5 Immediate needs you can meet this summer…

July 11, 2018, 10:19 am

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Everyone talks about beating the heat when it’s time for summer, but do we ever stop to think about those in our community who can’t? Being raised by parents working in the social service sector means volunteerism is both an inherited and a learned trait. Read the post below to learn about the five simple ways I hope to make a difference in Austin this summer.

According to Front Steps, the managing organization for Austin’s Resource Center for the homeless, 7,498 individuals experiencing literal homelessness and 4,654 individuals at risk for homelessness was served in 2017. That’s a total of at least 12,152 known individuals in our community, who are experiencing struggles due to homelessness on a daily basis.

As temperatures begin to rise (we’re already hitting the triple digits!), here is a list of five ways you can easily make the lives of those experiencing poverty and homelessness more bearable.

1. Water

Did I mention the heat? Dehydration is one of the biggest problems homeless people and people in need face in the summer, especially in Texas. Providing water is always a good option and water isn’t as accessible as you would think, particularly in the quantity needed to stay hydrated in the sun.

I like to keep bottles of water in my car so that way when I pull up to a stop light, I can easily pass the bottle through the window instead of shrugging my hands, the universal sign for not having change.

While cold water is a plus for staying cool in the summer heat, water of any temperature is helpful. It can be used to drink or for cleanliness purposes. Either way, you can’t go wrong with water.

Pro Tip: a 32 count flat of Aquifina Purified Water bottles only costs $4.98 at Walmart.

2. Sunscreen

Everyone is at risk for the effects of sun exposure. But naturally, the more time spent in the sun, the greater the risk of overexposure, damage, or sun related illness. While the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) recommends using SPF 15 or greater sunscreen, avoiding the direct sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., taking breaks from the sun and covering up, individuals experiencing homelessness don’t have these luxuries.

In many areas of the city, individuals experiencing homelessness are prohibited from lying or sitting on the sidewalk or sleeping outdoors. With few, if any, places to rest and get out of the sun, individuals often endure the heat of the summer sun throughout the entirety of the day.

Help prevent the risk of overexposure to the sun by offering sunscreen to our neighbors in need. You can pick up a 3-ounce SPF 50 sunscreen at the Dollar Tree for a dollar a unit.

3. Hats

Imagine with me... the temperature is quickly climbing, city ordinances prohibit you from sitting, resting or sleeping in many public areas and shade is hard to come by. The sun is beating down on your head.

When you don’t have the luxury of air conditioning or shade, a hat can be your hero. The skin on your face, ears and neck is thinner and more sensitive to UV damage. Be a hero this summer and extend a helping hat to individuals experiencing homelessness. You can also purchase wide brim hats at Dollar Tree for a dollar!

4. Sunglasses

Another important accessory that we often take for granted is a simple pair of sunglasses. We get them free from SXSW vendors and events. We have extra pairs in our car for when we forget our stylish ones. But ultimately, we need them in the bright glaring sun.

Sunglasses are a commodity for individuals experiencing homelessness. They are a luxury item.

People in these difficult positions often have to make choices between eating and getting the care they need. Sunglasses are a huge help in the bright summer, but can’t compete with the other necessities when balancing a tight or often non-existent budget.

Sunglasses won’t save lives, but they will make people a lot more comfortable. Buy sunglasses in bulk on Amazon or pick up a few for a dollar at Dollar Tree.

5. Care Kit

Handing out any of the above-mentioned items is a great way to make an impact this summer. If you are a bit more ambitious, like me, you can grab some friends or create a fun project for your kids now that they are out of school.

Care kits are most helpful when gathered in a large gallon size Ziploc bag. Ziploc bags allow the receiving individual to easily view and store what is in the kit. It also helps to keep everything clean and dry.

Care kits can include any or all of the items mentioned above or you can get creative. Popular items among those experiencing homelessness include;

Small toiletries
Deodorant
Chapstick
Lotion
Tissues
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Wet wipes
Band-Aids
Feminine hygiene products
Socks
Food
Beef jerky
Breakfast/cereal bars
Chocolate (although snacks that won’t melt are best in the summer)
Mints
Peanut butter crackers
Raisins/dried fruit
Snack cups
Tuna/chicken salad cracker kits

Things to remember when putting together Care Kits:

Soap and Shampoo are easily accessible in shelters and public restrooms, so save the real estate in your care kit for items that are harder to access.

One more thing

Most importantly, remember that individuals experiencing homelessness are people just like you and me. A little compassion and kindness go a long way to combat a dehumanizing situation.

If you don’t know how to help someone or you need help yourself, call 2-1-1 to be connected to or to connect someone to resources throughout our community.

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Building Better Brains: The Importance of Early Childhood Educators

July 26, 2018, 11:05 am

≫ Next: Company Culture that Creates Change: Texas Mutual

≪ Previous: 5 Immediate needs you can meet this summer…

It’s a hot summer afternoon around three o’clock when we pull into the parking lot. Cars and parents scattered across the drive as they mosey inside to pick up their children. Upon opening the front door of the medium-sized brick building, a wave of cold, clean air, smelling slightly of finger paint and crayons, crashed over our faces. Bright white tiles reflect the sunlight coming through the big open front window causing the colorful artwork on the walls to shimmer and dance. There is no doubt that we have entered a childcare center. Accompanied by Cathy McHorse, Early Childhood Education Director and Jeanine Dolan, Classroom Coach Coordinator, we enter the office with vases of flowers and handfuls of gift cards in tow. Between the two of them, they have nearly 40 years of experience in early childhood care and education and today we are here to surprise and celebrate teachers who went above and beyond this school year to continue their education and training.

As the first teacher rounds the corner, wide-eyed and carrying a look of confusion on her face, a vase full of bright flowers and a card are offered to her. “We are with United Way for Greater Austin and we are here to congratulate you on getting your degree,” McHorse said. “Oh my, how wonderful. I wasn’t expecting this, thank you.” A little thanks goes a long way when it comes to an often challenging, but extremely important, job. Early childhood teachers – even those with college degrees earn unlivable wages. To learn why we, as a community, should care, what this means for our children and how United Way is offering a support system to educators in need keep reading.

The State of the Early Childhood Workforce

This year, the Early Childhood Workforce Index released a study that found 2,424,168 children age 0-5 living in Texas. Sixty percent of those children live in households where all caregiving adults are currently working. This means that 60 percent of the more than 2.4 million young children in Texas are in some way participating in or are in need of childcare. That being said, there are only 89,230 members of the early childhood teaching workforce. If these numbers lead you to believe that early childhood educators are in high demand, you’d be correct - so why is it so hard to recruit and retain teaching talent? The answer is simple. At the local, state and national levels, we are not adequately investing in our early childhood teachers.

In fact, 56 percent of child care worker families participate in one or more public income support program like Medicaid, Food Stamps and TANF. And child care workers’ family participation in public income support programs incurs a cost of at least $117 million. "Our system of preparing, supporting, and compensating early educators in the United States renders the almost entirely female workforce struggling to provide for their own families and in many cases, to put food on the table," said Marcy Whitebook, one of the co-authors of the index and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at the University of California, Berkeley.

