A Benefit for Hungry Hill Foundation

It was so much fun to organize an event with our partners Eastside Kings Foundation and Hungry Hill Foundation. John Paul is a longtime supporter of Eastside Kings’ mission to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of African American Blues, Jazz, and Gospel — he loves the blues! It was only fitting to introduce the them to Hungry Hill, an organization that provides opportunities for unhoused and vulnerable folks in East Austin. We brought them together for an unforgettable reunion - a night at TC’s! With a blessing from TC himself, we brought together Austin musicians Little Elmore Reed Blues Band, Soul Man Sam and Mac McIntosh for a night of blues, dancing and fundraising for residents of East Austin.

We heard from Hungry Hill founder & director Chase Wright about their mission to support East Austin residents on their re-entry journey from unhoused to self-sufficient citizens through a holistic multi-tiered work/apprenticeship program. As he said, by the people for the people.

HUGE thank yous to:

• Shepherd Five Points Foundation for their presenting sponsorship that made this event possible.

• Eileen and everyone at Sahara Lounge

• All of the musicians and sound team

• TC and his family

• Photographer Yvonne Uwah

Such a great night celebrating what makes Austin great.

ConnectHER Film Fest 2026

Eloise has been the presenting sponsor of the ConnectHER Film Festival for the last 12 years. Why does she love the fest so much? To date, there have been 2,250 films submitted from young creatives in 93 countries around the world. $332,000 has been given away in prize money to winning filmmakers in categories like Women & the Environment, Women & Health, and our very own Global Impact Award.

This year’s fest at State Theatre brought together up-and-coming filmmakers from the U.S., Canada and Brazil (many more were unable to attend, unfortunately, but joined online), local Austin female filmmakers like Elizabeth Avellán, Kat Candler and Chelsea Hernandez as well as special performances by Texas Mohini, Ballet Folklórico, poet Emi Mahmoud and singer-songwriter Victory Boyd.

To get an idea of how powerful these stories are, just watch these two winning films below. We love that young creatives get to make art and then go on to use their films to advocate for a better world. Films change lives! ConnectHER Film Fest is the best example of that we know. Can’t wait till next year!

A Safe Haven, winner of the 2026 ConnectHER Film Fest Global Impact Award, presented by our foundation:

HELADO, winner of the 2026 ConnectHER Film Fest AUDIENCE Award and 1st RUNNER UP Judges’ Prize:

A Day to Shine

When we were contacted by GETMAD Service Organization, a group of Westlake moms and daughters who give back to local causes, about honoring John Paul and Eloise for their work with Community First! Village, we were so honored. The group really cared about getting to know John Paul and Eloise and telling their whole story, which they did beautifully at their event last weekend that featured a fashion show, an auction and the Lifestyle Award presented to John Paul and Eloise.

The best part is that the evening raised over $1 million for Mobile Loaves & Fishes, an organization we care deeply about, that provides homes and community for unhoused folks. Thank you so much to all the moms and daughters that worked so hard to make this night a success, to the generous donors, and to the MLF Team and Community for being one of the best parts of Austin!

JP and Eloise in Tribeza

John Paul and Eloise were recently featured in Tribeza Magazine’s 25th Anniversary Edition for their contributions to Austin and Paramount Theatre’s Shine On campaign specifically. With their gift, the Paramount will be able to restore and fully realize a third floor lounge that will be — get this — the Peace, Love & Happiness Lounge! We are so thrilled to be based in Austin and to be a part of this historic theatre’s preservation for generations to come. Thanks Tribeza and congrats on 25 years!

15 Years: ConnectHER

Two strangers met on a bus at SXSW in 2013. One was the new-ish director of JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation (me). One was the new-ish director of ConnectHER, a crowdfunding platform and nascent film festival at Harvard. As soon as I met Lila Igram, I knew that Eloise would want to hear about this incredible festival that elevated the voices of women and girls through short films. Right after that, Eloise and I went to Harvard to attend the second annual Girls Impact the World Film Festival (now called the ConnectHER Film Festival). With a lineup of incredible judges, a casual atmosphere and an exciting energy around the stories and how they were making an impact, Eloise knew she wanted to be involved. Since then, the festival has moved to Austin and grown by leaps and bounds!

Eloise has been a faithful supporter of young creatives and filmmakers as the presenting sponsor of the film fest for more than 12 years now. There have been more than 2,250 films submitted from 64 countries and more than $300,000 USD given out to young filmmakers. The above video was made a few years ago, but we are excited to report we are the presenting sponsor for this year’s fest coming up May 1 & 2 at the State Theatre. Get your tickets here!

15 Years: Grow Appalachia

We are so excited to be celebrating 15 years of our foundation. Throughout the year, we will be throwing it back to stories and projects that are a part of our hearts — past and present. In 2014, we introduced our friends and partners Turk and Christy Pipkin of The Nobelity Project to our backyard gardening partner Grow Appalachia.

