A Project of the Austin Community Foundation
Celebrate
FALL 2011
Volunteers!
Andreana & Kathleen Ledesma two of +1,000 H-E-B Feast of Sharing Volunteers Profiles: Will Meredith Mike Haggerty Sister Gertude
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Gifts That Give Back
Celebrate
GivingCity
Volunteers!
THE GUIDE TO DOING GOOD IN AUSTIN
FALL 2011: ISSUE 9 Editor-in-Chief Monica M. Williams Managing Editor Sun Connor Creative Director Torquil Dewar, October Custom Publishing Photographers Gregg Cestaro Joel Salcido
CONTENTS Photographer Deanna Roy is putting her best work to good use.
Contributors Stephanie Fisher Leila Kalmbach Narissa Johnson Tiffany Hamburger Matt Kouri Ana Perkins Shelley Seale
Letter from the Editor Rebuilding........................... 05
GET GIVINGCITY ONLINE Flip, click and share the digital version, available at GivingCityAustin.com
UPDATE Volunteer this season! Plus Sister Gertrude, the wildfire photo and more................... 08
2011 Copyright GivingCity Austin and Austin Community Foundation. No part of this document may be reproduced without permission.
WHY I GIVE Mike Haggerty and why Turkey Trot works............................ 06
AUSTIN BUSINESS FOR GOOD Homeslice Pizza and its carnival of caring.................. 12 HAPPENING NOW Volunteers make the Settlement Home Garage Sale happen... 14
FEATURES Volunteering is Energizing! A mother-daughter team are just two of the more than 1,000 volunteers serving the community during H-E-B’s annual Feast of Sharing...... 19 Gifts That Give A few great gift ideas that make giving more fun.................... 24 GIVE BETTER What is “overhead”?............. 30 PROFILE: Will Meredith A role model for next-gen philanthropy......................... 30 GIVING WORKS How a CASA volunteer saved a family................................... 34
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Rebuilding.
IN THIS ISSUE
The wildfires of Labor Day weekend devastated thousands of Central Texans. Thanks to organizations like the American Red Cross of Central Texas, Austin Disaster Relief Network, Capital Area Food Bank, H-E-B and more, almost all of them were safe and sheltered. But what does it take to rebuild a home, a neighborhood, a community? And how can we help? I talked to Sara Kennedy of the American Red Cross of Central Texas about the ongoing needs in the communities.
What are some of the victims going through right now?
When will clean-up begin and how can I help with rebuilding efforts?
Sara Kennedy: This is a really difficult, emotional situation. We’re trying to help families with cleaning materials to sift through the ashes, and when we hand them a shovel a lot of them say, “No, you should give this to someone who really needs it.” And it’s hard, but we have to say, “Well, you are the person who really needs it.” Because the fires were so random, not all the homes in a given area were destroyed. A lot of the people whose homes survived are experiencing something similar to survivor’s guilt. They feel like they shouldn’t talk about their losses, even though there’s a lot of stress for them as well. It’s part of the recovery process to have someone listen to you and really hear you. Remember that the friends they usually might have talked to about this are going through the same thing. That’s one of the reasons we have volunteer counselors; emotional support is a big part of what we try to provide.
Clean-up and rebuilding has begun. We live in a really wonderful and generous community, and it’s fantastic how many people want to do something. But we need to preserve this feeling of wanting to help because this recovery will take a long time and these people are going to need help. I encourage those who want to give now, not to forget.
What are their ongoing needs?
The Austin Community Foundation created the Central Texas Wildfire Fund to support nonprofits and other organizations working on long-term recovery efforts in those communities affected.
For a lot of people, permanent housing is going to be an issue. At first, many people went to shelters. Then as they made contact with them, they moved in with friends and family. So right now these families are deciding what’s next.
Monica Williams Editor-in-Chief
Wildfire Help DONATE NOW: AustinCF.org/wildfirerelief To apply for a grant, visit the homepage at AustinCF.org Fall 2011
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Celebrate
Volunteers!
Mike Haggerty Twenty years ago, he took over Turkey Trot and made it ThunderCloud Sub’s signature fundraiser. Here’s how he harnesses the power of hundreds of volunteers. photo by Joel Salcido
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What does Turkey Trot mean to you? It means Christmas is close! Actually, Turkey Trot means bringing people together, making a team and creating a win-win for those in the community to serve those less fortunate and have fun. Our goal, really, is for Turkey Trot to provide an opportunity for people to get involved. No one likes poverty and Turkey Trot is a giving vehicle that fits into someone’s lifestyle. It’s a wholesome, family fun event that gives our employees, volunteers and participants a sense of community.
Why did you and your family decide to do this? In the beginning, ThunderCloud became involved after promoters approached us to sponsor the event. I wanted to support the event
because in college I participated in a Turkey Trot race in Dallas and enjoyed getting together with friends. I remembered the wholesome, good experience it was and wanted to share that with others. After the first year the promoters backed out since there were no proceeds, but I wanted to keep it going. We started with sweat equity and energy from the ThunderCloud family and have built on that foundation.
Why did you choose Caritas of Austin as the beneficiary? Caritas of Austin is a great organization and is, in my opinion, the best at efficiently proving the four building blocks to getting someone to self-sufficiency. Those building blocks are housing, food, education and employment, and Caritas helps people not by just giving a hand-out, but also by getting individuals to be self-sufficient. Ultimately, Caritas helps people become contributing members of the community and the more contributors we have, the less the need.
why i give
Did you expect the race to be the big success that it is? Honestly, I didn’t think it would last this long! But I do things because I think they are right, and I knew this was an opportunity to bring like-minded people together and help. We have always had the goal to grow, but it has grown beyond my wildest dreams. When this all started I had two kids and my next two sons weren’t born yet, so they have been at Turkey Trot since they were in strollers. Since then all my kids have run in the event and continue to volunteer. The event has grown because of the energy and synergy of the ThunderCloud employees. Turkey Trot is very special to ThunderCloud because it brings them together; they get to see their
contribution because 100 percent of proceeds benefit Caritas of Austin, and the increase in proceeds shows employees that sweat equity counts.