Why Recognition Matters

Why is it important for early childhood teachers to continue their education and expand their knowledge and credentials? Why does it matter and why should anyone care? “The obvious answer is that when teachers are better educated, they know more about childhood development,” Dolan said. “Therefore, they are going to create warmer and more responsive environments for young children.” But as I came to find out, early learning is so much more. United Way for Greater Austin’s Center Project seeks to expand the supply of high-quality early childhood programs in our community, regardless of family income. Through our Center Project, we support centers that are accredited for quality. One of the requirements to meet quality standards is having a workforce that is working toward higher education credentials. Twenty-two teachers in our Center Project completed a variety of continuing education courses and certifications this school year. From bachelor’s degrees to Child Development Associate degrees, these 22 educators completed a credential marking their hard work investing in their own professional development, skills and capacity, all the while shaping the young minds of our children – and that’s not an easy task. “While these teachers are self-motivated, it’s also a part of the expectation in providing a higher quality experience for the children they work with,” McHorse said. “These teachers have accepted this expectation and responsibility and we, at United Way, strive to support them in reaching it.” The State of Texas only requires a high school diploma and 24 hours of training for child care teachers. This goes to show that teachers who continue their education and skill development are truly going above and beyond to serve our children – and we should thank them. “Finding someone who has the education and is willing to work for what child care providers are able to pay is really hard,” Dolan said. “Generally early childhood educators are right out of high school that has their 24 clock-hours and a passion for children. Unfortunately, they will probably only last six months.”

The average early child care center teacher in Austin makes anywhere from $20,500 a year to $27,000.

The average early child care center teacher in Austin makes anywhere from $20,500 a year to $27,000. There are a lot of jobs out there that will pay more and require less of your time, energy and skills. “We are trying to create a culture shift,” McHorse said. “We want to frame early childhood educators as brain architects and brain builders. It is important to focus on the fact that early childhood is the most critical period for young children’s brain development, so why would we invest the least in the individuals doing this critical work?” Part of United Way’s Success By 6 initiative is to encourage, motivate and support our staff who are striving to build their professional development and achieve different levels of credentials. We want to support them in building their toolbox and knowledge because as a community we want the highest quality for our children. “I think of it as investing in our early learning workforce,” McHorse said. “If we want our children to have the strongest foundation possible, we should be investing in those who are providing and creating it.”

What assistance is available?

The Teacher and Director TRAC is a partnership between Austin Community College, local funders and child care providers to assist the workforce in pursuing higher education. Funders include the City of Austin, Travis County and Workforce Child Care Solutions. The Teacher & Director TRAC Project offers childcare professionals who live and/or work in the City of Austin or Travis County the following benefits:

scholarships for courses
textbooks
assistance with course selection
class enrollment, and educational guidance
a $50 incentive paid upon successful completion of the first course.
A $100 incentive is paid after each successful completion of 12 hours of college credit in a Child Development degree plan as funding permits

Wage supplements are also available through the Jeanette Watson Wage Supplement Project. The Jeannette Watson Wage Supplement Project is a salary supplement program is intended as a means of compensating professionals who have furthered their education in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field. To be eligible, applicants must be working directly with children in a licensed child care facility and earning $14.00 or less per hour and must have worked in their current facility for the past consecutive six months prior to initiating the application process

A Word From Our Child Care Workforce

Q: How does your center/organization support staff in pursuing college coursework? A: Teachers at Open Door are supported in their academic career with access to scholarships from Teacher TRAC and TEACH. As a site director, I provide my teachers with time to work on school work and do observations so they can be successful. -Tracey Matchefts, Site Director of Open Door Preschool East Q: Why do you feel is it important for early childhood education staff members to seek higher education credentials? A: Research and experience teach us that children grow and develop so it’s important to continue with your education. This will allow you to have all of the tools you need to work with young children and their families. -Tracey Matchefts, Site Director of Open Door Preschool East Q: Why do you feel it is important for early childhood education staff members to seek higher education credentials? A: “It is imperative for teachers to further their knowledge in our field. We are constantly overcoming challenges when tried with new behaviors. Teachers need all the extra tools that they can get to help them be successful.” -Amanda Pecina, Director of KinderCare Learning Centers – Emerald Wood Q: What are other barriers related to staff relying on public supports due to low wages? A: “It is very hard to survive in Austin, Texas (and the vicinity) with the wages that teachers make. Most of these teachers have children that they have to support and pay for, in addition, to pay for living costs and tuition.” -Amanda Pecina, Director of KinderCare Learning Centers – Emerald Wood

In This Case, Morale is the Best Motivator

Recognizing our staff’s accomplishments is one small way that we are trying to celebrate their hard work, even though adequate compensation proportional to their gains in education is not available. While there are options available, there is not enough assistance to support the entirety of our early childhood workforce.

“We are here to congratulate you. We know your job isn’t easy and we are so proud of you for working hard to continue your education,” McHorse told another teacher in the midst of a grateful embrace. A beaming smile is exchanged between the two women. Teacher to teacher, educator to educator, a little thanks goes a long way.

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Company Culture that Creates Change: Texas Mutual

August 13, 2018, 12:26 pm

≫ Next: When Dog Days Turn Into Summer Shade

≪ Previous: Building Better Brains: The Importance of Early Childhood Educators

“Now let me start from the beginning,” Teresa Martinez, Texas Mutual Project Management, and Analysis Supervisor said. After leaving home at a young age Teresa found herself, a 17-year-old who didn’t finish high-school, working at Target with a young son at home and looking for more. “I happened to notice a sign that read if you’re a youth and you are interested in something more than just your average job, call this number,” Teresa said. “So, I called the number on the sign and after going in and talking with counselors at the program, I called Youth Employment Services and found out that I qualified for help.” Youth Employment Services, at the time, was a funded partner of United Way. The program helped her work towards her GED, obtain a driver’s license and most significantly, helped her get her son into childcare with Any Baby Can – a United Way affiliated partner. “That was my first introduction to United Way," Teresa said.

Change-maker

As a 19 year Texas Mutual veteran, Teresa has eight years of United Way campaign coordination under her belt and has once again returned to the campaign as 2017 co-chair. Teresa was the volunteer special events coordinator for the United Way Campaign at Texas Mutual from 2007 - 2013 and during that time, along with the help of passionate coworkers, she organized fundraising events that allowed Texas Mutual Employees to give back to their community in a fun and rewarding way. In years past, Teresa has organized a United Way kickball tournament where 100 percent of the registration fees were donated to United Way. She also helped coordinate departmental fundraising competitions ranging from coin collection to gift basket auctions and more. This year, Teresa is back in her role as United Way campaign chair and ready to tackle the 2018 campaign head-on. “I benefitted from United Way a lot when I was younger, the help it gave me can be attributed to one of the reasons I’m where I am now,” she said. “I will never forget it and now I have a wonderful opportunity to be able to return the favor and do what I can to help others.”

