NEW! GivingCity Austin #10 Now Available


Thanks to our sponsors:

          

The new issue is ready. Click below or on the cover to start reading it now.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

“Where Did The Money Go?” If millions of dollars were raised to help wildfire victims, why are families still suffering?

“How to Help a Returning Soldier” U.S. soldiers face depression, PTSD and suicide in increasing numbers. Here are some organizations helping them come home.

PLUS: Navigating the pet charities, teamwork for teen moms, Alamo Drafthouse’s new giving plan and Mary Margaret Farabee.

Feedback welcome! Let us know what you think! And please share the link with a colleague or friend.

 

JAN 10: GivingCity Austin Issue #10 Launch Party

Join us as we celebrate the 10th issue of GivingCity Austin,
the quarterly magazine supported by Austin Community Foundation
to connect more people to local philanthropy

GivingCity Austin Issue #10 Launch Party
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 5:30 – 8:30
Center 61, a co-working space for nonprofits, 2921 E. 17th St, Austin TX 78702
$10 suggested donation, benefiting Latinitas

RSVP NOW
Choose a free ticket OR donate $10 to Latinitas
All donors get a sweet Latinitas button at the event!

We’re celebrating a new year and a new look by DJ Stout and Pentagram. We’ll have a limited number of print copies at the event, but you can also find us online on Jan. 10 at GivingCityAustin.com.

It’s a fundraiser for Latinitas! This fantastic nonprofit is particularly close to our hearts – it helps Latina girls find their voice using online media…. sound like an editor you know? Plus, it’s their 10-year anniversary! Read more about Latinitas here.

Big thanks to our big event sponsors:Deep Eddy Vodka

And a special thanks to the following for their support of GivingCity Austin:

The Seton Foundation

Give Realty

Affinity IG

Austin Parks Foundation

Center 61

Association of Fundraising Professionals, Austin Chapter

 

GivingCity Austin will be available at the launch party as well as at the Austin Community Foundation, Capital Area Food Bank, United Way Capital Area, Greenlights for Nonprofits and Latinitas; as always, the issue is also viewable online on this site in the “Magazine” tab.

The Three Wise Men, 2011

Some of the smartest people I know are announcing that they don’t believe in gifts and shopping and the complete commercialization of what the holidays have become. Most of them reference the crazy Wal-Mart woman and the pepper spray incident.

And I know many of us are extremely lucky and we don’t actually need anything. But can I just make a case for giving?

I mean, I’m down with your attitude about receiving. It’s awkward, it’s embarrassing. You have to muster surprise and gratitude, you have to be polite and charming. It’s just so weird.

But giving…. Giving always feels good. I had a big fight with my sisters last year because they insisted that they didn’t want any gifts. And they were trying to stop me from giving them gifts.

Have you ever wanted to help someone, donate to a cause, volunteer, only to be told, “No, thanks. We don’t need you.” It’s rejection, but it’s more. What do you do with that feeling of wanting to give someone something? Where does it go?

So in the spirit of Christmas, which is what I celebrate, I would like to retell the story of the three wise men – smart men like my friends, right? I mean, it’s in their name. So it’s three wise men confronting this problem of, “What to give the infant who doesn’t actually need anything.” (Please note: I love Jesus, I taught Sunday school for three years… I am not making fun of the Bible! Gah!)

When King Herod heard about the birth of the “King of the Jews,” he asked the three wise men to go to Bethlehem and check it out. They set out and followed a star that they had seen rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.

But before they left, they had a quick discussion about what to get him. “We can’t just show up with nothing,” said one of the wise men.

“Yes, but it’s the King of the Jews,” said another. “He doesn’t need anything.”

“I agree,” said the third, “but from what I heard, he’s living in a manger, which is not really the most posh place to grow up, you know?”

“Fine,” said the second. “But what do you get someone who has everything? He’s a KING, remember? Plus, he’s an infant. So… I mean, a blanket? What do you get a baby king?”

“Stop being so selfish,” said the first wise man. “Everybody likes to get gifts. Let’s take a treasure chest of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Everybody likes that.”

“Are you out of your mind? Do you know how hard it’s going to be to find that this time of year? Plus, it’s all just stuff. They’re traveling by donkey, for heaven’s sake, how are they going to carry that around?”

“I mean, isn’t it enough that we’re showing up,” asked the third wise men. “We’re traveling a long way and it’s going to cost us a mint. We have to bring a gift, too?”