What is next for Turkey Trot? Hopes for the future? What’s next? November 24 is next! We want to build on our success. The biggest challenge we face now is removing obstacles, not just growing the size of the event. It is difficult to run an event this size in Austin and we hope to get better at managing the size and constraints so that the greater good can be served. We are so happy to be at the Long Center again this year. It is a great venue and gave us the opportunity to grow. Joe Long is a great contributor and as a supporter of Caritas as well. Turkey Trot has great sponsors and vendors who have stepped up to the plate. This event could not happen without them and they benefit from the same enthusiasm and spirit that fuels the success of the event. GivingCity
Sign up to run or volunteer at this year’s Turkey Trot, Nov. 24 at the Long Center. Learn more at ThunderCloud.com
Caritas’s Work in Austin
Food. In 2011, Caritas will serve 100,000 meals in our Community Kitchen and provide enough take-home groceries for 70,500 meals. Housing. Will prevent 2,000 men and women from becoming homeless. Will assist an additional 475 individuals and families access housing. Housing services range from one-time emergency rent and utility assistance to supportive housing. Education. Will provide 500 classes to 400 clients and provide refugee orientation to 460 refugees. Employment. Will place 500 individuals in jobs. More than 50 local businesses will hire our clients. Refugee Resettlement. Caritas assists documented refugees by providing and moving them into housing, acclimating them to their environment and helping them find employment.
Volunteers Needed!
This is not a “5K,” it’s a five mile! So if you’re not quite ready for that distance, here’s another way to be a part of the race. Volunteers needed to set up, man water stations, clean up and more. Contact Molly Sipe of Caritas at 512-646-1251.
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Celebrate
Volunteers!
Time to Pitch In!
Things are getting better in Central Texas but holiday celebrations—or lack thereof—can burden a family already in need. If you ever wanted to make someone’s holidays a little brighter, now’s a great time.
Volunteers Needed
Toy Drives/Adopt-a-Family
City Wide Hold Up for Easter Seals of Central Texas
Bastrop Adopt a Family
Starts in mid-November The University of Texas Wranglers enlist hundreds of volunteers and sends them to street corners to “hold up” passing motorists for change. citywideholdup.com
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. adoptafamily.us/home
Service Austin Day by Rotary Club
Christmas Bureau of Austin
November 18-20 at projects across town Choose from a long list of group projects. Sign up online now—it fills up fast! serviceaustin.org
Starts in early November. Register online to adopt a family or sign up to help this all-volunteer organization. cbofaustin.org
21st Annual ThunderCloud Turkey Trot
Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program
November 24 at Auditorium Shores Some people choose to run the race, you can help run the event! Scores of volunteers make this annual trot a success. thundercloud.com/index.php/trot
H-E-B Feast of Sharing November 22 Make a reminder for this next year, because even if you were reading this in 2010,the 2011 spots would probably be gone. There’s a reason why this one fills up -- H-E-B makes this a great volunteering experience. See our story about it on page 16. handsoncentraltexas.org
Austin Empty Bowl Project November 20 at the Marchesa Hall & Theatre Lots of volunteers needed to help attendees pick a bowl, pick their soup and wash their bowl to take it home. Proceeds benefit the Capital Area Food Bank. austinemptybowl.org
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Look for Salvation Army trees set up in businesses, churches, or malls to brighten an underprivileged youth’s holiday season. uss.salvationarmy.org
Meals on Wheels Adopt a Senior Support a senior citizen during the holidays by purchasing items off their wish lists. mealsonwheelsandmore.org
Holiday Wishes Partnerships for Children Donate Christmas presents to kids in the Child Protection Services. partnershipsforchildren.org
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. lifeworksaustin.org GivingCity
honor. Thanks to contributions from friends and colleagues, more than $2.3 million has been raised for the endowment, which will ensure continued, quality health care for the poor well into the future. A native of New Orleans, Sister Gertrude joined the Daughters of Charity at age 17; this October celebrates her 75th year with the organization, and she’s pleased with the way she’s spent her time. “When I finish my day, even if I’m tired I know that I’ve done what I “My community keeps should have done, and I really have no regrets each day,” she asking me if I’ll retire, said. “My community keeps and I just say no. When asking me [if I’ll retire], and I it’s time for me to quit, I just say no. When it’s time for me to quit, I will die.” will die.” Growing up, Sister Gertrude went to Catholic school along with eight brothers and sisters. But it wasn’t just her schooling that inspired her to want to help others. “My grandfather visited the charity hospital in New Orleans every Sunday,” she said. “He brought things the men would need, shaving cream or razors or toothbrushes, and he did the same in the women’s ward, and to the children he Looking back on a 38-year career always brought toys.” Though her grandfather was with Seton Fund. Jewish, this was Sister Gertrude’s first exposure by Leila Kalmbach to the Daughters of Charity, who administered the hospital. If there’s one thing Sister Gertrude Levy Sister Gertrude is pleased has learned in her almost 92 years on the with the way her work with the planet, it’s that people want to help others. Seton Fund has allowed her “People are very generous and very to serve others, and is thrilled willing—almost anxious—to contribute their that her work will live on in money where they know it will be used for the perpetuity. intention in which they gave it,” she said. “The Sister Gertrude Levy She would know. Sister Gertrude, whose Endowment, initiated by the Seton Development life’s passion is helping the poor and the sick, Board and made to flourish because of has worked with the Seton Fund since 1973, contributions of many generous donors, will be most of that time working to cultivate, solicit forever my testimony of care for the poor who and steward prospective and current donors. come to us at the Seton clinics,” she said. GivingCity In 1999, for Sister Gertrude’s 80th For more info about the Sister Gertude Levy birthday, the Seton Development Board set up Endowment, visit SetonFund.org the Sister Gertrude Levy Endowment in her
Living to Serve
UPDATE
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Celebrate
Volunteers!
