Texas Spirits is an honorary social, spirit, and service organization at The University of Texas. Founded in 1941, we are one of the oldest spirit groups on campus! Our organization takes pride in keeping alive the many traditions of our past. Our official charity, the Make-A-Wish foundation, is dedicated to granting "the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy."
We hold Band Jam as an annual fall fundraiser to help grant the wishes of Wish Kids. Started in 1995, Band Jam is a charity concert held in a downtown venue during November. Bands graciously provide their talents for the evening, allowing us to donate more money to the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Planning for Band Jam begins at the end of every spring with the selection of our Band Jam committee, who begins selecting venues and bands right away. The majority of the proceeds are raised through ticket and ad sales done in advance. Each Spirit makes this possible by selling ads to local businesses and tickets on campus. Band Jam involves more than just the benefit concert itself. Fundraising nights take place at local restaraunts such as The Spicy Pickle, Taco Cabana, and Pizza Hut. A portion of the revenue goes to Make A Wish to help us reach our goal. Thanks to our dedicated members and committee, last year we were able to raise $20,000 to send four children and their families to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We threw an arrival/departure party for our Wish kids at Gattitown, where they and their families ate pizza and played games.