Culture is Key

Teresa cites Texas Mutual’s company culture as the reason why their United Way campaign is so successful. In 2017, Texas Mutual raised $121,000 for our community through their United Way campaign. They brought partner organizations into their corporate and other offices so employees could meet the people doing the work that their donations support. “The company is all about giving back to the community,” she said. “At Texas Mutual, it’s not just about making money, but about making sure that we are making a difference.”

From hosting employee games during the campaign fair to giving through payroll deductions, Texas Mutual is dedicated to giving back to their community and having fun while they do it. They commit their time and resources to support their campaign team and ensure their events are successful. They make volunteer opportunities at United Way partner agencies available throughout the year. These include both on-site volunteer activities, and in-house activities so that employees who cannot get away from their desks have opportunities to give back. “Texas Mutual has been involved with United Way from the beginning of the company,” Jeremiah Bentley, Vice President of Marketing and Customer Engagement at Texas Mutual Insurance Company said. “Over the last 25 years, Texas Mutual employees have contributed more than $2 million to United Way. Additionally, Texas Mutual employees participate in a number of volunteer events throughout the year. Company employees have put in more volunteer hours for United Way partner agencies than any other nonprofit throughout the life of our relationship with United Way.”

Create Confidence

To kick off their 2018 United Way Campaign, Texas Mutual will be donating their time to pack 220 backpacks full of school supplies for children starting school at Dobie Pre-Kindergarten Center. Each backpack will be full of donated school supplies ranging from notebooks and markers to play dough; all with the purpose of setting Dobie Pre-K students up for success. A team of Texas Mutual volunteers will also visit Dobie’s campus to assist teachers in getting their classrooms ready for the school year.

We are thrilled to highlight the different ways Texas Mutual is involved in our community because they’re a model leader in corporate philanthropy, partnering with organizations throughout the state through their TXM for Texas community affairs program. We are grateful to Texas Mutual and campaign coordinators, like Teresa Martinez, for giving their time and energy to ensure struggling children and families in our community get the support they need. “A lot of people think that being the events coordinator for the United Way campaign on top of my job would be really hard, but it’s not,” Teresa said. “Coming from a place where I never thought I would get the help I needed, and then being wrong, showed me that there are people out there who care and want to give back - I want to be that kind of person for others.”

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When Dog Days Turn Into Summer Shade

August 13, 2018, 2:49 pm

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The sun beats down as children from Sweetbriar Child Development Center file outside to the playground. The students, ranging in age from 18 months to five-years-old, scurry to the fence line instead of onto the playscape. Fighting for refuge from the sun’s rays, those who do not fit in the sliver of shade, provided by large oak tree branches that sag over the black iron fence, huddle under the play structure. This routine has been on repeat twice a day for more than two summers.

“We don’t want to go outside, it’s too hot,” is their rally cry. It’s something we can all relate to in the Texas summer heat. According to an Austin American Statesman article, July in Austin was a scorcher. With 17 triple-digit days on record, the average temperature for the month of July came in just shy of 100 at 99 degrees. The last two weeks have been particularly brutal, with all 14 days in the triple digits. “One afternoon we came to pick up our son,” Joshua Mauk, Sweetbriar parent shared “and he was huddled under the play structure because it was really hot and that was the only shade available.” Something had to change but parents, teachers and even the Center Director alike did not know where to begin.

The Background and Beginning

Sweetbriar Child Development Center is located in the 78744 neighborhood that Go Austin Vamos Austin (GAVA), a resident-led coalition focused on community health and well-being, through their partnership with United Way for Greater Austin and other community organizations serves. The childcare center is connected to Woodway Village, a subsidized housing apartment complex, and offers childcare subsidy.

Meet Christina Sanchez, Director of Sweetbriar Child Development Center and toddler teacher. In November, Christina will have been with Sweetbriar Child Development Center for seven years. Christina transitioned from parent volunteer to office aid to kitchen staff and finally landing in the infant room as the lead teacher of six toddlers. As a parent (her youngest attends Sweetbriar), volunteer, teacher and Center Director, Christina is extremely invested in the success and well-being of her students and the Center as a whole. “The actual hands-on work for the playground shade project did not occur until United Way and GAVA became involved,” Christina said. Laura Olson, Success By 6 Program Coordinator, laid the groundwork and coached a resident through the grant writing process which secured the initial $7,000, from the Webber Family Foundation, for the project in 2016, but due to staff turnover and a lack of community buy-in, the project became stalled.

The Middle and Momentum

After years of talking with various Center Directors, the Center Owner and parents, Christina and other residents came together and finally made it happen with the help of a leadership training put on by Joelynn Avendano, GAVA Early Childhood Sector Manager, and other GAVA Representatives. Sweetbriar parents and staff learned how to create an action plan which led to grant writing and, in turn, got the ball rolling to make real change happen for their children. With the additional cost estimate coming in around $17,000, Joelynn and Christina worked closely to secure additional funds as well as a company that would be able to complete the structure in their price range. Two years after the first grant was obtained, Joelynn worked with Christina to write a grant narrative to secure the additional $2,500 in order to meet their $9,000 recommended budget. “At first, I wanted someone else to write the grant narrative,” Christina said. “But then I thought about it and I am the one actually experiencing the need, so I sat down and wrote about what was going on. I was the one out there sweating right alongside the kids.” Once the funds were locked down, the pair settled on Fun Abounds to execute the project. Upon hearing about all of the obstacles they had to overcome, Vice President of Sales, Mike Gihel, came up with a cost estimate that came in below their budget. “Mike made it fit in our budget and his crew got everything done in three days,” Joelynn said. “We even had the staff vote on the color. To have a playground shade at Sweetbriar after trying hard for more than two years is amazing.”

The End and Excitement

This project almost didn’t happen. Many stakeholders, staff and parents, disheartened by the lack of progress were ready to give up and move on to a different, more attainable project. There didn’t seem to be enough time or money to make the shade structure a reality, but persistence and empowerment made it happen. “I didn’t give up, even though everyone told me to,” Joelynn said. “This Center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., so these kids spend the majority of their day there. To me, that was enough to keep going, I wanted them to be able to enjoy the space they were spending their time at.” While finally having a shaded playground is a huge success, empowering the Center Director to create change for their children is the most important outcome of this process. “As much as we try to focus on the parents, GAVA also really wants to focus on empowering the director,” Joelynn said. “Parents come and go as their children move on to kindergarten, but the directors stay. If we want to create a sustainable and healthy environment as well as the lasting change that positively affects all students, now and in the future, we have to start at the top.” As for Christina, with one grant and a successful project under her belt, she is ready to tackle her next project. Thanks to the leadership training and grant writing coaching she now has the knowledge, skills and confidence to make big things happen for her center.