Sudden Clarity Deanna Roy took the photo that put Austin-area wildfires into perspective. Now she volunteers her skills for local families. by Narissa Johnson, photo by Joel Salcido “We were driving up Loop 360 near Westlake when we saw the skyline of Austin backed by smoke. “It just didn’t seem that was what it could be,” says photographer Deanna Roy. She had just picked up her daughters from a camping trip cut short by the fires of Labor Day weekend. She was glad they were safe, but she hadn’t realized the magnitude of the fires until she took this shot. That evening she posted a version of the photo on her Facebook page. The image resonated with people and within hours media called to seek the rights to use it. Later she wrote on her blog: “People saw it and realized that this wasn’t a small thing. It’s bigger than the city. I think this picture made people realize — they need help.” As a professional photographer, Roy was often hired to take family portraits for holiday cards. So when she heard about the hundreds of families who had evacuated their homes and barely escaped, she realized they’d probably lost everything, including family portraits.
Now she and a group of photographers from around Central Texas are taking new portraits of those families who lost everything in the fires, to help them start to rebuild. “Even though this photo shows the big picture,” Deanna says, “the story is really about individual lives that were changed; and that’s something you can’t see in the picture.” GivingCity The Recapturing Memories Project
Professional photographers from across Texas are volunteering to provide family portrait sessions to those who have lost their homes to wildfires. Photographers will provide the families with a CD of print-ready images to the families at no charge. For those interested in learning how to volunteer or to be matched with a photographer, please visit RecapturingMemoriesProject.org
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Pizza With a Heart
Just about everyone loves pizza. But have you heard of pizza loving back? by Tiffany Hamburger, photo by Gregg Cestaro If you’re talking about Austin’s Home Slice
And give back, they have: In addition to two large-scale annual charity events— Carnival o’ Pizza and Music by the Slice— Home Slice donates mountains of pizza and gift cards for dinner every week to an astounding variety of charities, events and auctions that serve neighborhood nonprofits, animal charities, children’s charities, music, the arts and environmental groups. “We don’t make a big deal about AUSTIN it, as much as we could. It’s not really BUSINESSES about that,” said co-owner Joseph Strickland. For the three owners of Home for Slice, it’s more about staying close to good the people and the place that make their success possible. “The best thing about the restaurant business is that you’re right there with your customers and you make real connections,” he added. “We say yes to all kinds of things,” said co-owner Jen Scoville Strickland, “but we choose things that match our brand, things we’re passionate about.” “The wackier the better, as far as we’re concerned,” said Strickland.
pizzeria, there’s a whole lotta love being returned to the community through the business’s frequent, generous and zany philanthropy efforts. “When we started Home Slice, we knew we wanted to give back to our community,” said co-owner Terri Hannifin. “We were always really excited to be in Austin and in this neighborhood [South Congress] in particular.”
Joseph Strickland, Terri Hannifin and Jen Scoville Strickland, co-owners of Homeslice Pizza.
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The wackiest way Home Slice shows its gratitude is through the annual Carnival o’ Pizza, which benefits a different chosen nonprofit each year and features entertainments like doughthrowing, pizza-eating and box-folding contests, along with raffles, music and the now legendary Hands on an Eggplant Sub contest.
“The wackier the better, as far as we’re concerned.” “Every year we do this,” said Hannifin of the carnival, now in its sixth year, “we have so many moments where we just look at each other like, ‘You are kidding me.’ It gets silly—we giggle about it, because it’s just so fun.” “The carnival,” said Strickland, “is where we really say to the world, more than anything we do, who we are and what we’re about.”
Over the years, the carnival, which was born out of gratitude for surviving the first year in the treacherous restaurant business, has generated nearly $40,000 for local nonprofits. This year’s carnival on November 19 will benefit the Austin Bat Cave, a nonprofit writing and literacy center for children and teens. “It really is just about connecting—with our customers, with our neighbors, wanting our success to spread out and be everybody’s success, just wanting to share the friendliness and genuineness and good vibes that Home Slice tries to be about,” said Scoville Strickland. “This group really knows how to throw a party, and every year, we stretch our boundaries to the absolute limits. And this year is no exception. We are just knocking it out of the park.” GivingCity
Learn more about Homeslice and Carnival O’ Pizza on Nov. 19 at HomeslicePizza.com.
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Celebrate
Volunteers!
HAPPENING NOW
Volunteers Make it Happen! Settlement Home Charity Garage Sale Nov 4-5 at Palmer Events Center You either get second-hand shopping or you don’t. But if you’re one of those who gets it, then you must know about the Settlement Home Charity Garage Sale, November 4-6, at Palmer Events Center. First of all, it’s huge. All year long millions of items are brought to the enormous warehouse and processed by hundreds of volunteers, many of them having volunteered for years. They sort, price and box-up thousands of items, all in a giant, un-air conditioned warehouse. It’s hard, dirty work, and it’s something to marvel at. Second, all proceeds benefit Austin girls who have been removed from abusive or neglectful homes. These are girls rescued from really awful situations, and the professionals and staff at the Settlement Home who care for them could use your support. So here’s how to help these girls and shop ‘til you drop: Attend the Garage Sale and buy lots of stuff. Volunteer as an individual or group to help move stuff 14
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Volunteers like co-chairs Margaret Scott and Michele Brocato work at the warehouse work year round— with no air conditioning—to sort and price donations.
