By Naomi Richard

Sir Elton John returned to Austin for the Eighth Annual Andy Roddick Foundation Gala at ACL Live at Moody Theater on October 17. The event sold out moments after ticket sales opened to the public. Elton was the headliner in 2011 and this year he returned to a packed house sharing his timeless treasures of music.

The gala serves as the chief fundraising event for the Foundation whose mission is to ensure youth in low-income communities have abundant opportunities to reach their full potential, through educational and sports-based mentoring.

Founder and Chairman Andy Roddick moved his Foundation to Austin in 2012 and is in full effort to build a Sports and Learning Center in East Austin. Roddick started his Foundation in 2000 and since then over $11 million has been raised to empower youth in the Austin and South Florida communities.

“I am thrilled to have long-time friend and philanthropist Elton John return to Austin to help us achieve our goal of raising over $1 million in one evening,” said Roddick.

The gala included a red carpet for arrivals, cocktail reception, dinner, exclusive live auctions and a concert by Elton. To learn more about the Foundation, visit http://arfoundation.org/