The sun still beats down as children from Sweetbriar Child Development Center file outside to the playground. Instead of rushing to the fence line to fight for shade, you can hear the laughter and pitter-pattering of feet as they excitedly run around their new play area. Now, children from eighteen months to five years old happily chase each other and play, shielded from the hot Texas sun by a big green shade that was more than two years in the making – and they couldn’t be happier.

A Word From The Crew

"I am so happy everything worked out and the shade structure was installed. It's a huge improvement to the area and will provide much-needed shade for the children," Dion Botha, USA Shade & Fabric said. Dion and his company conducted the original cost estimate and connected the center with Fun Abounds, the company that ultimately did the work.

"The great part about what we do at Fun abounds is providing playground memories that are filled with fun," Mike Giehl, VP of Sales at Fund Abounds said. "The budget [at Sweetbriar] was tight, but we could see that it was worth working on, to make sure we got it right for the kids. At the end of the day, it really is about seeing kids with the huge smiles on their faces and knowing you were a part of that. That's the icing on the cake."

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Lyfting The Community

September 4, 2018, 9:16 am

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≪ Previous: When Dog Days Turn Into Summer Shade

2-1-1 is Austin’s front door to community resources. United Way for Greater Austin’s call specialists connect people in need with the services that can help – health care, food, housing, counseling, substance abuse services, job training, services for older adults and veterans, transportation and more. Cities are changing. Because of this, individuals and families with low-income tend to live outside of the urban core, away from essential services. Consequently, access to transportation for vital services is now an even greater challenge. For example, an older adult living outside of the city in need of dialysis has no way to get to her appointment. An unemployed father does not transportation to get to a job interview. 2-1-1 call specialists help callers navigate the complex, and often times confusing, social services system, especially when it comes to qualifying for transportation services. “The Lyft calls I take are distinct. Some of the individuals calling are not disabled enough to qualify for special transportation or they are not old enough. They are caught in the middle,” 2-1-1 Call Specialist Arnoldo Longoria said. “Some of their appointments are really far away, where the bus system wouldn’t be helpful and because of barriers like that, they are more likely to cancel a medical appointment because it is too far or it takes up too much time in their day. I think this program is filling a gap.” Lyft recognized that there is unmet transportation need for many Americans and has partnered with United Way Worldwide to provide free transportation in their 12 most saturated markets, including Austin. This is an attempt to meet healthcare, employment, veteran and disaster transportation needs. So far, here in Austin, our 2-1-1 Navigation Center has scheduled more than 1,600 rides to help callers get to medical appointments and employment services.

“There are agencies that help with transportation for elderly individuals (60-65+) or if you have Medicaid you can qualify for certain transportation programs,” Chelsea Garrett, 2-1-1 Manager said. “But if you don’t fall within those specific categories, it’s really an age range, and you don’t have a disability that qualifies you for Medicaid, then there is really isn’t any resources available for you.” In 2017, United Way fielded more than 5,000 transportation-related calls, 423 of which were from veterans and 1,629 involved medical transportation. When the pilot began in early June of this year, Lyft pledge to provide 10,000 free rides over the course of a six-month period to 12 test markets. To learn about the program in more detail As of August 9, 2,600 rides were scheduled through the pilot in total 12,00 of which came from the Austin Market, clearly highlighting the unmet transportation needs that disproportionally affect our area. To date, the average cost of one-way rides 2-1-1 has scheduled through the pilot is $17.34. While that may not seem like a lot of money to some of us, for individuals experiencing poverty even bus fare can be a stretch for their budget. Overall Austin is leading the 12 markets in the number of scheduled calls and completed rides and also has a low no-show rate of 12 percent. This pilot is filling a large and important unmet need in our community and without the partnership between Lyft and United Way Worldwide many more individuals would be without transportation. “Everyone has been really appreciative of this program and type of assistance so far,” Parker Wright, 2-1-1 Call Specialist said. “One woman needed to get to dialysis and we were able to get her set up for a Lyft ride once a week for several weeks and she has already been using it.”

Read below for an example of the type of needs being met:

A caller shared struggles she’s had with transportation and getting to her many medical appointments. This woman usually has to visit doctors and specialists at least three times a week. Her main problem is where she lives geographically, compared to her appointments. She lives on the outskirts of Austin in a trailer park and the bus does not come near where she lives, which makes it very hard for her to get around. She has friends and relatives, but they work so she is not able to rely on them for transportation. Because of this, she regularly misses her appointments and ends up having to pay the co-pay for missing and canceling. In her words, “the Lyft program is a tremendous support for me because I have a lot of appointments. There are times when I really have a hard time getting around but with you all it is so nice and easy and I'm very grateful for that. Because of this program, I’ve been able to get to a lot more of my appointments than I used to be able to. Thank you.” In the three months, the pilot has been running, it has already done so much good for hundreds of individuals like the one above. Cities are changing and new needs are emerging every day, but the 2-1-1 Navigation Center, with the help of Lyft, is working hard to meet the unmet needs of individuals in our community. To learn more about the need in Austin click here or if you or someone you know is in need of help call 2-1-1 or visit our database here.

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Welcome Aboard

September 4, 2018, 12:36 pm

≫ Next: Partner Spotlight: Todos Juntos, Everyone is Family

≪ Previous: Lyfting The Community

“I’m honored to Chair the Board for such a critical and backbone organization that serves the city I love and the place I’ve called home for most of my life. It’s an exciting time for Austin and United Way is growing to meet the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. I can’t think of any more important way to spend my volunteer time.” -Mason Ayer

United Way is also honored to announce Jennifer Poppe as the new Board Secretary. Poppe, a partner at Vinson and Elkins, has been a United Way Board member for the last four years. “Vinson and Elkins have been a long-standing supporter of United Way since well before I joined the firm over 20 years ago. I’m proud to continue this tradition of giving back to the community through one of the most impactful organizations in Austin. Good things are happening through United Way, I’m excited to be a part of the Board leadership that will see it through.” - Jennifer Poppe In addition to the board leadership changes, the United Way Board is also welcoming two new members, Laura Gottesman and Jeff Vernor.

Laura Gottesman, Broker and Owner of Gottesman Residential Real Estate and Jeff Vernor, Head of Risk Management or Dimensional Fund Advisors recently joined the United Way board and will provide leadership and set policies for United Way for Greater Austin. “UWATX has one of the strongest boards in Austin. We are thrilled to welcome Laura Gottesman and Jeff Vernor as we continue growing an engaged and active Board with a true heart for our mission to fight poverty and make Austin a better place for all,” - David C. Smith

Jeffrey Vernor is the Head of Risk Management for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Dimensional is a global investment manager dedicated to implementing the great ideas in finance. Vernor is responsible for executing the risk management framework and supporting the appropriate risk culture throughout operations. “I have personally witnessed the tremendous good United Way and their supported agencies have done and continue to do in each community I have lived in over the last twenty years. I want to thank current and former board members, staff, and volunteers for positioning UWATX so well to meet the pressing needs of our community. I look forward to working with David and his team and my board colleagues in the coming years.” -Jeffrey Vernor

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Partner Spotlight: Todos Juntos, Everyone is Family

