Equipment Finance Cares (EF Cares), in partnership with the American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (AACFB), hosted a sold-out river boat charity cruise last week in Austin, Texas. The event brought together members of the equipment finance community for an evening of networking, camaraderie and giving back—raising more than $5,000 to benefit Global Child Advocates and the San Antonio Food Bank.

The Austin skyline provided the backdrop for an inspiring evening, where attendees heard firsthand about the impact of both organizations: Global Child Advocates’ mission to protect and empower children in vulnerable communities, and the San Antonio Food Bank’s work to support victims of the recent flooding in Texas, providing food and water while mobilizing volunteers and distributing critical supplies.

“Great things happen when our industry comes together with a common purpose,” said Jesse Johnson, President of Consult Disrupt and Founder of Equipment Finance Cares. “Seeing a sold-out river boat full of colleagues, friends, and partners rally behind these important causes was both inspiring and humbling. This is what EF Cares is all about, building community while making a difference.”

AACFB’s leadership echoed this sentiment. “The generosity and spirit of the equipment finance community always amazes me,” said Kalah Sprabeary, AACFB Board President. “We are proud to work with EF Cares to shine a light on organizations doing incredible work locally and globally, and we look forward to continuing to make giving back a core part of our gatherings.”

With overwhelming support from attendees, sponsors and partners, EF Cares and AACFB plan to build on the success of this Austin river boat charity cruise by creating even more opportunities for the industry to come together in service of others.