Since 1964, Caritas of Austin has had one mission -- to assist with basic needs in times of crisis. At Caritas, they envision a community of hope, respect and self-reliance.

Caritas of Austin works to prevent homelessness and hunger by assisting low-income community members and refugees with basic needs and promoting self-sufficiency. The organization is now one of Travis County's largest non-governmental sources of assistance. "Caritas" is from the Latin word for love, and in this spirit anyone with a legitimate need receives help. Through Food Services, Refugee Services and Social Service Programs, Caritas served more than 14,700 Travis County adults and children in 2003.

"Caritas of Austin is extremely grateful to have been selected as this year's beneficiary of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody's Engaging Conversations event in October. Not only was it a fantastic and intriguing evening, but it also raised $41,000 to support Caritas as we fight poverty in our community. Because of this generous gift, Caritas can continue to help the working poor achieve stability, prevent homelessness and support those we serve as they move toward economic self sufficiency. Thank you!"

Julia Spann, Executive Director Caritas of Austin

2003 Table Hosts

Joe Black Board member of The First Tee of Greater Austin, former tournament director of the PGA golf tour, former professional on the PGA golf tour, elected in 1982 to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame

Dean Blackwood Corporate attorney and record label executive, serves as in-house counsel to Dell Computer Corporation and co-founder of Revenant Records, winner of three Grammy Awards in 2003

John Burnett Southwestern correspondent for National Public Radio, reports regularly on issues such as border trade, the drug war, natural resources, immigration, and America's war on terrorism; in early 2003, spent two months embedded in the First Marine Division in Iraq

Lisa Byrd Production Manager for Ballet Austin, behind-the-scenes expert at many aspects of the performing arts including sound design, production management, grant writing and strategic planning

Lansing Crane CEO of Crane & Co., manufacturer of the paper used for U.S. currency and maker of fine stationery; spent 25 years practicing law and teaching in the Yale School of Medicine

Edwin Dorn Dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, former senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and senior staff member at the Brookings Institution

Sam Gwynne Executive editor of Texas Monthly, former Austin bureau chief and senior editor for Time, award-winning author of The Outlaw Bank, one of Business Week's top ten books of 1991

Sterling Lands II Senior pastor of Greater Calvary Baptist Church, community activist and education advocate, president of the Eastside Social Action Coalition, member of the City Planning Commission

Gerald Mann Founder and pastor of Riverbend Church, host of the weekly television show Real Life With Dr. Gerald Mann and nationally known businessman, humorist, and public speaker

George E. Martin President of St. Edward's University since 1999, board member and secretary for Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, previously academic vice president of St. Peter's College

Dave McNeely Austin American-Statesman political columnist since 1982, recipient of Congressional and Nieman Fellowships, co-teacher with Paul Begala and then Karl Rove of "The Press and Politics" at UT

PJ Pierce Author of Let Me Tell You What I've Learned: Texas Wisewomen Speak, a collection of interviews with 25 well-known Texas women, member of the board of the Story Circle Network

Eddie Reese Coach of the U.S. men's swimming team for the 2004 Athens Olympics and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, coach of the UT men's swimming team since 1979 and member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame

Dave Sikora President and CEO of Pervasive Software, respected throughout the software industry for his entrepreneurial experience and executive leadership, director of several Texas software companies

Margaret Spellings As assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, responsible for developing and implementing White House policy on domestic issues such as education, health, labor, transportation and justice