Last Thursday, in front of a sold-out, in-person crowd—and a host of viewers streaming online—Buc-ee’s Presents Robert Earl Keen & Friends: Applause For The Cause raised 3 million dollars for the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country in the wake of the region’s devastating July 4 floods. Dreamt up and seen through by Keen and his hefty guest list of world-class artists, Applause For The Cause saw a special set swap between Keen and Tyler Childers, a revisiting of The Marfa Tapes songs from Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, and Jack Ingram, two stellar tributes to Charlie Robison, and countless, whole-crowd sing-alongs. Read Rolling Stone’s review here. From the very beginning of the music-packed afternoon and evening at Whitewater Amphitheater outside of New Braunfels, Texas, Keen’s mission was clearly executed: Make a difference and have a blast doing it.
For those who missed out on the live stream, Applause For The Cause can be re-watched on demand on Robert Earl Keen’s YouTube channel, merch can still be purchased here, and, of course, direct donations can still be made to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country at this link. From the stage, Keen reiterated the charge he gave himself and everyone in his orbit since July 4: “Do as much as you can, for as long as you can.”
Keen, along with the entire cast and crew of Applause For The Cause, would like to extend gratitude to Buc-ee’s, Amazon Music, DirecTV, Ruku TV, VEEPS, YouTube, American Heart Association, Brown-Forman, Turtlebox, Camp Fimfo, Central Market, Gruene Hall, HEB, Shiner Beers, Thrivent, Tito’s, Tri-City Distributors, Whataburger, and Whitewater Amphitheater for their gracious support of this fundraiser.
Under the supervision of BetterUnite, Applause For The Cause raised 3 million dollars (as of today) through ticket sales, merchandise purchases, a pre-party auction, and online donations throughout the live stream of which added 100 thousand dollars to the 3 million dollar total.
Thrivent, a financial services company putting generosity at the heart of saving and investing, offered concertgoers a unique opportunity to write messages of gratitude for first responders and connected on-site directly with Texas Search and Rescue volunteers. Along with its clients, Thrivent has raised and donated nearly one million dollars to help support flood relief efforts in the region.
“Behind all the money collected and volunteer time on the ground, there is an immense sense of community and connection here,” said Thrivent Community Engagement Leader Amber Schraeder. “As the residents cried, we cried. As they prayed and hoped for recovery, we prayed and hoped with them. As the Hill Country recovers, we will be here to recover with them.”
While Buc-ee’s Presents: Robert Earl Keen & Friends Applause For The Cause is over and funds will soon be delivered to those individuals, businesses, and organizations in Texas who need it the most, this work is never over and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country will need continued support. To contribute or keep up with the work the Community Foundation is doing, please visit communityfoundation.net.
About Robert Earl Keen: After 21 albums full of songs like “Gringo Honeymoon,” “Feelin’ Good Again,” and “Corpus Christi Bay,” thousands of shows, songs cut by artists including George Strait and The Highwaymen, and many well-deserved accolades like the BMI Troubadour Award, the Texas Heritage Songwriter Hall of Fame, and the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award—of which only 300 or so have been awarded from more than half-a-million graduates—it would be hard to find anybody in the same shoes who would willingly give it all up for a quiet life at home. As Keen projects from the stage every night, along with the help of every set of lungs in the room, “The road goes on forever, and the party never ends!”
Those words have never seemed more true for the Americana pioneer, and in Keen’s late-career renaissance, his party doesn’t just “never end,” it keeps growing. Just this year, Keen made an iconic, late-career debut on the Grand Ole Opry, was invited to join Tyler Childers for a sold out show at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl, and helped his old friends Turnpike Troubadours rattle Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater, all while continuing to headline his own shows in iconic venues, host his Americana Podcast: The 51st State, putting together a new book, and recording yet another new album.
About Buc-ee’s: Buc-ee’s is a chain of Texas-based travel centers known for its cleanliness and friendliness. More than just a fuel stop, Buc-ee’s caters to the traveling public with an extensive selection of unique items—from brisket sandwiches and Beaver Nuggets to branded clothing and souvenirs. Its spotless restrooms are world famous and a welcome stop for road-trippers and families alike. Buc-ee’s was started in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1982 and now has over 50 locations across 10 states.
About Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country: The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life across the Hill Country region by connecting charitable donors with community needs. Based in Kerrville and serving 10 counties, the Foundation manages a diverse portfolio of funds and grants that support local nonprofits, scholarships and community initiatives. Since its founding in 1982, the Foundation has worked to strengthen communities, inspire generosity, and create lasting positive impact for current and future generations.
About Thrivent: Thrivent is a Fortune 500 financial services company that helps build, grow and protect financial well-being through purpose-driven advice, investments, insurance, banking and generosity programs. Thrivent serves more than 2.4 million clients through thousands of financial advisors across the country and has more than $193 billion in assets under management/advisement (as of 12/31/24). Thrivent carries strong financial ratings from independent rating agencies - including AM Best, Moody's and S&P Global Ratings - which demonstrate the company’s financial strength, stability and ability to pay claims. Ratings don't apply to investment product performance and more information can be found on each rating agency's website. For more information about Thrivent, visit Thrivent.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
