Matthew McConaughey’s MJ&M Benefit

Austin, Texas was ablaze with star power last week as Matthew McConaughey, ESPN analyst and Texas coaching legend Mack Brown and musician Jack Ingram came together for the third annual Mack, Jack and McConaughey benefit, a nonprofit that has given over $2 million dollars to local charitable organizations such as CureDuchenne, Dell Children’s Hospital, HeartGift, The Rise School of Austin and McConaughey’s own just keep livin Foundation.  

Photo Credit: Tyler Schmitt / Courtesy MJ&M

The event kicked off with a gala benefit at ACL Live at the Moody Theatre, where guests like Lance Armstrong and Chord Overstreet were treated to dinner, a charity auction (including a fully-loaded 2015 Lincoln Navigator) and live performances from country superstars Little Big Town and Toby Keith. 

The following morning, McConaughey’s wife, Camila Alves joined forces with Milly designer Michelle Smith and Neiman Marcus to put on a fabulous, sold-out fashion show at the W Austin. A slew of Austin socialites and fashionistas sat through the gorgeous show before heading over to the ACL Theater for lunch.

Photo Credit: MJ&M

Simultaneously, McConaughey, Ingram and Brown headed over to the Spanish Oaks Golf Club for the Celebrity Golf Classic. McConaughey shared a few of his favorite Austin hot spot—of which include the Hamilton Pool Preserve, Mount Bonnell/Covert Park, South Congress and Salt Lick BBQ—before heading over to a pop-up Airstream showcasing his just keep livin clothing collection. He then join Brown and Ingram at the event’s grand finale, the Jack Ingram & Friends concert at ACL Live hosted by Jimmy Kimmel featuring Willis Alan Ramsey, Holly Williams, Christopher Coleman and Butch Walker.

Photo Credit: Tyler Schmitt / Courtesy MJ&M

The event was sponsored for the first time by The Lincoln Motor Company, a frequent collaborator of McConaughey’s (he’s the star of their awesome, prolific ads that have been spoofed by everyone from Ellen DeGeneres to Matt Damon). During the weekend, the luxury automaker made the announcement that they will donate to the Academy Award^® winner’s just keep livin Foundation; said foundation has been chosen as the first national charity to take part in their Driven to Given program. $20  for each test drive taken from a participating dealer in the new 2016 Lincoln MKX midsize crossover, on sale later this year, will go to the actor’s foundation.

Photo Credit: W Austin

All events, including the end-of-event afterparty, took place at the swanky W Austin. VIPs fought tooth and nail for the Extreme Wow Suite, which includes a state-of-the-art entertainment center nestled in the Sapele veneer book case featuring a 52″ Samsung LCD TV, a sleek wet bar with an acid etched mirror amidst other custom designed furniture pieces, a stunning white Murano glass chandelier and an integrated audio system that delivers legendary sound quality in a compact size with built in AirPlay allowing you to wirelessly stream music.

One cannot be a true VIP and stay at the W Austin without indulging in the aptly named A-List facial at the AWAY Spa. You’ll feel like a princess (or prince) when indulging in this supremely relaxing treatment, which both hydrates and reanimates your skin to reduce visible signs of aging (sans surgery, of course). This facial minimizes fine lines and wrinkles, evens out skin tone and rejuvenates cells. A massage is added in to boot. Bliss!