Get shopping, save Christmas. An Austin family needs you.

PROBLEM:
More than 2,000 Austin families will consider “canceling Christmas” this year because they can’t afford the toys, gifts or even food to celebrate.
SOLUTION:
You or your company can adopt a family and save Christmas.
 
It’s simple. Just visit Foundation Communities to download a family sponsorship form, fill it in to let them know what size family you’d like to [...]

Real progress! East Austin doing something about drop-outs

Imagine having no middle school for your child. That’s the situation for many East Austin families. A new middle school not only fills that void, it creates an innovative learning environment that prepares these kids for college – not just high school but college.
Tomorrow night (November 5), Southwest Key will host an open house for the East Austin [...]

Teaching philanthropy in (all) Austin schools

You could almost stop worrying about the future of Austin philanthropy thanks to Linda Brucker and the team that created A Legacy of Giving.
Since 2007, the program has exposed almost 6,000 students in the Austin, Eanes, and Round Rock school districts, plus a couple of private schools, to the concept of philanthropy. The program is [...]

A smart, easy way to double your donation

This is genius.
We’re obviously fans of GiveRealty’s business model; the real estate broker donates 25 percent of its commission to the charity of the seller/buyer’s choice, in their name. But using the new website RecognizeGood- also born and raised in Austin – GiveRealty was able to double that donation.
A recent home sale through GiveRealty resulted [...]

Austin author releases new book about the orphans of India

For three years, Shelley Seale would travel to the orphanages of India, bags loaded with treats and toys to share with the children who had made such an enormous impact on her. After all, these were the same children who inspired the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Each time she got to know the children’s stories a little [...]

JUNE 7: Austin Father’s Parade & Festival

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As far as I know, there is no parade for mothers. Fine.
But this Sunday there will be a parade for dads… and grandfathers and uncles, too. The River City Youth Foundation will host its 9th Annual Father’s Parade and Festival this Sunday, with the parade started at Mendez Middle School and ending at River City [...]

Red McCombs: “I want the joy of giving while I’m living”

I grew up in the shadow of that big American Indian chief statue on NW Loop 410 in San Antonio, the one that sits on the Red McCombs car dealership, so I’ve known the name Red McCombs all my life. For a while, I thought he was an Indian chief.
I was able to meet him [...]

MAY 4-8: Choose Rio Grande Restaurant this week to help raise money for local charities

It seems like there are opportunities to support local charities in just about everything you do. Here’s another example.
Anyone like tequila? From May 4-8, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant on San Jacinto is donating a percentage of the day’s bar profits to five selected charities (one each night).
Monday, May 4: A Legacy of Giving, 5-7:30pm
Tuesday, May [...]

One of the best donation requests I’ve ever received

I don’t know if this is how she was supposed to do it, if it was planned this way, or if she just decided to send a quick and casual email to about 60 people asking for help. But I’m telling you, it made me click on the “donate” link and send them $20. And [...]

SUN APRIL 5: Peace, Love & Happiness Charity Motorcycle Ride is right up my alley

My husband got T-boned on his Harley a few years ago. He got severely bumped up and the FXR was totaled. I’m grateful Norwood was able to call me from the emergency room to explain why he was late going home, but I’m sad for him and his Harley.
Norwood had rebuilt it by hand, and [...]