Flash mobs are such a hit all over the world, and St. Gabriel’s Catholic School brought the excitement to Austin! The students, their parents, faculty and staff practiced for weeks, and it was a true success.
Visitors to the Hill Country Galleria were bustling about excitedly as they waited for the lighting of the Christmas tree and the arrival of Santa Claus. Little did they know they would be surprised with a swarm of people breaking out into dance in the middle of the street.
When “Celebration” came on the speakers, the crowd parted as St. Gabriel’s very own Coach Campaign began dancing. This was the cue for fourth and fifth graders to join in the fun, then more teachers and more students shortly after. Before you know it, hundreds of people of all ages were dancing and clapping in sync.
As soon as the song ended, everyone took off their jackets and went in different directions to find coat collection bins. The student council officers took the stage to share the purpose of the flash mob: to bring attention to the annual Coats for Kids collection.
The St. Gabriel’s community had so much enthusiasm for the event and such a passion for helping those in need that the goal of collecting one coat per child was surpassed. Linda Brucker, Executive Director of A Legacy of Giving, and Tria Brindley, Chair of the Junior League’s Coats for Kids collection, said, “We cannot thank you enough for your school's generosity at the flash mob. As a result, over 500 coats were collected for needy children and parents as we roll into the colder months. Every one of those coats (and thousands of others we will collect) will be put to good use in the Greater Austin community.”
Copy/paste this URL to see a video of the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n9-TAPtbe8
