Laredo Energy Arena-South Texas Food Bank Empty Bowls IV Honors Sen. Judith Zaffirini, features Three Dog Night concert

The Laredo Energy Arena-South Texas Food Bank Empty Bowls IV fundraiser on Aug. 25 for the hungry at the LEA honors State Sen. Judith Zaffirini for her support of the food bank mission and features 1970s musical sensation Three Dog Night in concert.

By SALO OTERO
South Texas Food Bank Director of Development

The event was announced on Wednesday May 12 at a press conference at the Laredo Energy Arena. South Texas Food Bank board member co-chairs are Anna Benavides Galo and Kevin Romo.

Tickets for the concert go sale on May 28 via ticketmaster and at the LEA boxoffice. Tickets are $30, $20 and $15. Prime tickets on the floor will be sold at 80 tables of 10. The table seats, which include a meal and access to the silent auction of Empty Bowls artwork, are priced at five levels — $20,000 diamond, $10,000 platinum, $5,000 gold, $2,500 silver and $1,000 bronze. For table seating call the STFB 956.726-3120.

Three Dog Night recorded 21 Top 40 hits in the 1970s, including No. 1s, Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Joy To The World and Black and White. Shambala was a No. 3 and three were at No. 4 — Easy To Be Hard, An Old Fashioned Love Song and The Show Must Go On.

More than 50 artwork bowls from more than 20 Laredo artists will be sold during a silent auction. Longtime Laredo artist rancisco “Pancho” Farias, in charge of the bowl art for the STFB, has painted 17 bowls. Local and national celebrity autographed bowls have been a feature of Empty Bowls. Among the autographs this year are Carlos Mencia, George Lopez, Chicago, Foreigner, Three Dog Night, Daddy Yankee, Intocable, Bucks coach Terry Ruskowski, former Laredo major league shortstop Freddie Benavides and former Dallas Cowboys Bill Bates, Roy Williams and Chad Hennings,

About the honoree, food bank executive director Alfredo Castillo said,

“Sen. Zaffirini has been a true champion for the hungry of Laredo and

South Texas. Through her efforts the food bank has helped thousands of families put food on the table in these difficult economic times. She knows well the food bank mission of feeding the hungry. Because of her contact with Wayne Reaud, the Beaumont Foundation has donated thousands of dollars to the South Texas Food Bank.”

Zaffirini noted, “Although hunger is a serious issue in both rural and

urban South Texas, unfortunately, it is overlooked too often,” said Sen. Zaffirini. “The Empty Bowls campaign will help raise awareness and provide critical funding to fight hunger in our communities. No South Texans should have to choose between going to the grocery store and paying their bills.” She was not able to attend the press conference because of committee hearings in Austin. She was represented at the press conference by her sister Celita Pappas Borchers.

Roy Medina, general manager of the Laredo Energy Arena, said, , “The

Laredo Energy Arena is proud to be a part of the Empty Bowls fundraiser put on by the South Texas Food Bank. Each year the event has grown bigger and been more successful than the previous year. This year we are honored to recognize Senator Judith Zaffirini during the Empty Bowls and especially excited by this year’s entertainment which will be provided by none other than music icons Three Dog Night. It will definitely be an entertaining evening and will help support a great cause of feeding the less fortunate.”

Olga Maldonado, president of the South Texas Food Bank board, echoed, “The Laredo Energy Arena (formerly Laredo Entertainment Center) has been a jewel of a partner with the South Texas Food Bank. Without their help, the food bank could not be of service to so many living with food insecurity. We are blessed to have the arena on our side.”

The food bank made a special presentation of a Farias-painted bowl to Medina and the LEA for their title sponsorship of Empty Bowls. The bowl depicts the Laredo Energy Arena.

Last year’s Empty Bowls honoree was Arturo N. Benavides Sr. and the concert by 1970s and 80s Grammy Award-winning America.

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