I Live Here, I Give Here

Blaire Kniffin
Assistant Director of Nonprofit Relations

(512) 432 - 1925

As Assistant Director of Nonprofit Relations, Blaire is the direct contact for all of our nonprofit Partners. She guarantees that each nonprofit is able to maximize their benefits of Partnership with I Live Here, I Give Here. Blaire actively works through our Community Needs Spotlight Calendar to relay to the public the challenges and needs of each nonprofit. 

Previously to her role with I Live Here, I Give Here, Blaire served as a Fundraising Department Assistant at Dell Children’s Medical Center Foundation. In college, Blaire interned with Elizabeth Christian Public Relations and then served as a post-graduate fellow for H+K Strategies global public relations firm. 

Blaire is native to Austin. She has her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Saint Edward’s University and served as the public relations chair for the Public Relations Student Society of America for two years. In her free moments, Blaire won’t say no to a good live show at some of her favorite music venues around town and frequently indulges in a delicious tex-mex meal. She practices yoga at Wanderlust Live in the Warehouse District, and is an active member of I Live Here, I Give Here’s program, Austin Involved. 

You can e-mail Blaire at Blaire@ILiveHereIGiveHere.Org.

Celeste Flores
Director of Community Engagement

(512) 432 - 1936

As Director of Community Engagement at I Live Here, I Give Here, Celeste Flores is responsible for Austin Involved, where we are connecting young professionals to meaningful philanthropic opportunities.  She also works to engage future philanthropists with mentors through our programs, Give Back Jack and See Jane Give.  And with a committee, Celeste plans the annual I Live Here, I Give Here Big Give! event.

Before joining the I Live Here, I Give Here team, Celeste did regional grantmaking for Foundation for the Carolinas, a 12-county community foundation based in Charlotte. She has also previously held development positions at University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, Texas Children’s Hospital and United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Celeste recently moved from Charlotte, NC where she served on the board of the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Leaders Under 40 Inaugural class and the Junior League.  She has a passion for the performing arts and creating exposure to the arts for children and underserved communities.  She grew up in San Antonio, but spent a number of years living in Houston and Charlottesville, VA.  She now calls Austin home and enjoys discovering her new city with husband, Ray.

You can e-mail Celeste at Celeste@ILiveHereIGiveHere.Org.

Emily Wheeler
Infrastructure & Operations Manager

(512) 432 - 1926

As Infrastructure & Operations Manager, Emily is the go-to person for daily operations at I Live Here, I Give Here. She ensures that the team has the appropriate internal operational support and structure to deliver excellent work product while facilitating the social media efforts of the organization through the I Live Here, I Give Here website.

Previously, Emily served as a Senior Policy Analyst with a Texas State Senator, thriving on her passion to help Texans through public policy.  Prior to her Texas migration in 2008, Emily was raised in Andover, Massachusetts and called Montreal, Canada her home for over seven years, where she worked as a Project Manager for an international law research center. Emily chose Austin to be her home because of the warm people - and weather! She is passionate about making the world a better place, volunteering with several Austin nonprofits, as well as the UNITAR Afghanistan Fellowship Program. Emily has her Master in Business Administration in nonprofit management and social policy from Brandeis University. In her spare time, she is an avid yoga enthusiast and enjoys learning languages; Emily is currently studying Hindi.

You can e-mail Emily at Emily@ILiveHereIGiveHere.Org.

Karen Frost
Consulting Director of Non-Profit Relations

(512) 432 - 1946

Karen Frost is principal and owner of Frost Media Relations, yet currently serves as the Consulting Director of Nonprofit Relations for I Live Here, I Give Here^®.  For two years, Frost served as board chair for I Live Here, I Give Here, and during the summer of 2011 as the board incubated Amplify Austin; Frost became so excited about the program that she stepped down from the board to become consulting staff to help lead the charge for Amplify Austin.

A few of Frost’s public relations clients include, Whole Foods Market, Keller Williams Realty International, The Red Twist, The Nobelity Project, Zachary Scott Theatre, The Texas Medal of Arts Awards and American Mensa.

Karen currently serves on the board of The Long Center and served as alumni president of the Bob Schieffer School of Journalism at Texas Christian University, as well as the executive board for CreateAustin, Impact Austin and Leadership Austin.  In 2006 Karen was honored with Austin Business Journal’s Profiles in Power Award and in 2008 she received the Austin Under 40 Award for business entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Karen was raised in Houston, but spent a number of years living in Dallas, Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. Since April 2002, she has claimed Austin as home and lives in the central part of town with her life partner, Charles Levy, and their border collie/golden retriever mix, Melvin.

Following the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, Karen collaborated with one of her clients – Jackie Waldman – and together they co-authored America, September 11th; The Courage to Give, which ultimately raised over $100 thousand for the American Red Cross.

You can e-mail Karen at Karen@ILiveHereIGiveHere.org.

Patsy Woods Martin
Founder and Executive Director

(512) 432 - 1900

As founder and executive director of I Live Here, I Give Here, the Central Texas Campaign for Philanthropy, Patsy Woods Martin leads a collaboration of individual philanthropists, Non-Profit organizations, family foundations, local businesses and religious leaders. The group is working to increase awareness of the needs in Central Texas and the role each of us can play in creating solutions to those needs. This pioneering movement to deepen and expand the culture of personal philanthropy in our community by inspiring Central Texans to give more and more Central Texans to give is built on public awareness, nonprofit mobilization, and donor education. The public awareness campaign includes an interactive and informational Website, area-wide advertising and a grassroots outreach program led by over 100 volunteers from around Central Texas.

Before assuming her role at I Live Here, I Give Here, Patsy was the vice president of resource development for United Way Capital Area. She has been a key fundraiser and volunteer for a wide range of Austin nonprofit organizations for over twenty years. Patsy currently serves on the board of the Long Center for the Performing Arts, the Women’s Fund of Central Texas and the advisory board of the newly created Legacy of Giving, an initiatives to expose children to philanthropy. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Junior League of Austin, Leadership Austin, and is a founding member of Impact Austin and UWCA’s Women’s Leadership Council. She has also co-chaired galas for the Helping Hand Home for Children and Hospice Austin and was a member of the Board of Regents at Texas Tech University. Patsy has been recognized by Ballet Austin as a “Woman on Her Toes”; by the Junior League of Austin as “Volunteer Extraordinaire” and by the Girl Scouts of Central Texas as a “Woman of Distinction.”

A fourth generation rancher in Montague County, Texas, Patsy is active in her family ranching and oil business. 

Patsy and her husband Jack have three grown children and have called Austin home for over 30 years.

Loralee Martin
Event Coordinator

Loralee Martin has been with I Live Here I Give Here since it's launch at Austin City Hall in September 2007. That inaugural event and luncheon marked the start of her creative association as Event Coordinator for the I Live Here I Give Here team.She combines a strong background in catering and restaurants with her love for Austin and the desire to serve the community in which she lives. From weekly Team Meetings to monthly Community Needs Spotlights and the annual Big Give, Loralee provides the attention to detail and logistics that supports the mission of I LIve Here I Give Here and all it's many programs and outreaches.