to Palmer, starting October 28. Or, if you like to shop and drink wine at the same time, attend the preview party on November 3. We will see you there! GivingCity
More at SettlementHome.org
CALENDAR
All events pulled from AustinSocialPlanner.com. Listing as of September 2011. Oct 16 AIDS Walk 12:30-5pm at Austin City Hall Benefitting AIDS Services of Austin ASAustin.org Oct 16 Austin Humane Society Film Festival 12:30-2:30 pm at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar Benefitting Austin Humane Society Drafthouse.com Oct 16 Luminalia 6-9 pm at Umlauf Sculpture Garde Benefitting Austin Shakespeare luminalia2011-zvents. eventbrite.com Oct 17 Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas 7-10 pm at Erwin Center Benefitting Austin Community Foundation firerelieftexas.org
Oct 21 Fall Golf Classic At Onion Creek Golf Club Benefitting GAHCC GAHCC.org Oct 21 Texas Book Festival First Edition Literary Gala At Four Seasons Benefitting Texas Book Festival TexasBookFestival.org Oct 21 Four Seasons Bake Sale & Raffle 9am-3pm at Four Seasons Benefitting Seton press.fourseasons.com Oct 21 SafePlace Celebration Luncheon with Erin Brokovich 11am-1pm at Austin Convention Center Benefitting SafePlace SafePlace.org Oct 21 Masquerade Gala 6pm at Starlight Terrace Benefitting American Diabetes Association adagala.blogspot.com Oct 22 Beretta USA No Worries Classic at Cypress Valley Preserve Benefitting Wonders & Worries wondersandworries.org Oct 22 Stiletto Stampede for the Cure 9 am at Hill Country Galleria Benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure StilettoStampede.org
Oct 18 Celebration of Giving 6-9 pm at Four Seasons Benefitting Austin Community Foundation AustinCF.org
Oct 22 TAP’s Fun Fall Fundraiser Cook-Off 12-5 pm at Central Market Benefitting Theatre Action Project TheatreActionProject.org
Oct 19 Austin Film Fest Film & Food Party 7-10 pm at Driskill Hotel Benefitting Young Filmmakers Program AustinFilmFestival.com
Oct 22 Light the Night Walk 5-11 pm at Lake Park at Mueller Benefitting Leukemia & Lymphoma Society LighttheNight.org
Oct 20 Heroes for Health 6:30 pm at Four Seasons Benefitting Marathon Kids MarathonKids.org
Oct 22 20 Years with Dave Steakly 6-9 pm at The W Hotel Benefitting ZACH Theatre ZACHTheatre.org
Oct 20 SafePlace Celebration Film Screening 7 pm at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar Benefitting SafePlace Drafthouse.org
Oct 22 Season of Dance Gala 6-10 pm at Hilton Austin Benefitting Austin Children’s Shelter AustinChildrenShelter.org Oct 23 The Pink Ball 6:30 pm at Four Seasons Benefitting Seton Endowments SetonFund.org
Oct 29 Austin Interfaith Arts & Music Festival 10am-8pm at St. Ignatius Family Center Benefitting Austin Interfaith AusitnInterfaithFestival.org Oct 29 Play Bingo Ladies Luncheon 10:30-1pm Benefitting The Center for Child Protection CenterforChildProtection.org Oct 29 La Calaca Masquerade Ball 8-11pm at Mexic-Arte Museum Benefitting Medic-Arte Museum Mexic-ArteMuseum.org Oct 29-30 S’more Soiree at Lake Travis Benefitting Girl Scouts of Central Texas GSCTX.org Nov 2 Harvey Penick Award Dinner 6-9 pm at Four Seasons Benefitting Caritas of Austin CaritasorAustin.org Nov 4 Film + Food + Focused on Good 6-9 pm at CTC Garden Benefitting Lights. Camera. Help. LightsCameraHelp.org Nov 5 Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes 9 am at Tech Ridge Center Benefitting American Diabetes Association main.diabetes.org Nov 6 American Girl Fashion Show at Westin Austin at The Domain Benefitting Dell Children’s ChildrensAustin.org Nov 7 Bridging the Gap featuring Carrie Fisher 5:30 pm at Texas State History Museum Benefitting New Milestones Foundation NewMilestones.org Nov 8 Austin Recovery featuring Rob Loew 11:30 am - 1 pm at ACL Live Moody Theater Benefitting Austin Recovery AustinRecovery.org Nov 10 Vive le Vin 7-9:30 pm at Ben Hur Shrine Auditorium Benefitting Ballet Austin BalletAustinGuild.org
Nov 10 Copa de Vida 7-11 pm at The Palm Door Benefitting Texas Child Study Center ChildrensAustin.org Nov 11 Black & White Gala 6-10:30 pm at Four Seasons Benefitting Boys & Girls Club BGCAustin.org Nov 13 Race for the Cure 6am-12pm at Downtown Austin Benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure KomenAustin.org Nov 13 HeartGift Fine Wine & Luxe Living Auction 5:30 at Driskill Hotel Benefitting HeartGift Foundation HeartGift.org Nov 13 Spirit of Place Gala 6 pm at Four Seasons Benefitting Witliff Gallery Collections TheWitliffCollections.txstate.edu Nov 16-20 A Christmas Affair at Palmer Events Center Benefitting The Junior League of Austin JLAustin.org Nov 17 Big Reds & Bubbles 6:30-9:30 pm at Driskill Hotel Benefitting the Food & Wine Foundation of Texas WineFoodFoundation.org Nov 19 ECHO Family Festival 11am - 2 pm at St. Ignacius Church Benefitting ECHO FrontStepsArch.Wordpress.com Dec 3 Holiday Swing Benefitting Project Transitions ProjectTransitions.org Dec 4 Dancing with the Stars Austin 7-11 pm at Hilton Austin Benefitting the Center for Child Protection CenterforChildProtection.org Dec 5 Conspirare Holiday Gala 5:30 pm at the Long Center Benefitting Conspirare Conspirare.org Dec 30 Big Band Dance 7 pm at Austin Women’s Club Benefitting Austin Symphony Orchestra AustinSymphony.org
Event listing brought to you by AustinSocialPlanner.com Make sure to list your event on Austin Social Planner. Fall 2011
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Celebrate
Volunteers!
