OYOU Fest Fundraiser

Terri Hendrix and friends announce tickets for annual OYOU Fest, an event benefitting the non-profit organization OYOU (Own Your Own Universe)

Matinee in Martindale! September 28th fundraiser in Martindale, Texas, promises fun, music, and entertainment for the whole family — all for a good cause!

OYOU Fest continues on Sunday, September 29th, with a free outdoor event with live music!

Martindale, TX — Texas singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix dedicated nearly a decade to turning her “OYOU” arts center dream into a reality. In 2012, the OYOU officially became a non-profit organization, and last year, it celebrated its 11th anniversary of serving the central Texas area. Despite being an acronym for “Own Your Own Universe,” which reflects Hendrix's independent career as a recording artist, the OYOU has always been focused on bringing joy to the communities it serves and changing lives through the creative arts.

On September 28th, Hendrix and Team OYOU invite YOU (and the whole family!) to share in that fun — and experience firsthand the joy of helping to make a positive difference in the world — at this year's OYOU Fest.

OYOU Fest will kick off with a lively happy hour, a "O-Queso, It's a Fundraiser" nacho bar buffet, a cash bar, a top-notch silent auction, and a raffle. Award-winning musicians Terri Hendrix, Lloyd Maines, and Michael Hearne will provide entertainment. Tickets are just $30, with free admission for children under 12. Doors open at 2:30, with the music running from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m.

September 29th, the fun continues with a free outdoor event with live music by Rochelle & the Sidewinders with more to be announced soon!

Every dollar raised at OYOU Fest — via tickets for Saturday's concert and from voluntary donations collected in person or online day of the show — directly funds the OYOU's mission of making the arts accessible to everyone and empowering and transforming lives by connecting the mind, body, and spirit through music and the creative arts. While it is a labor of love, it requires significant hard work, time, and funds to make it all possible.

Since obtaining its non-profit status, the OYOU has hosted numerous programs and special events online and in person at Wilory Farm and throughout the greater Central Texas area. The OYOU’s calendar is chock-full of programs that include arts and crafts, festivals, music and writing instruction, free community concerts, the OYOUth Club (a music and song camp for children), song circles, picking circles, two women’s retreats, programs for schools, and specialized workshops for individuals with disabilities.

All OYOU events and workshops provide a welcoming, non-judgmental environment that celebrates diversity and inclusivity. The OYOUth programs fill a void in arts-based education, which is increasingly absent in underfunded public schools, while other programs provide lifelong learning opportunities for adults and senior citizens. The high demand for the OYOU’s workshops and classes has led to consistent full capacity. While most programs require tickets, the OYOU offers scholarships to ensure that individuals who cannot afford tuition can still attend and learn. Scholarships are available based on financial need and for teachers, veterans, special-needs students, and for those living with chronic medical conditions.

The OYOU’s mission not only benefits its participants but also supports local artists and professional musicians. These individuals are hired to lead workshops and are paid for their work or performances — even those that are free to the public. In an era where technology and changing consumer habits have disrupted the performing and visual arts industry, this provides artists with additional income and a meaningful way to inspire and teach through sharing their talents and experiences with appreciative audiences. Several of the OYOU’s teachers have faced personal challenges, such as strokes, cancer, depression, or other life-altering conditions. Through mentoring students with similar conditions, they also find a renewed sense of purpose.

Hendrix herself understands these challenges — and rewards. While she continues to write, record, and perform, she has spent most of her adult life managing her music career while living with epilepsy and, most recently, spasmodic dysphonia and essential vocal tremor. But it’s her belief, grounded in the fact that she’s still here today, not just writing and singing but thriving, that music and art have been as vital to her mind, body, and spirit’s resilience as any medication she’s ever been prescribed. Which, of course, is how she first came up with the whole idea for the OYOU in the first place.

“What ‘Own Your Own Universe’ means to me,” she says, “is that I have the power within me to live the best life I can, regardless of my circumstances — and in doing so, inspire others to do the same. The beauty of the OYOU is that anyone can take the tools we provide by way of our events and programs and apply them to their own lives. This reaffirms the power of the creative arts to impact the human condition and soul. Our programs are accessible to everyone. Because everyone should be able to embrace and enjoy the arts!”

For Hendrix, the OYOU is more than just a dream come true: It is a mission that continues to grow and inspire. And it’s her hope that it will have a lasting impact long after her time on earth is done.