Hundreds attend Vivir Unidos party…er, volunteer fair

Last week , we participated in the Vivir Unidos volunteer fair for Hispanics produced by the overworked and underpaid folks from United Way and Hands on Central Texas. Between all the amazing food, the music, the socializing, the dancing… seriously, weren’t we supposed to have been there to “improve Hispanic engagement?” Blah blah blah, this was a party.
There [...]

FRI MARCH 27: Be a “real world” speaker to Travis High Students

Received this email from Linda Medina. I know there are lots of you out there who could expose a high school student to a career they might have never considered. This is a great opportunity to inspire Austin young people.
Dear Friends,
I hope this email finds you well.  Volunteers are needed to participate in the Travis High [...]

Network while you work … at the Food Bank

 
 
 
If you’re going to put yourself out there, try to meet new people, find new opportunities… you might as well wipe some  cans and sort some peanut butter.
Scott Ingram of NetworkIn Austin and Austin TopGuns came up with this pairing of networking and giving/volutneering, and they’ve chosen the Capital Area Food Bank as the recipient. [...]

BLOG ACTION DAY: How you can reverse the downward spiral towards increasing poverty in Central Texas

In thinking about povery today and what I might post for Blog Action Day, I wanted to focus on actions we could take to reverse the downward spiral occurring in Central Texas towards increasing poverty.
What I’m learning more about is this relationship between education and poverty. I think we all know high school graduates earn [...]

GivingCity Issue 1: Download it here!

Please feel free to send this link to a friend of colleague. Also, thanks for adding us to your media list – we’d love to hear more about your organization and cause.
To download your copy, just click on the cover or on the link below. Please let us know what you think. Feel free to send me [...]

Hundreds in Austin Shelter need your help now

Central Texas Red Cross just sent out an email asking for volunteer help in their shelters. This is a great opportunity to go over there and spend some helping out. 
We need shelter workers. 
Are you available????? 
Volunteers are needed for the 6AM – 6PM shift and for the 6PM -6AM. Volunteers are needed Wednesday, September 3 – [...]

Working moms volunteer more!

I just find this data on national volunteering rates so interesting. From the Corporation for National & Community Service report, Volunteering in America 2007:

About 29% of women volunteered last year, compared with about 23% of men.
Women with children have a higher rate of volunteering than those without.
Women who work have the highest volunteer rate.
Volunteers watch [...]

Take school clothes to Manos TODAY!

This from the Las Comadres listserv: Folks, these kids need your help.
WHAT THEY NEED: Shorts, pants, shirts, shoes, T-shirts, (new or gently used) and school supplies
FOR WHOM: Kids 4 to 13 years old
WHERE: Manos de Cristo, 4911  Harmon Avenue, 78751 (near IH-35 and 51st street)
BY WHEN: NOW. LIKE, THIS WEEK. Handing out clothes this week and next [...]

5 Questions for Kim Jowers, Executive Chair of Young Leaders Society

The Young Leaders Society engages Austinites between 21 and 45 years old who give $1000 or more to United Way Capital Area. Unlike a typical professional society, membership in this group emphasizes education opportunities in philanthropy and civic engagement. YLS members are committed to a better Austin and often have second careers in philanthropy.
Which makes [...]

Would Obama’s volunteer proposal work?

It sounds like a great plan: To every college student who volunteers at least 100 hours a year give a $4000 tax credit that would be paid directly to that student’s college.
Having just had a student in college – my husband – I can say that a $4000 credit on the UT tuition bill would have been [...]