“Volunteering is Energizing!” H-E-B’s Feast of Sharing keeps volunteers like the Ledesmas coming back for more. by Shelley Seale, photos by Joel Salcido When Andreana Ledesma and her daughter, Kathleen, first volunteered for the H-E-B Feast of Sharing Holiday Dinner six years ago, she had no idea of the ongoing impact it would have on both their lives—or of how much volunteerism would shape Kathleen into the young adult she became. “We searched online and the Feast of Sharing sounded interesting to both of us,” Andreana says. “There is something for everyone, from greeting people as they arrive to serving food to helping other kids with arts and crafts.” Both mother and daughter enjoyed the experience so much that they kept returning, year after year. “For us, volunteering is energizing, especially in contrast to the day-to-day routine of school and work,” Andreana explains. “It’s an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way and to meet new people.” 16
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She credits such community work with helping Kathleen grow into a loving and caring young woman. In fact, she was the recipient of the Austin Independent School District’s 2011 Outstanding Community Service Volunteer Award. Kathleen even wrote about the influence volunteering has made on her, on her college application essay: “When our [three-hour Feast of Sharing] shift ended, most of the adult volunteers were tired but we chose to work through the next shift. I did not want to leave and I have been volunteering at this annual event ever since. I have a strong desire to make a difference in this world and I realized the importance of giving back to my community. It felt good to help others. I felt fulfilled in a way I had never experienced before.” It is just this sort of fulfillment that draws hundreds of volunteers to the Feast of Sharing event every year, held the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Volunteer registration opens up in early October and is usually full within a few days. “We really rely on the community to help us with putting on this large of an event,” says Tamra Jones, public affairs specialist for H-E-B. “It takes a village to be able to do this kind of thing; we have over 1,000 volunteers who
Fun Feast of Sharing Stats: Volunteers serve 3,625 pounds of turkey, 3,200 pounds each of mashed potatoes and vegetables, 170 gallons of gravy, 13,000 dinner rolls and more than 1,000 pies. ¶ The H-E-B Eddie Garcia Mobile Kitchen is a state-of-the-art vehicle equipped to handle the preparation of more than 2,500 meals per hour. Eddie Garcia, the kitchen’s namesake, was a 47year H-E-B employee and pioneer of the Feast of Sharing and other hunger relief efforts. ¶ 500 meals are also delivered to homebound participants through Meals on Wheels. 18
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will be out there helping with every aspect of this event.” Feast of Sharing actually started 100 years ago, when the founders of H-E-B opened up their home to community dinners. Today it is an annual event in 25 Texas locations and six sites in Mexico. This year marks Austin’s 22nd annual holiday dinner. Jones was there from the beginning; she started with H-E-B as a checker 25 years ago and volunteered herself at the first Feast of Sharing dinners. “I would have never thought I would be running the program one day,” she says. “I’ve seen it grow tremendously in that time. It’s become part of H-E-B’s continued belief and commitment to improving quality of life in the community.” Nearly one in five Central Texans are considered “food insecure,” which means they don’t have access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times. More than threefourths of households receiving assistance from Capital Area Food Bank Partner Agencies report incomes below the federal poverty level. H-E-B recently conducted a poll of almost a thousand of its employees, asking them what issues were most important to them. Hunger and food security topped the list, showing the commitment at all levels of the organization. The economy has also impacted need; just in the last few years, the number of people served at Feast of Sharing has jumped from around 9,000 to 13,000. “We don’t simply cut a check,” Jones says. “We’re out there in the community, we roll up our sleeves and we participate.” In addition to the tremendous community
and volunteer support, she credits partners such as the City of Austin, United Way Capital Area, Lower Colorado River Authority and the Texas Comptroller’s Office. And while H-E-B provides the main food for the meal, corporate sponsors such as Mrs. Baird’s Bakery and Coca-Cola contribute important accompaniments. This year’s event has a few new additions, including a literacy program called Read Three. Encouraging parents to read three books to their young children, H-E-B stores have set up book donation drop-boxes and will give the books away to children at the Feast of Sharing dinner. Another new addition this year is a community resources area where many local non-profits will have tables set up to distribute information about the services they have available to the community. Jones stresses that Feast of Sharing is a community event open to the public— anyone is invited to participate in the free meal. “It was initially started as a way to fight hunger, but it’s also turned into a way to bring people together for the holidays. It’s become more than feeding the needy; it’s become a celebration for the whole community.” GivingCity
“It’s an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way and to meet new people.”
H-E-B’s Spirit of Giving: The annual Feast of Sharing Holiday Dinner is just one way that H-E-B supports the community. Since the 1930s, the company has contributed five percent of pre-tax earnings to public and charitable programs. The Spirit of H-E-B trailer provides on-site relief in areas devastated by natural disasters. It was recently taken to Bastrop to help serve the first responders in the recent wildfires. Excellence in Education Awards gives more than $600,000 in cash prizes to deserving school principals, teachers and districts. It is the largest monetary recognition program for educators in Texas, and one of the largest in the nation. Environmental Initiatives include a comprehensive reduce, reuse and recycle policy, green building products in H-E-B facilities, seafood sustainability and more. Fitness Programs include everything from community walks that raise money for health charities to fitness programs in schools.
