viewed at https://www.statesman.com/photogallery/TX/20180928/NEWS/928009997/PH/1. Read more

Twilight on the Trail benefiting The Trail Foundation, Oct. 28

The Trail Foundation will host a one-time special event called “Twilight on the Trail” on Sunday, Oct. 28 from 5-8 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel to close out its 15th anniversary celebrations and help raise critical funds for projects on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Read more

Freedom Solar ramps up in Houston, offers Tesla battery

Freedom Solar has ramped up its presence in Houston and introduced a new energy solution to protect homeowners and businesses from losing power during outages: SunPower solar systems combined with the Tesla Powerwall 2 home battery.

Battery backup is an ideal solution for power outages caused by hurricanes, and Freedom Solar Power is the largest distributor of Tesla Powerwall batteries in Texas. Read more

UMLAUF Prize winner exhibition begins Sept. 6

The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum is proud to announce the 2018 UMLAUF Prize winner, French Canadian sculptor and multimedia artist Shanie Tomassini. Prize juror Sedrick Huckaby selected Tomassini, one of 12 outstanding candidates, to receive a full-scale UMLAUF exhibition of her work.  Read more

Travelers who book pet-friendly homes with HomeAway benefit Emancipet

​HomeAway® recently launched a new travel website of pet-friendly vacation homes, cabins, and condos. To celebrate, the company will donate $100 to Emancipet for every vacation home booked now through Dec. 31 on hmwy.co/pet-travel to help subsidize veterinary care for pets in need.

Check out Liz Parker of Emancipet’s interview on FOX-7’s Good Day Austin at http://www.fox7austin.com/good-day/travel-tuesday-traveling-with-your-pet, and scroll down to learn more about the partnership and see some adorable photos.  Read more