“Okay, okay,” said the first. “We’ll just SHOW UP and say, ‘Hey, Christ. Thanks for being the son of God and offering us a chance to enter heaven. WE’RE HERE.’”

And after a few more minutes of this, they decided that society was forcing them to bring gifts. So they carried the treasure chest all the way to Bethlehem and the manger. And when they got there, Joseph said, “Thank you so much for coming. This is Jesus. He’s your savior. Aw, you brought gifts?”

And Mary said, “You didn’t have to.” Then she hugged them and kissed them on both cheeks and even let them hold the baby for a little while.

THE END

I mean, you had to know how I felt about this. It’s not called “WeDontBelieveinGivingCity Austin,” is it?

Carstarphen’s State of the District summary

In case you missed it, here’s the email sent to Austin Independent School District Partners from Dr. Maria Carstarphen’s office as a follow-up to her State of the District event on November 30.

Dear AISD Partners,

Thank you for joining me at the third annual AISD State of the District Address-both in person and online!

I was delighted to open the event to the tune of “Singing in the Rain,” thanks to the wizardry of the McCallum theater team. There is much to sing about as we say goodbye to last year’s budget cuts, TAKS and the 2011 Legislative Session.

It’s been stormy at times this past year, but the clouds are starting to clear. Your support is critical as we move in the right direction and make progress toward our goals. I am pleased that we have earned your support and am very proud of our district and our outcomes.

The district’s commitment to students has remained steady as we focus on boosting their academic performance, which has resulted in successes such as:

  • For the second year, at least 80 percent of all students met or exceeded state standards in every subject;
  • Achievement gaps have narrowed by half since 2003;
  • The district has made steady academic progress over the past year and throughout the history of the TAKS testing program, which is being replaced this spring by the new STAAR assessment system; and
  • More students are applying and are ready for college than ever before!

Working together, the district’s team members have achieved remarkable things, despite a challenging budget situation. We also maintain the second lowest tax rate compared to surrounding districts.

On the budget front, I am excited to report the district is on sound financial footing. This year, there will be no layoffs and no declaration of financial exigency, so that our staff can feel secure in their jobs and focus on the work of educating children.

However, even with all of the great achievements, we will face some challenges-so we will need to continue to prioritize, stabilize, and optimize during the biennium to ensure we can build on these successes.

Together, team members throughout the district are working to:

  • Improve educational outcomes by boosting early literacy and graduation rates and by meeting the needs of the growing population of English Language Learners;
  • Improve special education performance to meet federal standards for Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP;
  • Use the Facility Master Plan Framework to create a plan for the use of facilities throughout the district; and
  • Transition successfully from TAKS-centered test preparation to the “Whole Child” model under STAAR.

As the State of the District concluded, guests joined me and McCallum students to renew our commitment to addressing these challenges together by singing “High Hopes”-a fitting closing note to a period that is sounding with optimism for the future of AISD.

Thank you for your steady support throughout the stormy days and for remaining focused on the bright side of our work-creating and strengthening educational opportunities for children.

And, thank you for your commitment to the district and to the children of Austin. I have high hopes for their-and our-continued success!

Regards,

Meria J. Carstarphen

Asking for help

I just got a call from a dad asking where he can register his kids for an adopt-a-family program for Christmas.

Can you imagine what it must take to make that call?

I’m terrible at asking for help. If I really needed it, if my family needed it, could I do it?

GivingCity Austin Issue 9: Celebrate volunteers!

GivingCity Austin cover THE NEW ISSUE IS READY

START READING THE
FALL 2011 ISSUE NOW

INSIDE: Celebrate Volunteers!

  • H-E-B Feast of Sharing hosts more than 1,000 volunteers every year. Here’s why.
  • The surprising philosophy of Will Meredith
  • Why Mike Haggerty kept Turkey Trot going for +20 years
  • Matt Kouri on how to judge a nonprofit
  • and much more!

 

GivingCity is shareable! Send it to a friend, click on the links, post it to Facebook.

Thanks for your support!

 

Major Network Seeking Inspiring Stories

Casting directors from shows like “The Biggest Loser” and “Extreme Home Makeover” are looking for unsung heroes and the people whose lives they’ve changed.

See this from their flyer:

Do you know someone who is constantly giving back and changing lives of those in the community? Does this person never seek credit or ask for anything in return?

Or do you now someone who has overcome obstables with the help of a mentor? Has this person’s life turned around because of the generosity of others?

This is a new documentary for a major network looking for those people who have made big changes in their lives and the people who helped them along the way.

If you have an inspiring story to share, email us today! Help us celebrate these selfless heroes and those whose lives have been changed!

