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The Austin Area Foundation has a big day coming up later this month and it wants to invite you along for a night out of fun, fellowship and fundraising.

AAF will be hosting its sixth annual For The Love of Austin from 6-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Austin Country Club. It is a fundraiser for the organization that has dedicated itself to the community of Austin and Mower Count through charitable giving.

Individual dinner tickets are $75 with a cash bar available.

The first For The Love of Austin was held in February of 2020, beneath the shadow of the incoming COVID-19 pandemic and while for the next couple years, the event was held both in person and virtually, the mission and the purpose never shifted.

“The first event we had a very nice crowd, but we didn’t raise a huge amount,” said Executive Director Steve Barrett. That first year, the event raised just $8,900, but things quickly started climbing after that.

“Since then, we have consistently, significantly increased that amount,” he said, referring to a past $25,000 gift from an anonymous donor. “It’s been a wonderful progression.”

Barrett credits the success of today’s events to those first years and the work of then Executive Director Jeff Baldus and Darrell Ingvaldson, who in the span of just a couple short weeks brought the first event to life.

The goal in those years, and every year since then, has been to work with area partners to create a one-of-kind event that will stick with people, along with getting the word out about the AAF.

“I think we’ve really worked hard to raise the profile of the Austin Area Foundation within the community and across the county,” Barrett said. “We’ve worked with leaders of the communities across the county to raise the profile as well as reaching out to more companies in the area to continue to raise that profile.”

A major change to this year’s event is the Worlein Family Challenge, which will generate more funds for the organization, spearheaded by a family that has been an important part of the AAF for years.

Over the next five years, the family will be the presenting sponsor of For The Love of Austin, while at the same time will be providing up to $25,000 each year to match donations from attendees and donors.

“The goal of the Worlein Family Challenge is to provide more money that will go to our outreach into the community through the Austin Legacy Endowment Fund that provides the grant support to Austin-based nonprofits,” Barrett said, who added that money will also go toward scholarship funds as well as the Greater Austin Area and Mower County Endowment Fund.

“The whole goal that Paul and Joanne wanted to realize from this gift is really to spur the growth of our funds because as our fund base grows, the more we can distribute back to the community,” Barrett added.

This past year alone, the AAF was able to donate to 23 different programs from 21 different organizations that support basic needs, the arts, kids programming, education and more.

It’s also representative of the growth over the years that AAF has enjoyed. This year, the AAF was able to cross the $4 million mark in assets under management.

Through that solid base it appears that that growth could continue toward doubling that amount over the next 10 years.

For The Love of Austin is a major part of establishing that foundation.

“For The Love of Austin does not fund all of our programs for the year,” Barrett said. “We need donations and grants from other donors and other organizations. It does give us that solid foundation that the work of the foundation is able to move forward and continue to connect with organizations and meet our mission statement of enhancing the community through charitable giving.”

But it’s also just a good time. This year’s entertainment will be provided in person by Brian and Nicole Christianson and the meal will be a four-course banquet.

There will also be a silent and live auction with the silent auction being done completely online.

“Fun and fellowship all for the sake of doing good within the community,” Barrett said.

For more information, visit www.austinareafoundation.org.