September 21, 2018, 11:13 am

≫ Next: Corporate Partner Spotlight: Mark Huff, H-E-B

≪ Previous: Welcome Aboard

“Christina Collazo is a pioneer who understood [the complex problem of intergenerational poverty] and saw its solution. She intuitively saw the link between outcomes for children and outcomes for their parents,” Sue Carpenter, Chief Programs Officer for United Way for Greater Austin said. “Many of the students at the predominately Latino high school in Austin where she worked were reading below grade level, and their parents, eager to engage and support their children, struggled to overcome language barriers and low-education levels themselves. For Christina, it was the stereotypical light bulb moment. If only she could reach the entire family earlier when the return on investment was so much greater and pair language and skills training for parents with high-high quality early education for their children.” Collazo’s solution embodies what we now refer to as a “2Gen Approach,” which is one of the core pillars of United Way for Greater Austin. As per their website, “Todos Juntos is a bilingual, 2-Gen Family Learning Center, and since 2009, [they’ve] been committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by strengthening immigrant families through education. [They] work with the children and their parents simultaneously, building them up together to create meaningful opportunities – for both. [They] collaborate in education with families, partner agencies, and [the] greater community because, [to make a change], there is only one way to do it: all together.” With a staff retention rate of nearly 100 percent and a student completion rate upwards of 90 percent, it’s no wonder that Todos Juntos is receiving a lot of recognition in the community this year. Collazo’s nomination for the “Catalyst for Change” Mission Capital Award, is one among several other accolades they are up for. With their 10-year anniversary coming up in 2019 (stay tuned for a fundraiser and celebration in honor of this milestone) we are so proud to spotlight them this month! Todos Juntos (TJ) enrolls around 50-60 kids and 100-110 adults for their programs every year. They offer ELL, ESL and parent development courses for adults as well as early childhood education programs for young children that happen in tandem. As a licensed childcare provider, Todos Juntos holds classes for children from 18 months- 4 years of age. TJ employs a diverse and bilingual staff, which resonates with the students and creates a familiar and comfortable environment for learning and growth. All classes are held onsite at TJ, four days a week, nine months out of the year, with up to four years of ongoing enrollment. TJ offers GED assistance, and is the only learning center in Austin using the “Open Doors Curriculum.” They encourage their students to succeed by encouraging them to use their skills in action through community outings, workshops and events. School readiness is TJ’s main goal for the children going through their program. Their programs help families in a number of ways, and testimonials on their website offer moving insight into the benefits of their programming. Christina Collazo speaks so passionately about her students, and in a recent interview elaborated on how employees and students are more than their “roles”: they are family. One of their current staff members working in the childcare center is a former student who graduated, and is now giving back to other families and helping them reach their goals. The culture of TJ is family oriented, and all about readying families for success in their community. Utilizing the 2Gen approach has helped TJ inform families to create a network of support, and embrace their future. Christina Collazo says a successful day at TJ is when there are happy kids, happy families and everyone is learning and engaged. Her perception of how every day goes at TJ is when “everyone is working together to provide a different outlook for futures, for the families that [they] work with.” When talking about 2Gen in the City of Austin, it is impossible to leave Todos Juntos out of the conversation. They are one of the most intensive programs in Austin, and are helping set the standard for the 2Gen agenda in Austin-Travis County. They are staying focused on improving their organization, and are currently working towards streamlining data collection and utilization to support their holistic approach and track outcomes of students. They are also deep into strategic planning, and have recently kicked off a new school year! We cannot wait to see the growth of Todos Juntos over the next decade, and many more to come! Congrats, to their team for their well-deserved recognition this year. September kicks off a very busy time of year for Todos Juntos, all their students are returning (typically around 40% from the previous year) and new students are enrolling. October will mark a huge event for students – a Poetry Reading, open to the public, on Tuesday, October 9, from 6 - 9 p.m. come to see their students in action, at Buenos Aires Café! They are also prepping for a healthcare workshop in October, with local health champions and information available to ensure Austinites know their rights when it comes to healthcare. Collaborating with organizations like Todos Juntos is what United Way for Greater Austin is all about, and we encourage you to get involved! Todos Juntos is currently seeking out a new space to grow their work, so if you know of a great location for expansion let them know! You can also sign up as a volunteer; there are opportunities to be a 1:1 reader with children, participate in other classroom activities, event planning, data entry, gardening and more! [caption id="attachment_13994" align="aligncenter" width="738"]

Velocity Credit Union employees donated and delivered backpacks to Todos Juntos.[/caption] Be sure to follow Todos Juntos on Facebook, and find out more about their work on their website, or contact Raney@todosjuntos.org to get more info on volunteering.

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Corporate Partner Spotlight: Mark Huff, H-E-B

October 1, 2018, 9:11 am

≫ Next: David C. Smith Named Best CEO of 2018

≪ Previous: Partner Spotlight: Todos Juntos, Everyone is Family

At United Way, we are grateful to have worked with dedicated individuals and companies in the Central Texas Area for more than 90 years. Throughout our time in the Austin community, H-E-B has consistently been one of our biggest supporters and our largest employee giving campaign. United Way for Greater Austin is interested in partnering with companies throughout the year in many different capacities. When it comes to our corporate partners, United Way knows that we both have a lot to offer each other, and we want to make sure the greater Austin community that benefits the most from our partners working together to build a thriving community for all. Mark Huff, Loss Prevention Manager at Austin 12 H-E-B Plus, is a great example of how we are trying to engage employees in a holistic way. [caption id="attachment_14010" align="alignleft" width="200"]

Mark Huff, Loss Prevention Manager - Austin 12 H-E-B Plus![/caption] “When I started working for H-E-B it really opened my eyes to all the different capacities United Way [serves] the community,” Huff said. “To see every organization, you’re helping and how you’re helping them.” After working with H-E-B for 11 years, Huff became a H-E-B Bastrop in-store coordinator, in charge of the annual United Way Employee Giving Campaign in 2015. “I believe we raised more than $70,000 for United Way my first year,” Huff said. “Being in charge of the campaign opened my eyes to the sheer numbers we could bring to United Way and how much that could help.” After moving to the Riverside store in 2017, Huff decided he really wanted to dig deep and see how the money was being orchestrated through United Way, who it was touching and what impact it had on the community. Huff volunteered to be a reviewer for the 2018-2019 Community Investment Grantees. Huff described the process as getting down to the nitty-gritty of an organization’s application and recommending who would be the best fit for funding. “By reviewing the grant applications, we got to see how well organizations were doing,” Huff said. “And so, we knew that when funding was given to those organizations, it wasn’t just going to help them, it was also going to make better for someone else. That was nice to see.” From leadership and employee giving to volunteer projects to reviewing grants, H-E-B and its partners, like Mark Huff, have been engaged in serving the Austin community through United Way for 80 years. H-E-B believes that giving back is good for business and has created a culture of service that truly exemplifies what it means to be a part of the community in Austin and beyond. “Making better for someone else can start from a dollar or from volunteering, or both,” Huff said. “Even though I don’t get to see the smile created by the ways I or H-E-B gives back, I want to know it exists. It could be a mind full of knowledge or a full belly. That’s what motivates me to do more.”