Email us at givebackkate@gmail.com

Please include your name, contact number and photo along with a brief paragraph about yourself and your story.

SAT NOV 19: ECHO Family Carnival – Go!

The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) is pleased to invite all Austin-area families to the final event in the Austin 2011 Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, the ECHO Family Festival.

The ECHO Family Festival will take place on Saturday, November 19 from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the St. Ignatius Family Center, 126 West Oltorf Street. This event is FREE and will give families the opportunity to experience the simple joy that comes with helping our neighbors while learning more about homelessness in our community.

The Family Festival will include:

  • Food and drinks including hot dogs, nachos, and lots of other yummy treats!
  • Four different service stations with opportunities for kids and parents to work together to make a difference! Stations will include a survival kit assembly station, a holiday card decoration station, an ornament station, and a Turkey bag station! The survival kits will be placed into the Turkey bags and can then be taken with each family to hand out to a homeless person or left at the event to be handed out by the organization.
  • Fun games for the kids, like a fishing booth, beanbag toss, and much more!
  • Entertainment including a magician, clown, face painter, and caricature artist!
  • An educational station for parents to get answers about how to talk to their kids about homelessness

This event is sponsored by Facility Solutions Group (FSG) and the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO). Austin’s Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (November 11-19, 2011) is put on by ECHO, a nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to end homelessness. All food and activities are FREE.

If you have questions about the ECHO Family Festival, please email Amber Fogarty.

Tax-prep volunteers needed

Sorry, did you just fall asleep?

Well, wake up! Because this is one of those rare opportunities when you can help put millions of dollars into our local economy. (Via the Community Action Network e-newsletter….)

Community Tax Centers is recruiting volunteers to help low-income families claim millions of dollars in tax refunds and credits.  By providing free income tax preparation services, IRS certified volunteers give working families a chance to build a financial future.  For the 2012 tax season, over 700 volunteers are needed to reach the goal of completing 20,000 tax returns and putting $32 million back into the pockets of those who need it most.

What is takes to volunteer:

  • Complete 8-12 hours of New Volunteer Training – No Prior Experience Required!
  • A commitment of just 3hrs/wk, or a total of 36 hours, between January and April
  • CPE credits are offered for CPA’s that receive their IRS certification and
  • volunteer the 36 hours requested
  • A desire to give back to YOUR community

There are 10 conveniently located tax centers throughout Austin, including one in Round Rock and Del Valle.  For more information, other ways to volunteer and to sign up to volunteer e-mail Jackie.Blair@foundcom.org  or call 512-610-7377.

Hey, Austin: Adopt a Family! Save Christmas!

Foundation Communities family

Thousands of Central Texas families struggle all year long to put food on the table, so for them the holidays can be the worst time of year. Gifts, big meals, traveling to see friends and relatives… even a Christmas tree can be an extravagance they can’t afford. Lots of these families just skip the holidays and hold out hope for the new year.

Here’s one way to help: Adopt an Austin family. We’ve listed some of the organizations that offer adopt-a-family services below. As always, please tell me if I’ve left any off.

And make sure to send this to a friend! Wouldn’t it be great if nobody had to skip the holidays this year?

Bastrop Adopt a Family
Here’s your chance to help one of the families affected by the wildfires in Bastrop County. Because it’s hard to start from nothing for the holidays.

Foundation Communities Holiday Assistance

Foundation Communities provides affordable housing communities for families across Austin. Donate online or complete a sponsor form to help a low-income family this year.

Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program
Look for Salvation Army trees set up in businesses, churches, or malls to brighten an underprivileged youth’s holiday season.

Meals on Wheels Adopt a Senior
Support a senior citizen during the holidays by purchasing items off their wish lists.

Holiday Wishes Partnerships for Children
Donate Christmas presents to kids in Child Protection Services.

Lifeworks Project Holiday Help
Adopt a family, sponsor a party, or simply donate necessities to help out needy Capitol area families during the holiday season.

The Christmas Bureau of Austin
Families apply to participate, you review applications to choose your family. Choose a senior living on her own or a multi-generational family.

SafePlace Sponsor a Family
SafePlace helps men, women and children who are victims of domestic or sexual abuse. Donors are assigned a family or individual living in their transitional housing.

Family Eldercare’s Holiday Giving Drive

Make the Holidays brighter by sponsoring gifts for seniors and adults with disabilities who would otherwise not receive gifts this Holiday Season.

Did I miss any? Please let me know! monica@givingcity.com or just post in the comments below.