SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo Texas Flood Benefit Concert and Auction, held on Friday, July 11, at the Arc Light Bar and Grill inside the Clarion Hotel at 441 Rio Concho Dr., raised $178,000 for the San Angelo Area Foundation’s local flood relief fund.
Headlined by San Angelo native Kat Hasty, Rich O’Toole, Sterling Elza, and Cooper Hamilton also of San Angelo, the event was organized in just five days by Texas music recording artist Rich O’Toole and Joe Hyde of San Angelo LIVE!. Their initial goal was to raise $10,000 through ticket sales.
O’Toole and Hyde partnered with Wild West Fest promoter Thomas Halfmann of San Angelo to recruit performers, all of whom performed for free. The Clarion Hotel provided complimentary rooms for artists who requested them. Sterling Elza stood out by contributing high-value auction items, including a signed Houston Astros jersey and a signed Texas Tech football.
“I looked around my house to find something to donate to the cause,” Elza said.
Headliners (L-R) Kat Hasty, Rich O'Toole, Cooper Hamilton (singing), and Sterling Elza.
The concert sold out the day before, resulting in a one-in, one-out policy at the door. With 400 tickets sold, the event met its initial $10,000 goal through ticket sales alone.
The auction operation was led by Judy Hyde, LaFreta White, Laura Sosa, Veronica Cromwell, Trish Smith, City Councilwoman Mary Coffey, a large group with Sarah O'Donnell at GB Aesthetics, and a dedicated group of volunteers, including staff, owners, and families from Jim Bass Cars & Trucks.
Renowned auctioneer Mike Smith, known for his work at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Premium Sale, volunteered his expertise. The auction, combined with private donations, raised $68,000, with additional contributions throughout the week pushing the total to $168,000. Including ticket sales, the event raised $178,000, with all proceeds directed to the San Angelo Area Foundation’s disaster relief fund to support families who lost their homes in the July 4 flood.
O’Toole played a key role behind the scenes, securing auction items such as an official Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey from wide receiver Mike Evans, a former Texas A&M standout and favorite target of Johnny Manziel in 2012. O’Toole also helped manage the stage, sound, and event format.
Joe Hyde, auctioneer Mike Smith, and Trish Smith manage the auctioning of a signed Houston Astros jersey donated by singer/songwriter Sterling Elza.
The organizers extend special thanks to the Texas music performers who entertained the crowd at the Arc Light Bar from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a brief intermission for the 7:30 p.m. auction. The lineup included:
- Kat Hasty
- Sterling Elza
- Cooper Hamilton
- Case Hardin (with fiddle player Griffin McDonnell)
- Bernie Nelson
- Gage and the Grease Monkeys (full band)
- 12 Mile (full band)
- The Teague Brothers Band (full band acoustic)
- Jesse Joe
- Jacob Childress
- Tristyn Sanchez
Donors contributing auction items or monetary support included:
- Congressman August Pfluger
- State Rep. & Mrs. Drew Darby
- State Senator Charles Perry
- John Bass
- Jim Bass Cars & Trucks
- The Hardeman Family Foundation
- Karl Pfluger
- Texas A&M Athletics
- San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association
- Free Rein Coffee
- James Perez
- Sterling Elza
- realtree.com
- Stetson
- Angelo MRI
- Hill Pools & Spas
- Cody’s Corner
- Glistening Beauty Aesthetics
- Cavender’s
- Mr. Boots Western & Mercantile
- PF Fabrication
- Trippy Turquoise
- Angelo State University
- Any Lab Test Now
- Yeti
- Carlson Law Firm
- Glazer’s
- Busker’s Body Shop
- Team Chip Martial Arts San Angelo
- Texas Tech Alumni - San Angelo
- Sklenarik’s Smoked Meats
- Blue Door Designs
- Belinda Aycock
- Cowboy Up Chocolate
- Cano’s Diamonds & Coins
- Avon | Shari Chaney
- MA Chaney
- Chris Chaney
- Smoothie King
- The Salty Heifers
- Walls and Windows
- Dulce Rodriguez Photography
- Russell Smith
- Your Local Mermaid
- Malia Sherrod with Scentsy
- Carlie Jo Johnson
- The Wharf Restaurant and Tavern
- College Hills Vet Clinic
- Coleman Olive Company
- Fancy Pants
- San Angelo Performing Arts Center
- Teri Covert, Realtor
- Nova Wellness, Beauty & Grace
- Franco’s Cafe
- LIVE Design (provided large balloon arrangement for the stage)
- Media Advantage
- Pour More - Mobile Bartending Experience
- ATEX
- Gary Wofford
- Barbara Medellin
- Carolina Chavarria
- Countless Anonymous Donors and Volunteers
The organizers express their gratitude to all participants and supporters who made this event a resounding success for flood relief efforts in San Angelo. This event was an outstanding representation of how the San Angelo community comes together for the benefit of others.
As of Thursday, the San Angelo Area Foundation had raised over $1.3 million for flood relief. All of this money will be spent on San Angelo area flood recovery, including direct assistance to flooding victims who have lost their homes.
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