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David C. Smith Named Best CEO of 2018

October 15, 2018, 3:47 pm

≫ Next: Community Partner Spotlight: Mainspring Schools

≪ Previous: Corporate Partner Spotlight: Mark Huff, H-E-B

David Smith is now in his third year leading United Way for Greater Austin, although he has been working in the nonprofit space for more than 25 years leading organizations such as The Care Communities, the Hill Country Ride for AIDS and the Mamma Jamma Ride for Breast Cancer.

Under Smith's leadership, United Way has created and implemented the School Readiness Action Plan, a five-year strategic plan to turn the United Way into a convener that aligns efforts across the community behind big goals.

Smith has also served on numerous boards including Austin Theater Alliance, Barton Springs Conservancy, E3 Alliance, Community Action Network and Conspirare.

Prior to joining the United Way, Smith ran his own consulting firm, which is how he was named interim the executive director of The Thinkery children's museum. He provides pro-bono board strategy sessions for organizations that need help creating or developing their own boards.

For more information subscribe to the Austin Business Journal.

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Community Partner Spotlight: Mainspring Schools

October 19, 2018, 11:34 am

≫ Next: The School Readiness Action Plan wins Mission Capital’s Aligned Impact Award

≪ Previous: David C. Smith Named Best CEO of 2018

“We firmly believe that you have to start early to build a strong foundation for at-risk kids. If you get the first years right, the path to success is clearer for our children,” says Jason Gindele, Executive Director for Mainspring. Gindele’s says of his team that they “often say, facetiously, that [their] mission is to get rid of all other charities. That’s obviously not true, but [they] do believe that if you get the first years of a child’s life right, it can prevent so many issues down the road that require the attention of our society.”

In Travis County, 42 percent of children under six live in low-income households. An overwhelming majority of these almost 40,000 children disproportionately come from families of color. These children live in segregated neighborhoods where family incomes are more than 35 percent below the city average. Inequitable access impacts school readiness – a holistic measure including physical, social and emotional health – and only 35 percent of these children enter kindergarten ready. The effects of early inequities are long-lasting, with disparities that persist for children of color and from families experiencing low-income as they become adults. Mainspring aims to eliminate the early childhood school readiness gap through their strategic vision and programs. By aligning their work with the Austin/Travis County School Readiness Action Plan they ensure they are part of a greater, coordinated effort across the community focused on collective impact for children affected by disparities in access to high-quality services in our community. Mainspring understands that focusing solely on the child and academics will not lead to successful outcomes. Instead, by taking a holistic approach to address the whole child (including social-emotional learning and physical and mental health), the whole family and their staff. This starts by building community – a collective sense that we are all in this together.

The Mainspring model focuses on three areas:

Innovative learning
Physical and emotional health
Family-centered engagement.

Mainspring achieves results by providing excellent, affordable education, care and nutrition for children to help them reach their potential while offering hands-on guidance and counseling for parents and guardians to ensure that both generations move forward together. This focus on quality with a holistic approach for both the child and the parent leads to impressive results. 95 percent of Mainspring graduates start kindergarten at or above the Texas readiness standards, and 90 percent of their parents attend more than 12 hours of parent education and support. This past year Mainspring served more than 100 children, 75 percent of whom came from low-income families or foster homes. Mainspring also participates in the Center Project Early Language Tutoring program and saw excellent results this past year. Children at Mainspring averaged more than 12 months of gains in language skills during an intervention that was just less than nine months. While focusing on their strategic efforts with students and caregivers, Mainspring is also focused on improving the lives of their staff. “[Mainspring is] always looking to do more for [their] teachers, who are tireless in their efforts to help our children and families,” Jason Gindele, Executive Director of Mainspring Schools said. “[Our Team is looking to] improve pay as much as [the] budget allows, [and identify] extra perks for staff appreciation, showing respect for their work, building a team environment, giving them time off and empowering them to do their best.” The efforts put forward by the whole team at Mainspring is what makes them so successful, and so focused; we commend Gindele on his efforts to help improve their lives, as they spend all day helping improve others. So, how can you help Mainspring do what they do?

Upcoming Events:

In order to allow for greater access to enrollment, Mainspring is hosting a benefit on November 4^th at Falconhead Golf Club. Please join them as an attendee or a sponsor for their Scholarship Golf Scramble, and their Fall Floral Workshop and Social where all proceeds will benefit their scholarship fund, aimed at helping kids in crisis remain in school.

How to get involved:

Keep an eye out for Volunteer opportunities through United Way for Greater Austin, or feel free to contact Mainspring about doing a site visit! Jason Gindele encourages the community to come see first-hand the work that is being done to help at-risk kids and their families. If you want to know more about the impact Mainspring is having in our community, check out their website and some of the success stories they share there. United Way is proud to fund organizations like Mainspring, who help us achieve our strategic goals from the School Readiness Action Plan, and help make Austin a great place for all families.

Story By: Morgan Messick, Mission Advancement Communications & Grants Manager

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The School Readiness Action Plan wins Mission Capital’s Aligned Impact Award

October 19, 2018, 12:28 pm

≫ Next: Community Partner Spotlight: Child Inc.

≪ Previous: Community Partner Spotlight: Mainspring Schools

School Readiness Action Plan Leadership Team

The School Readiness Action Plan Leadership Team is comprised of early childhood planners and funders that focus on the City of Austin and Travis County. The committee’s primary functions are to oversee and monitor the cyclical School Readiness Action Plan process, coordinate resources across entities, generate and monitor agreements at respective entities to invest in the shared plan and align policy and funding decisions when possible. Members also meet one or more of the following specific criteria: a significant funder of early childhood programming; taxing entity; the sole designee of federal funding (i.e. Child Inc.); collect and/or provide data and analysis; and influential in policy and/or research.

SRAP Leadership Team Members

Community Advancement Network United Way for Greater Austin Manor ISD Travis County Health & Human Services Workforce Solutions Child Inc. Austin Public Health City of Austin Early Childhood Council E3 Alliance KLRU Children’s Optimal Health Literacy Coalition of Central Texas Austin Independent School District Austin Community College Austin Association for the Education of Young Children

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Community Partner Spotlight: Child Inc.

October 31, 2018, 9:57 am

≫ Next: Lyfting The Community

≪ Previous: The School Readiness Action Plan wins Mission Capital’s Aligned Impact Award

Forging the way for families in Austin, TX since the 1960’s, Child Inc is making a real impact for families in our community. Child Inc’s Project Head Start was one of the first initiatives to be funded through President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. This was an important moment for funding in the nonprofit world and helped spotlight the need to break the cycle of poverty for families across the United States. In 1972 Child IncInc was officially established as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, and has been the Head Start grantee for Travis County since then. They enhanced our strategic community focus on making quality early childhood education accessible for more low-income families. The Child Inc mission is to provide high-quality education and comprehensive support services for children and their families while promoting personal and social responsibility in the communities [they] serve.

