Cocktails for the Colorado

On October 10, 2024, hundreds of Austin’s philanthropy, community, and corporate leaders joined us at the Four Seasons Hotel for an evening of celebration and fundraising for our state’s lifeblood and greatest natural resource, the Texas Colorado River.

This is a momentous year as we commemorate the 30^th anniversary of Colorado River Alliance. In celebration of this milestone year, CRA honored all of our past John Lay River Hero Award Honorees and VIP Sponsors enjoyed an exclusive meet-and-greet with past Honorees to celebrate their commitment to water stewardship and the Texas Colorado River. Sally Allen, member of the CRA Board of Directors and daughter of John Lay, and her husband DJ Allen chaired the gala host committee.

All funds raised directly support the mission of Colorado River Alliance and serve communities throughout the full length of the Colorado River Basin to support, activate, or create efforts to conserve and protect our most precious resource.

Colorado River Alliance has honored an individual, couple, group, business, or organization for contributions to the preservation and protection of the Texas Colorado River. Honorees have included Central Texas business leaders, corporations, conservationists, elected officials, news outlets, vineyard owners, musicians, a photographer, and a filmmaker.

The award was renamed in honor of our esteemed and beloved longtime Board President John Lay in 2020 for his outstanding service to protecting our river and his lifelong commitment to resource stewardship, education, and community building. Mr. Lay’s decades of leadership on the Colorado River Alliance Board ensured that thousands of school children had an opportunity to be inspired and excited by the Colorado River.

We will forever be grateful for his service and commitment to our mission. His impact will endure through the honor of this esteemed award. In loving memory of the remarkable Mr. Lay (1948-2023).

In 2024, Colorado River Alliance was pleased to honor River Heroes of the past 30 years in celebration of the organization’s 30^th Anniversary. Watch the CRA 30^th Anniversary: Honoring the John Lay River Heroes of our Past video here.