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Help the local artisans from Madagascar who make these colorful clutches, from Mar y Sol. ($79, madimports.org)
100% of proceeds from Philosophy’s Sweet Dreams body wash goes to First Book, which provides books for kids in need. ($38, philosophy.com)
40% of the sales of each piece from GenerousArt. com goes to the charity of your choice. (generousart.org)
More Than A Gift
Feel great about shopping with gifts that give back. by Ana Perkins
Limited edition Pink Roses Candles from Diptyque smell divine. 20% of proceeds go to breast cancer research. ($32, diptyqueparis.com)
When you purchase this Jonathan Adler iPhone cover through Gifts that Give, $4.99 goes to Americans for UNFPA. ($24.95, giftsthatgive.com)
Men love the calming Thymes’ Frasier Fir candle. Buy through Gifts that Give and $2.20 goes to Americans for UNFPA. ($11, giftsthatgive.com)
Buy this western shirt and Orvis donates to Malpai Borderlands for ecosystem management in the Southwest. ($79, orvis.com)
Give an LP with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and more. Proceeds benefit writing programs for kids. ($15.99, insound.com)
These Red Cord’s Men’s Classics are perfect for a stroll. Each pair purchased, TOM’S gives a pair to a child in need. ($54, toms.com)
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100% of this Kids Japan Love graphic tee from J.Crew goes to the Japanese Red Cross Society and victims of the tsunami. ($25, jcrew.com)
At The Working Proof, 15% of the proceeds of each of their prints sold will be donated. ($25 to $100, theworkingproof.com)
Playful, delicious chocolates make great stocking stuffers. Proceeds from this 20-piece box benefit Relief International in Darfur. ($50, compartes.com)
Adorable Stella & Dot bracelets introduce your daughter to charity. Benefitting buildOn, Accion USA, and Girls Inc. ($39, stelladot.com)
You buy the Giving Card and the person you give it to donates to the charity of their choice. (+$10, austincf.org)
....and here’s how to give back with every gift ! Why not make their glasses great? For every pair Warby Parker sells, a pair is donated to someone in need. ($95, warbyparker.com)
GiveAsYouGet.com By partnering up with stores like drugstore.com, iTunes, the Container Store and more, Give As You Get allows you to buy everything from toothpaste to new music with a proceed of your purchase going to the local charity of your choice. Whether it’s Safe Place or Emancipet, now your favorite Austin charities can benefit every time you hit “Add to cart.” How brilliant is that? Visit GiveAsYouGet.com for more.
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GIVE BETTER
I Am Overhead Austin’s expert on nonprofit management on why we can’t judge a nonprofit by how much it spends directly on its clients. by Matt Kouri There is a fundamental flaw to evaluating the effectiveness of nonprofits based on how much they spend on programs versus overhead. Goals such as lives changed, children educated, and disasters avoided are difficult if not impossible to measure. But unfortunately, unlike the business world where profit is a convenient, singular gauge of success, nonprofits lack such an elegant measuring stick. To make matters worse, the Internal Revenue Service (which is the only true governing authority over nonprofits) persists in requiring nonprofits to report publicly on their percentage of dollars spent on “programs” as opposed to “management” and “fundraising” expenses. And even more unfortunately, many donors, community leaders, and otherwise well-intentioned individuals use these percentages as a gauge of nonprofit efficiency and effectiveness. Too many times, I’ve heard, “I only give to nonprofits that put 100 percent of my donation toward ‘the cause’.” or “If they spend less than 75 percent on programs, they are not a good nonprofit.” This thinking should stop.
To start with, these IRS percentages are entirely self-reported, are usually not independently validated, and could be easily manipulated by a clever nonprofit leader. Beyond that, it is at best misguided to apply such generic rules of thumb to evaluate nonprofits with missions as diverse as sheltering the homeless, promoting artistic expression, mentoring troubled youth, operating large healthcare systems, etc. For some reason, many believe that nonprofits should be held to an ultra-efficiency standard that is not applied to other organizations, be they government or for-profit. Folks seem to think that because nonprofits rely on donor dollars to fill a public need that they should pay lower salaries, get by with substandard resources, and otherwise scrimp and scrape their way through life. This is also flawed thinking. The management of nonprofit organizations requires overhead (should we all work outside?), administrative expenditures (should we do without phones?), and fundraising (where would we be without cash?). Long-term success in nonprofits
“The truth is, nonprofits are expected to operate at a higher standard.”
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requires that we pay competitive salaries to attract and retain top talent, that we have sufficient resources to allow us to focus more energy on delivering programs than fixing broken office equipment, and that we raise enough funds to allow for innovative programmatic growth and investment. But don’t get me wrong, I believe nonprofits must earn the change in attitude I am promoting here. Some nonprofits with whom we work at Greenlights (which is hundreds each year) unfortunately have earned the lack of trust that some apply to them. Mismanagement, fraud, and in some cases fundamental lack of knowledge among some nonprofit staff and board members can perpetuate this problem. The truth is that nonprofits are held in the public trust, are subject to full scrutiny, and are expected to operate at a higher standard. That requires us to exhibit 100 percent transparency to our donors and the public, to learn about and implement management best practices at every
turn, and to maximize the use of every donor dollar. It also requires that we focus heavily on measuring and reporting on the real impact of our work, using hard data and outcomes measures that are meaningful and that can replace the “percentage spent on programs” metric in most peoples’ vernacular. I am okay with the fact that I am at least partially “overhead” for my nonprofit because I know that we are doing everything possible to run our organization efficiently, accountably, transparently, in a way that demonstrates real, measurable impact in the community. Not every nonprofit leader can legitimately say that yet, but every one should. GivingCity MATT KOURI Matt Kouri is president and executive director of Greenlights for Nonprofit Success, where he leads the organization’s efforts to strengthen nonprofits, consults directly with several nonprofits, and develops research and best practices in nonprofit management. Learn more at Greenlights.org
Fall 2011
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GIve Better
Hands-On Philanthropy Forget the word “donor.” Will Meredith models the next generation’s approach. by Monica M. Williams, photos by Joel Salcido
Will Meredith knows his stuff. We’re sitting at a tiny table in the coffee shop on the ground floor of Four Seasons Residences. He’s come armed with a stack of nonprofit brochures and a site plan of the Chestnut development project in East Austin. He has notes. He’s pre-answered my questions. Meredith is not your typical young professional with a few boards on his resume. He’s the son of Tom and Lynn Meredith, one of Austin’s wealthiest and most generous couples. It’s clear that they’ve passed on their philanthropy philosophy to Will, but he seems to have taken the ball and run with it. “Will has that sense of stewardship that is not a given when you’ve got means,” says Walter Moreau of Foundation Communities, who’s worked with the Merediths, “and that speaks of a level of maturity and thoughtfulness that’s uncommon.” Right now Meredith sits on the board of the MFI Foundation and works as a developer for MFI Real Estate, both family organizations. And while he’s involved in many other nonprofit projects, it’s clear that the Chestnut development project is his passion. The core of the area sits on E Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Alexander Ave,
and has a Capital Metro Rail Station at its center, as well as a bike and walking trails, bus lines and a potential street car stop. But despite its variety of transportation options, the tract remains mostly a blank slate to date. When the 22-acre site was purchased by his parents Tom and Lynn Meredith in 2001, the idea was to create a hub for families, social services, education and environmental advocacy. But it has taken Will Meredith to see that through. He’s met with area residents, worked with city agencies, talked to area nonprofits about their needs and even commissioned artists and engineers to help with the planning. There’s a park planned, a skate park, an amphitheater, a community garden and more. To date, the Merediths have donated about 17 acres to the city and for the future headquarters of Theatre Action Project, Sustainable Food Center, and the new headquarters of PeopleFund, which cut the ribbon in October 2011. Next door to the property is a Foundation Communities housing development called M Station, and in a new collaboration, it will partner with Open Door Preschool to offer comprehensive childcare services. “Instead of just donating the land,” says Meredith, “we are embedding it with these programs. We are using public-private partnerships to deploy resources and leaders who understand that it takes collaboration to create really sustainable solutions.” Karen LaShelle of Theatre Action Project says, “Will puts a lot of time and effort thinking about the project in-depth and as a whole. He’s taking the gifts he’s been given seriously to leave a legacy.” Fall 2011
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Not every new philanthropist can have such an influential role in a project of this size, but Meredith believes it’s not the resources you bring, it’s your passion. “The next generation of philanthropists has transitioned away from building wealth to a more incremental approach of doing well by doing good,” he says. “It’s about finding ways to showcase your true values by finding a way to do what’s needed in our communities.”