Actively Involved

Living and breathing their mission for decades, Child Inc has proudly prepared approximately 40,000 preschool children and their parents to succeed in school and in life. They are currently employing a diverse workforce of more than 230 staff positioned throughout their offices, in more than 80 classrooms, serving more than 2,000 children and families. Their work follows established evidenced-based approaches to serving families in the most need. According to their website two-thirds of [the families served] in [their] center-based program has single, female head-of-households, and at least 90 percent of them live at or below the federal poverty threshold. To better serve these families, Child Inc has responded by developing several initiatives focused on Responsible Parenting. These initiatives include:

Increasing parent involvement in the early childhood setting and at home
Educating and engage fathers in the lives of their young childrenAssessing and address family issues that may affect parent-child relationships
Increasing community understanding and recognition of responsible parenting

Child Inc programs aim to provide low-income families with comprehensive early childhood education, including mental health services, disabilities services, nutritional services, medical and dental services, social services and parent engagement activities. ---Child Inc staff The team at Child Inc remains focused on providing engaging and positive learning experiences, school readiness and successfully transitioning from Head Start into kindergarten. They achieve school readiness by “utilizing their comprehensive, balanced curriculum in which a child is actively involved in his or her own learning. Intellectual, physical, social and emotional development are given priority in the [programs at Child Inc].”

Strategically Focused

Staying strategically focused also keeps Child Inc moving forward. One focus is on forming strong partnerships in the community, such as the ones they have formed with Brighter Bites and OLE Texas.

Brighter Bites

“Through Brighter Bites [Child Inc] families are able to receive fresh fruits and vegetables. In fact, several Child Inc staff volunteer their time after work to sort and package fresh food for our families. “ Reducing childhood obesity and creating lifelong healthy habits is a top priority for Child Inc, so they endeavor to teach families about a different kind of fast food that is available through these fresh foods. “Each child enrolled in [Child Inc programs] is screened, [and] nutritional needs are identified and special needs are accommodated. Center menus are 90 percent made from scratch, culturally diverse and include whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables.”

OLE Texas!

Another ongoing priority has been to “transition the existing playgrounds [at Child IncInc] into natural learning and play environment. The goal is to pilot two natural outdoor learning play area in the Spring of 2019. Child Inc has been working closely with the team at OLE to design and build areas that will nurture creative play with elements that are part of nature or are made from natural materials, such as trees, shrubs, grass, logs, stones, sand, water, wooden tree houses, and wood chip trails. Natural playgrounds help children to develop other beneficial behaviors in addition to physical skills. These behaviors include social skills, cooperation, and the ability to solve problems. In addition, natural playgrounds stimulate a child's imagination and creativity more than a traditional playground.”

All of Child Inc’s hard work does not go unnoticed. The families that participate in their programs are happy, healthy and grateful. One former family has said they “want to thank the entire Child Inc staff for all [they] have done for [their family]. [The family] feels so confident about [their child] going on to Kindergarten. The teachers and staff members at Grant are nice, caring, helpful and well qualified to help and prepare children for the future.” They said they’ll “recommend Child Inc/Grant to all friends, family members, and other parents who are preparing for their child/children to attend Head Start.”

Learn more

Check out this documentary film available on YouTube. Story By: Morgan Messick, Mission Advancement Communications & Grants Manager

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Lyfting The Community

September 4, 2018, 4:16 am

≫ Next: Welcome Aboard

≪ Previous: Community Partner Spotlight: Child Inc.

The post Lyfting The Community appeared first on United Way For Greater Austin.

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Welcome Aboard

September 4, 2018, 7:36 am

≫ Next: Community Partner Spotlight: Todos Juntos, Everyone is Family

≪ Previous: Lyfting The Community

Our newly appointed Board Chair remembers walking around as a five-year-old with a paint scraper, tasked with scraping gum off the bottom of the tables. Does this sound familiar? That’s right, Mason Ayer, CEO of Kerbey Lane Café, has been appointed Board Chair of the United Way for Greater Austin Board of Directors. Mason can trace many of his early childhood memories to the Kerbey Lane Cafe’s original location in Central Austin. As the son of Kerbey Lane Cafe’s founders, David Ayer and Patricia Atkinson, he was literally born into the business. “I’m honored to Chair the Board for such a critical and backbone organization that serves the city I love and the place I’ve called home for most of my life. It’s an exciting time for Austin and United Way is growing to meet the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. I can’t think of any more important way to spend my volunteer time.” -Mason Ayer United Way is also honored to announce Jennifer Poppe as the new Board Secretary. Poppe, a partner at Vinson and Elkins, has been a United Way Board member for the last four years. “Vinson and Elkins have been a long-standing supporter of United Way since well before I joined the firm over 20 years ago. I’m proud to continue this tradition of giving back to the community through one of the most impactful organizations in Austin. Good things are happening through United Way, I’m excited to be a part of the Board leadership […]

The post Welcome Aboard appeared first on United Way For Greater Austin.

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Community Partner Spotlight: Todos Juntos, Everyone is Family

September 21, 2018, 6:13 am

≫ Next: Corporate Partner Spotlight: Mark Huff, H-E-B

≪ Previous: Welcome Aboard

Nestled on the East Side of Austin, Texas, Todos Juntos has been changing lives one family at a time for 10 years. Founder and Executive Director, Christina Collazo, has been a “Catalyst for Change” long before she was nominated for this year’s Mission Capital Award. Collazo began implementing a 2Gen (also known as Dual Gen) approach in her work a decade ago before it became the buzz-word it is today. She saw the value in raising families out of poverty through an intergenerational approach. Her vision took her out of the classroom, and into the non-profit sector where she has built an organization from the ground up. Amidst many hardships she faced along the way, she never balked in the face of adversity. “Christina Collazo is a pioneer who understood [the complex problem of intergenerational poverty] and saw its solution. She intuitively saw the link between outcomes for children and outcomes for their parents,” Sue Carpenter, Chief Programs Officer for United Way for Greater Austin said. “Many of the students at the predominately Latino high school in Austin where she worked were reading below grade level, and their parents, eager to engage and support their children, struggled to overcome language barriers and low-education levels themselves. For Christina, it was the stereotypical light bulb moment. If only she could reach the entire family earlier when the return on investment was so much greater and pair language and skills training for parents with high-high quality early education for their children.” Collazo’s solution […]

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Corporate Partner Spotlight: Mark Huff, H-E-B

October 1, 2018, 4:11 am

≫ Next: David C. Smith Named Best CEO of 2018

≪ Previous: Community Partner Spotlight: Todos Juntos, Everyone is Family

Did you know there is more than one way to donate to United Way? From donating money to donating your time, United Way for Greater Austin provides a variety of ways for you to give back to our community. Donate Directly to United Way Visit our Volunteer Database and sign up Get your company connected to Corporate Volunteering Volunteer as a reviewer for our community investment grants At United Way, we are grateful to have worked with dedicated individuals and companies in the Central Texas Area for more than 90 years. Throughout our time in the Austin community, H-E-B has consistently been one of our biggest supporters and our largest employee giving campaign. United Way for Greater Austin is interested in partnering with companies throughout the year in many different capacities. When it comes to our corporate partners, United Way knows that we both have a lot to offer each other, and we want to make sure the greater Austin community that benefits the most from our partners working together to build a thriving community for all. Mark Huff, Loss Prevention Manager at Austin 12 H-E-B Plus, is a great example of how we are trying to engage employees in a holistic way. “When I started working for H-E-B it really opened my eyes to all the different capacities United Way [serves] the community,” Huff said. “To see every organization, you’re helping and how you’re helping them.” After working with H-E-B for 11 years, Huff became a H-E-B Bastrop in-store […]

The post Corporate Partner Spotlight: Mark Huff, H-E-B appeared first on United Way For Greater Austin.

