Alan Graham, Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Named "Austinite of the Year"
Graham to be honored at the Austin Chamber's 138th Annual Meeting on Feb. 3, 2016
Graham to be honored at the Austin Chamber's 138th Annual Meeting on Feb. 3, 2016
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Austin Chamber of Commerce today announced that Alan Graham, CEO and Co-Founder of Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF), an innovative non-profit organization focused on helping the homeless, has been named "Austinite of the Year."
The prestigious award, which represents the highest honor of the Chamber, will be presented to Graham during ceremonies at the Chamber's Annual Meeting scheduled for February 3, 2016.
"Alan Graham is an amazing individual whose story is truly inspirational," said Gene Austin, Chairman of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and CEO, President and Director of Bazaarvoice. "After a career in real estate in Austin, he followed a calling and has devoted his life to helping our city's homeless population. In doing so, Alan has become a nationally recognized leader in the fight to change homelessness."
Graham is a lifelong Texan. He attended The University of Texas at Austin for a few years before embarking on his first entrepreneurial venture. He founded The Lynxs Group, an on-airport air cargo facility developer, and has been creating ever since. After getting to know a homeless man who was employed through his church, Graham decided to take his first round of mobile meals to those in need in downtown Austin. While performing his duties as President of a real estate development, management, brokerage and investment firm, he chose to serve Austin's homeless and created Mobile Loaves & Fishes.
"The greatest cause of homelessness is the catastrophic loss of family," said Bruce Agness, Founding Member and Chair of MLF. "Alan shares his time and treasure to help our friends on the street to make our city a better place to live for all of us. He leads by example."
Since 1998, the MLF organization has served over 4 million meals. With the support of more than 18,000 volunteers, it is the largest prepared feeding program to the homeless and working poor in Austin. Most recently, Graham has helped to drive innovative programs, which are receiving national attention. This includes the Community First! Village Housing Program, a new 27-acre master-planned community in Austin that will provide affordable, sustainable housing and a supportive community for the disabled, chronically homeless in Central Texas.
About the "Austinite of the Year" Award
The "Austinite of the Year" award is the highest honor awarded by the Austin Chamber of Commerce. The award began in 1984 as a vehicle for honoring significant leaders in the local community.
Recent Austinites of the Year include: Lee Leffingwell (2014), Clarke Heidrick (2013), Lynn & Tom Meredith (2012), South by Southwest Leaders Louis Black, Roland Swenson, Nick Barbaro and Hugh Forrest (2011), Lance Armstrong (2010), Charles Barnett (2009), Dr. Pat Gorgione (2008), Mayor Will Wynn (2007), Gary Farmer (2006) and Pike Powers (2005).
About the 138th Annual Meeting of the Austin Chamber
In addition to honoring Graham as the Austinite of the Year, the Annual Meeting provides the Chamber community with the opportunity to celebrate the successes of the past year, look ahead to the future, as well as recognize 2016 leadership including newly appointed board of directors. The Chamber also plans on recognizing its Volunteers of the Year in areas such as Communications, Education, Government Relations, Regional Infrastructure, Economic Development, Communications, the Ambassador Program, and Small Business.
Registration details for the meeting are at austinchamber.com/annual.
About the Austin Chamber
The mission of the Austin Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership that facilitates the creation of a prosperous regional economy and effective advocacy for its 3,000+ members. For more information about the Austin Chamber of Commerce visit AustinChamber.com.
Media Inquiries:
Jenny Steward, Public Relations Manager, Austin Chamber of Commerce
O: 512.322.5637
[email protected]
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151106/284750
SOURCE Austin Chamber of Commerce
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