GC: How do you decide how to invest in the community? WM: In a general sense, I seek out opportunities for leverage and strong leadership. Money doesn’t solve problems; people solve problems. If you can find a way to invest in someone who is passionate about solving a problem chances are your investment will go far towards creating a sustainable solution. In particular my passion is around investing in causes which foster educational opportunities and sustainable infrastructure.
“I don’t particularly care for the term ‘donation.’”
Describe a way you think your donations have had an impact in the past. I don’t particularly care for the term “donation.” It lacks a sense of reciprocity which I believe is critical to fostering a growth of communities around civic virtues. The notion of linear giving has had a good run, but I think our communities could get more out of an approach to community development that places a clearer value on the mutual benefits of being good citizens and investing in our shared civic virtues.
What advice can you give to others who want to use their money to have an impact in Austin? In general terms, seek out collaboration and learn from other people across different fields and across generations. Be humble enough to be a continuous learner and passionate enough to be a mentor because that is the fastest way to foster innovation and sustainable solutions for our communities. Specifically in the community development space, frame the conversation around the positive attributes and strengths of the leaders and organizations working to address the issues you want to have an impact on. Avoid limiting terms such as “nonprofit.” Just because an organization serves social objectives doesn’t mean they don’t need to make financial profits and honestly the social profits they seek are incredibly valuable. Really having an impact begins with moving away from the negative and limiting lexicon and focusing on the power of positive and collaborative approaches. GivingCity Fall 2011
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Celebrate
Volunteers!
“Thank You, CASA.” When her sister’s children needed help most, a volunteer stepped in. Stephanie Fisher tells their story. Just over five years ago, my kids were found by an ambulance crew, home alone with their mother who had swallowed two bottles of prescription pills and every over-the-counter pill she had in her medicine cabinet. My sister, their mother, had frantically called 911 when she started feeling the effects of those pills, and when emergency workers arrived, she was out cold. Shae was four years old. Reece was not even two. Shae can recount that night with vivid detail, from knowing her mom was not okay, to being terrified of the strangers entering her home in the middle of the night while her mom was “asleep,” to being taken to a foster home and staying up all night watching Dumbo. My sister survived the overdose, but the events of that night spurred a case with child protective services or CPS. What we learned over the ensuing 18 months about everything the kids had already been through in their short lives - and the limits to their parents’ willingness to improve the situation - were completely devastating. Yet, for 18 solid months, CPS leaned in the direction of returning the kids to their parents’ care. That is, after all, the most desirable result in any CPS case. Shortly after the case was opened, Shae and Reece were assigned a court-appointed special advocate or CASA, Ruth. CASA reps
giving works
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Fisher and her adopted children Shae and Reece.
are volunteers who devote their time to being a voice for children in like situations. Unlike attorneys assigned to the case, representing parents or the state, CASA reps speak for the children. Ruth spent many hours with the kids. Her visits became more reliable than their parents’ visits, and over a year and half, Ruth became very familiar with our family. Like CPS, Ruth was hoping to see the kids reunite with their parents. Over time, however, Ruth came to the same conclusion we had as a family: The kids couldn’t go back. At the final hearing, CPS was still pushing very hard for the kids to reunite with their parents, despite the parents’ complete failure to fulfill the recommendations for parenting classes, rehabilitation, anger management, and relationship counseling ... and the fact that their father was facing a handful of new charges including battery, drug possession, and weapons
charges, all earned since the start of the case. We all sat, helpless, in that court room, waiting to find out what would happen to the kids, knowing they were both too young and too afraid to speak for themselves. One by one, my family had to get up and tell a judge that my sister was not fit to parent her children and watch her try to digest the betrayal and heartache she was feeling. It was Ruth, however, who stood up last. When she said, with such sadness, that she believed it to be in the kids’ best interest to live with me, I knew the weight of her opinion was worth more than anything we had said. The attorney representing my sister was quick to interrupt Ruth to ask if she had any education or experience in psychology that made her qualified to assess the situation, and without missing a beat, she confirmed that she had a masters degree and 20 years experience working in psychiatric nursing. The judge seemed surprised and followed up with a series of her own questions. I’m pretty
sure that’s when everything changed. Two days later, we finally received the ruling, and several weeks later, I was changing my name and adopting two kids. I feel very strongly that we wouldn’t be where we are now without the dedication and support of Ruth and CASA. I’ve participated in several events to benefit CASA, and I will continue to do so for as long as I am able. GivingCity Curious about becoming a volunteer advocate? CASA volunteers come from every walk of life and share a commitment to improving children’s lives, a willingness to learn and an open mind toward life expereience very different from their own. Volunteers complete an interview, background checks and 33 hours of intensive training. After being sworn-in by a judge, volunteers are appointed to a child or a family of children and spend an average of 20 hours a month advocating for these children for at least a year. For volunteers, CASA is a life-changing experience that makes our community a better place. CASA of Travis County offers a monthly open house, with the next one on November 8, anytime between 10 am and 6 pm. Learn more about CASATravis.org.
