Governor Greg Abbott Recognizes September 13, 2022 as HAAM Day
On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, Chip Adams, Community Relations & Outreach Specialist of the Texas Music Office, presented a Certificate of Recognition from Governor Greg Abbott to HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians), the Austin, TX non-profit, to officially recognize the day as HAAM Day.
For more than 16 years, HAAM Day has been Austin’s biggest fundraising event supporting local musicians and is one of the city’s most iconic celebrations of community and music.
This year’s HAAM Day saw live music performances all day at the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, as well as specially curated music showcases at 12+ iconic music venues throughout Austin and via livestream.
Official Certificate of Recognition:
"Austin musicians are the lifeblood of the city’s culture, and they have built the city’s storied reputation as the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Indeed, Austin’s proud musical tradition makes key contributions to the vivid cultural landscape of the city. Though these talented Texans generate billions of dollars in revenue and create tens of thousands of jobs, they make their greatest impacts on the hearts and minds of audiences throughout the city.
Since its inception in 2005, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) has provided over $123 million in affordable health care services to thousands of local musicians. As a result, HAAM ensures the welfare of the city’s talented musicians, thereby enabling them to give the city the gift of music.
HAAM Day is an exciting, community-wide event for Texans to enjoy hundreds of performances from local musicians at venues throughout the greater Austin area. By providing musicians a financial safety net, HAAM amplifies creative partnerships and spurs business growth, representing the best of the Lone Star State."
About HAAM:
HAAM provides access to affordable healthcare for greater Austin’s low income, working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness. Many Austin musicians are self-employed and have no access to health insurance or basic healthcare. They often work multiple jobs and struggle to pay for basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter, with nothing left for healthcare. That’s where HAAM comes in. By resolving challenges such as long-neglected dental work to hearing loss, heart problems and depression, HAAM and our healthcare partners improve and save musicians’ lives, enhancing Austin’s economy and quality of life. Austin is the "Live Music Capital of the World," and we aim to keep it that way. HAAM has helped nearly 6,000 musicians across seven counties access over $112 million in healthcare services since we began in 2005. Services include routine dental work, doctor visits and prescriptions, psychiatric counseling sessions, eye exams, outpatient procedures, specialist referrals, hearing screenings, basic needs assistance, and more.