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David C. Smith Named Best CEO of 2018

October 15, 2018, 10:47 am

≫ Next: Community Partner Spotlight: Mainspring Schools

≪ Previous: Corporate Partner Spotlight: Mark Huff, H-E-B

Thursday, October 4 the Austin Business Journal announced David C. Smith as the Best CEO of 2018 in the nonprofit category as part of their 2018 Best CEO Awards. Austin Business Journal’s Best CEOs of 2018 are four leaders across sectors from technology to nonprofit categories. Winners were selected by a team of judges including previous Best CEOs. David had the opportunity to represent UWATX and encourage partnership & collaboration in a room filled with various CEOs, leaders, and guests from the business community. David Smith is now in his third year leading United Way for Greater Austin, although he has been working in the nonprofit space for more than 25 years leading organizations such as The Care Communities, the Hill Country Ride for AIDS and the Mamma Jamma Ride for Breast Cancer. Under Smith’s leadership, United Way has created and implemented the School Readiness Action Plan, a five-year strategic plan to turn the United Way into a convener that aligns efforts across the community behind big goals. Smith has also served on numerous boards including Austin Theater Alliance, Barton Springs Conservancy, E3 Alliance, Community Action Network and Conspirare. Prior to joining the United Way, Smith ran his own consulting firm, which is how he was named interim the executive director of The Thinkery children’s museum. He provides pro-bono board strategy sessions for organizations that need help creating or developing their own boards. For more information subscribe to the Austin Business Journal.

The post David C. Smith Named Best CEO of 2018 appeared first on United Way For Greater Austin.

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Community Partner Spotlight: Mainspring Schools

October 19, 2018, 6:34 am

≫ Next: The School Readiness Action Plan wins Mission Capital’s Aligned Impact Award

≪ Previous: David C. Smith Named Best CEO of 2018

Since opening its doors in 1941, Mainspring Schools has been a best-in-class nonprofit preschool that works to eliminate the early childhood school readiness gap. Their mission is “to deliver the highest quality early education and care to Austin’s most economically disadvantaged children – along with services so each child and parent have tools for success in school and life.” With a mission like that and its dedication to providing high-quality, innovative, and researched based services to all children, Mainspring serves as a model for early childhood centers in Austin and beyond. As the backbone organization for early childhood in Austin/Travis County, United Way supports more than 20 childcare centers serving children from low-income families. Mainspring envisions a future in Austin in which all students have an equal opportunity to start school with the skills, support and wellness to compete and succeed in school and life. “We firmly believe that you have to start early to build a strong foundation for at-risk kids. If you get the first years right, the path to success is clearer for our children,” says Jason Gindele, Executive Director for Mainspring. Gindele’s says of his team that they “often say, facetiously, that [their] mission is to get rid of all other charities. That’s obviously not true, but [they] do believe that if you get the first years of a child’s life right, it can prevent so many issues down the road that require the attention of our society.” In Travis County, 42 percent of children under […]

The post Community Partner Spotlight: Mainspring Schools appeared first on United Way For Greater Austin.

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The School Readiness Action Plan wins Mission Capital’s Aligned Impact Award

October 19, 2018, 7:28 am

≫ Next: Community Partner Spotlight: Child Inc.

≪ Previous: Community Partner Spotlight: Mainspring Schools

Mission Capital recognized the School Readiness Action Plan with the Aligned Impact Award. This award celebrates a cross-sector collaborative creating system-wide change with a focus on shared decision-making, execution and ownership create unique and targeted progress through collective power. School Readiness Action Plan Leadership Team The School Readiness Action Plan Leadership Team is comprised of early childhood planners and funders that focus on the City of Austin and Travis County. The committee’s primary functions are to oversee and monitor the cyclical School Readiness Action Plan process, coordinate resources across entities, generate and monitor agreements at respective entities to invest in the shared plan and align policy and funding decisions when possible. Members also meet one or more of the following specific criteria: a significant funder of early childhood programming; taxing entity; the sole designee of federal funding (i.e. Child Inc.); collect and/or provide data and analysis; and influential in policy and/or research. SRAP Leadership Team Members Community Advancement NetworkUnited Way for Greater AustinManor ISDTravis County Health & Human ServicesWorkforce SolutionsChild Inc.Austin Public HealthCity of Austin Early Childhood CouncilE3 AllianceKLRUChildren’s Optimal HealthLiteracy Coalition of Central Texas Austin Independent School DistrictAustin Community CollegeAustin Association for the Education of Young Children

The post The School Readiness Action Plan wins Mission Capital’s Aligned Impact Award appeared first on United Way For Greater Austin.

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Community Partner Spotlight: Child Inc.

October 31, 2018, 4:57 am

≫ Next: Top 10 Things To Look For When Choosing Child Care

≪ Previous: The School Readiness Action Plan wins Mission Capital’s Aligned Impact Award

Forging the way for families in Austin, TX since the 1960’s, Child Inc is making a real impact for families in our community. Child Inc’s Project Head Start was one of the first initiatives to be funded through President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. This was an important moment for funding in the nonprofit world and helped spotlight the need to break the cycle of poverty for families across the United States. In 1972 Child IncInc was officially established as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, and has been the Head Start grantee for Travis County since then. They enhanced our strategic community focus on making quality early childhood education accessible for more low-income families. The Child Inc mission is to provide high-quality education and comprehensive support services for children and their families while promoting personal and social responsibility in the communities [they] serve. Actively Involved Living and breathing their mission for decades, Child Inc has proudly prepared approximately 40,000 preschool children and their parents to succeed in school and in life. They are currently employing a diverse workforce of more than 230 staff positioned throughout their offices, in more than 80 classrooms, serving more than 2,000 children and families. Their work follows established evidenced-based approaches to serving families in the most need. According to their website two-thirds of [the families served] in [their] center-based program has single, female head-of-households, and at least 90 percent of them live at or below the federal poverty threshold. To better serve these families, Child Inc […]

The post Community Partner Spotlight: Child Inc. appeared first on United Way For Greater Austin.

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