NEXT ISSUE: GIVE BETTER Learn how to be a better donor and increase your impact in Central Texas. Find out how DISASTER RECOVERY works, what each ANIMAL CHARITY does, how to help RETURNING SOLDIERS, how nonprofits affect our EVERYDAY LIVES and more!
Issue #10 on January 10, 2012 GivingCityAustin.com Fall 2011
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GivingCity Austin DIRECTORY
Burger Co. promises both, along with fresh-cut fries and hand-dipped Blue Bell milkshakes. HatCreekBurgers.com
Below is our growing list of community-minded, for-profit and nonprofit businesses in Central Texas.
J. Blacks: Known for its generosity toward nonprofit events. The unique art and distinct ambiance make it the place to be in Austin, so rent it out for private parties or stop by for a drink and a good time. JBlacks.com
Please support them and mention that you saw them in GivingCity Austin. APPTIVISTS HelpAttack: We love to tweet. We love to give. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Help Attack offers you a chance to pledge a certain amount to your chosen charity every time you tweet. HelpAttack.com Hotels for Hope: Rid yourself of event planning stress while giving back to the community by working with Hotels for Hope. Every time you book a room with Hotels for Hope, $2 is given to local charities. HotelsforHope.org KIIMBY: Register your credit card with KIIMBY, and part of every purchase you make at participating businesses will go towards your favorite charities. Businesses range from clothing boutiques to food delivery sites. You need to buy clothes, and you need to buy food—why not give a little back to the community while you’re at it? Kiimby.com MiniDonations: A little bit of change can go a long way. With Mini Donations, you can implement your spare change to help out the community in many different ways through your Mini Donations account. MiniDonations.org SPONSORS/VENUES CTC Garden: CTC Garden is the perfect setting for weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, and a variety of intimate gatherings. As a non-profit, CTC International rents out the space to cover their administrative costs, which ensures that donor funding goes directly towards their programs and development in Kenya. ctcinternational.org/events Four Seasons Hotel: One of Austin’s few premiere venues for grand events and galas, The Four Seasons Hotel’s beautiful ballroom and renowned Texas hospitality will make your event unforgettable. FourSeasons.com/Austin Hat Creek Burgers: This Austin business make feeding the homeless its business, too. Watch for their Mobile Loaves & Fishes truck around town. Hat Creek
Molotov: Located conveniently on West 6th, Molotov welcomes your fundraising event. Come out and enjoy the impressive variety of margaritas and martinis, along with a reasonably priced menu. MolotovLounge.com
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Alt Creative: Since 2005, Alt Creative has designed websites and marketing materials for small businesses in the Austin area. Alt Creative donates 10% of the profits from all custom web design projects to charity. Alt-Creative.com Apex Auctions: A professional auctioneer not only makes charity auctions more fun, it also raises more money for a good cause. Victoria Gutierrez offers invaluable input on running an auction, and hiring her will do wonders for your nonprofit event. Apex-Auction.com
INNU Salon: Innu provides impeccable customer service paired with an artistic, NONPROFIT CONSULTANTS fashion-forward aesthetic to give you a Cultural Strategies: Cultural Strategies is fabulous hairstyle. The salon offers cuts, a marketing and advertising consulting color, highlights, perms, makeup, upfirm that will give your business or dos, and extensions. Innu.net organization an advantage in an increasingly multicultural America. GiveRealty: By donating 25% of their Cultural-Strategies.com commission to the nonprofit of your choice, Give Reality makes a huge Ridgewood: Ingenious Communication impact on the community while still Strategies: Working with communityproviding you with exceptional service. minded clients, Ridgewood is a public GiveRealtyAustin.com relations firm that enables organizations to reach out to the public in effective, Purple Dot Events: Save time and money powerful ways in a constantly by putting this team of event-planning changing communications landscape. experts to work. With Purple Dot Events, RidgewoodPR.com the focus is on fun. purpledotevents.com Knox-Woollard Professional Management: Professional Management: Providing services in management and organization, KWPM employs their expertise in the management field and team of skilled professionals to provide a cost-effective and efficient opportunity for organizations to meet their goals. KWProfessionalManagement.com Seeds for Change: Whether you re planning a gala, stirring up donors, or establishing a budget, Seeds of Change will work with you to boost your nonprofit with their impressive staff of professionals. SeedsforChangeConsulting.com PHOTOGRAPHERS Joel Salcido: Joel’s photography achieves a unique flavor and edginess that few other photographers can pull off. His editorial pieces, along with his portraits of clients like Dennis Quaid and Lance Armstrong, represent his distinct artistic eye. JoelSalcido.com Gregg Cestaro: Specializing in fashion photography, Gregg’s attention to detail and fascination with his art give it an extra kick. He also offers services in illustration, graphic design, video, and web design. GreggCestaro.com
RETAILERS Touch of Sass: Sassy jewelry, bags, and other accessories promise to bring out your own unique style and accent your already fabulous look. Located in eclectic downtown Austin, this boutique is sure to have something chic for everyone’s closet. TouchofSass.net GenerousArt.com: When you purchase art from GenerousArt.com, you select a nonprofit organization to support from a list of beneficiaries or supply an alternate nonprofit. The retail price is divided among the nonprofit (40%), donating artist (40%), and Generous Art (20%). GiveAsYouGet.com: Give as Uou Get has aligned with the most popular online shopping sites to offer users a way to give a portion of the sales to the charities of their choice. In addition, Give as you Get contributes at least 50% of all revenues to nonprofit organizations. Want to be listed? Contact Monica Williams at monica@givingcity.com or 512-472-4483