John Paul created Grow Appalachia in 2010 with some funding and an idea — how can we help folks to grow their own food in a particularly food insecure place? He partnered with Berea College to set up the backyard gardens project — which has helped 13,628 families across 6 states to grow 7,872,445 pounds of food. Grow Appalachia has grown to include social enterprises, a beginning farmers assistance program and afterschool nutrition programs. We are thrilled to still be partnered with Grow Appalachia in their important work. In the last 15 years, so much good, hard work has been done in gardens, so many meals shared, so many lives touched. Thanks to all the staff, volunteers and community that have made Grow Appalachia what it is today!

Shine On

We are so excited to finally share the big news!

John Paul and Eloise are so proud to announce that they have joined Shine On to help restore the Paramount Theatre, in Austin, Texas. At 110 years old and with 200 shows a year, the theatre could use some care and attention. It hasn’t undergone a full renovation since the late 1970s. From ornate murals, chandeliers and plaster molding to the building’s critical infrastructure, every element will be renewed—incorporating energy-saving measures throughout. Our favorite part? There will be a JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Lounge in the new space! The Paramount’s original 1915 blueprints included a third-floor ballroom that was never realized. This dream will come to life through the stunningly designed JP’s Peace, Love, and Happiness Lounge.

So thrilled that this gem will be around for generations to come. We encourage you to check out the campaign and join in any way you can. Go see a show before renovations begin!

Case for Kindness

We thought we would let you all know that John Paul and his work with the foundation was a part of Case for Kindness — a new documentary out NOW on Amazon Prime! You can also sign up to host a screening in your community!

Case for Kindness is a transformative journey across the United States, exploring the profound impact of kindness on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Through engaging dialogues with figures like Ben Affleck, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Tim Shriver, Daniel Lubetzky, John Paul DeJoria, and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama—alongside insights from scientists and scholars—the film unravels the essence of kindness, its origins, and its vital role in our lives.

Taco Tuesday

Today, John Paul joined fellow veterans at Taco Tuesday at Patriot’s Hall of Dripping Springs — a 10 acre retreat and resource hub for veterans, active military and their families to connect, grow and thrive. John Paul and Eloise were proud to help build some of these spaces for veterans and their families. After years of visiting it as a construction site, it is so good to see the whole space — the VFW meeting hall, the clinic, the obstacle course, the garden, the playscape — beautiful and in use.

For Taco Tuesday, there is self-serve tacos and coffee. John Paul shared some of his stories of his time in the Navy, and got to hear the story of a man and his Purple Heart in Vietnam. There was produce for vets to take home from the garden. We are so grateful to the Patriot’s Hall team, volunteers and vets for making this place what it is. If you’re in Central Texas and looking for a supportive veteran community, reach out to PHDS!

Grow Appalachia Gardens 2025

Our executive director Constance just wrapped up a week of touring gardens with Grow Appalachia — a program John Paul created more than 16 years ago in partnership with Berea College to help people grow their own food. The program has taken on a lot of forms and helped a lot of people grow a lot of food since then — more than 7,306,523 pounds grown! They use the average that organic food is about $2 a pound, so that’s more than $14 million in food produced by people for themselves and their communities. They have accomplished this amazing work by partnering with more than 70 nonprofits in the region spanning 5 states. For the 2025 growing season, they have 24 partner sites. This year’s tour took us to four sites across Kentucky and Tennessee, and we wanted to share some of the beautiful gardens and gardeners!

Owsley County, KY

We visited three market gardeners, a couple of whom sell at the Owsley County Farmer’s Market. Market gardeners have been able to grow enough food to sell at local markets. Just about every gardener will preserve (can, freeze dry) food and they also end up giving food away to neighbors.

Karin of Chabbit Farms

Mary and Ben Mulholland of Wild Willow Farms

Derek and Danielle Whitaker of Dark Holler Farm

Woodland Land Trust, TN

Sarah in her backyard garden

With the Woodland Land Trust team

Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council, TN

In the garden of Shakti in the Mountains ran by Cleo and Judy

Dr. Megan Tewell in a garden she’s growing in an abandoned lot she bought and refreshed

The Blevins Family

It’s life changing. We’ve learned so much about pest control, land management… getting seeds we might not have ever tried out. You can try these things without sinking a bunch of money into it. We are so thankful. 

- Becca Blevins, Motte & Bailey Farm

Rooted East, TN

We visited home gardeners in this new-to-Grow-Appalachia program in East Knoxville.

That is my goal - to eat out of my land. To feed people out of my land.

Alician Batts

When I come out here and see those cucumbers, it does something to my heart. It’s my first time growing. 

- Blenda McCrary, first time gardener

Nacira Hall in her garden

PLH, Grow Appalachia and Rooted East in Deidra Harper’s garden

This really makes me feel like I’m doing something. I’m accomplished. Just to be nurturing, taking care of something. 

Deidra

Thank you to all the site coordindators, Grow Appalachia staff and gardeners for letting us come visit!