STORIES OF HOPE & TRANSFORMATION SPRING 2025
Goodwill Outreach Supervisor, visits the Esperanza Community
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Goodwill Central Texas + BETTY
Expanding Digital Opportunity in Central Texas
In today’s world, access to technology isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for employment, education, and daily life. Yet, many Central Texans are not connected to these digital tools: nearly 1 in 5 Texas households lack broadband, and 92% of job applications are now online. Without digital skills, opportunity remains out of reach.
Thanks to the generous support of our donors and grant partners, including Indeed and Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Goodwill Central Texas is bridging this gap. Our mobile mission unit, BETTY (Bringing Education and Technology To You), brings hands-on digital training, job search support, and free devices to those who need them most.
Because of these partnerships, individuals across our community can gain the skills and tools to pursue education, secure employment, and build brighter futures. Digital opportunity isn’t just about learning to use a computer—it’s about unlocking potential, boosting confidence, and ensuring that digital access reaches everyone.
We are deeply grateful to our grant partners for making this life-changing work possible— together, we’re building a stronger, more connected community.
Changing Lives One Stop At A Time
Curious what BETTY has been up to? Since we launched in September 2024, we’ve held or participated in over a dozen events across Central Texas. Through the Goodwill TECH program in 2024 alone, we’ve distributed 117 laptops and 59 hotspots
August 22, 2024
BETTY soft launch at the Round Rock Career Center
September 5, 2024
BETTY officially unveiled to the world
September 14, 2024
Participated in SAFE’s Touch a Truck event
Q2 Stadium; 500+ people attended
September 20, 2024
Austin Clubhouse
September 27, 2024
Austin FreeNet
October 2, 2024
Career Development Center (CDC) training
October 3, 2024
Participated in Goodwill Career and Technical Academy (GCTA) Experience Day
October 3, 2024
Saint Louise House
October 9, 2024
Stony Point Park
October 11, 2024
Tech for All Fest; 100+ attendees
October 15, 2024
Creedmore Community Center
October 16, 2024
Anderson Lane Goodwill
October 22, 2024
UT Fellows tour BETTY
October 23, 2024
BETTY wrap-up partner event at Indeed
October 30, 2024
Happy Halloween!
Goodwill Central Texas’ Tent-or-Treat
December 17, 2024
Esperanza Community
Digital Empowerment for the Esperanza Community
In January 2025, Goodwill Central Texas launched Goodwill TECH and Financial Empowerment programming for residents of the Esperanza Community—a temporary residential shelter complex in East Austin, established by The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF). TOOF provides emergency shelter, supportive services, and pathways to stability for people experiencing homelessness.
Through our partnership with TOOF, we are honored to provide monthly digital skills and financial empowerment trainings, equipping Esperanza residents with essential tools to rebuild their lives.
TOOF’s Vocational Services Coordinator, Alex Gideon, shared:
“Goodwill has been an imperative resource in bringing financial empowerment and digital literacy training to the residents at Esperanza Community. Their class instructors are friendly, knowledgeable, and informative, with an easily digestible and adaptive curriculum that has received an overwhelmingly positive response. We are excited to see this partnership continue to grow, and we are extremely appreciative to the Goodwill Team for their collaborative approach.”
Additionally, thanks to a new partnership with Premier Wireless, we’re providing Wi-Fi-enabled tablets to help residents get connected. Through the Goodwill TECH learn and earn program, participants receive a tablet upon completing their training goals—ensuring access to both technology and opportunity.
Donor Spotlight PATTY AND RAINER RIBBACK
After graduating high school in 2021, Patty and Rainer Ribback’s son Markus, who is a young man with autism, became involved with Goodwill via Project SEARCH—a program that helps high school students with disabilities prepare for life after school through on-thejob training and internships. Goodwill Central Texas is proud to be a part of Project SEARCH, where our Career Case Managers provide participants with everything from personalized coaching to job search support.
Markus was a star in the Project SEARCH program. After only three months of training, he was offered a job at Ascension Seton Northwest Hospital. Today, he continues to build a thriving career at the hospital and even earned a recent certification to grow in his role!
When asked why they chose to donate to Goodwill Central Texas, Patty answered, “We have a special place in our hearts for different organizations that have helped the special needs community."
"Even though Markus is [no longer] getting resources from Goodwill, we’re just hoping that our donations will help someone in that community.”
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Patty and Rainer for their generous gift. Donations like these enable us to continue transforming lives through the power of education and work.
Maximize Your Impact: Use Your Company’s Match to Support Goodwill Central Texas
Did you know that thousands of companies offer matching gift programs that can double—or even triple—your charitable contributions? Many companies match charitable gifts made by employees, retirees, and even spouses. Patty and Rainer use his employer benefit (through Rainer’s employer Adobe) to maximize their impact for Goodwill Central Texas.
Check with your human resources or benefits department to see if your employer participates in a matching gift program. By leveraging your company’s match, you’re not just making a donation—you’re making a difference. Donate today and multiply your impact with Goodwill Central Texas!
On March 6, we gathered to celebrate community impact and honor our 2024 Good Friends of Goodwill . Thank you to all who support our mission to transform lives through the power of education and work.
THANK YOU!
Connie Aldrich & Don Garbe
Pat & Walt Allinger
Bank of America
Cara & Mike Clifford
Frost Bank
Georgetown Health Foundation
H-E-B
Higginbotham & Associates
International Rescue Committee
Cheryl Koury & Marc Walker
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation
Linda Asaf & Joe Woskow
Lize Burr & Chris Hyams
Jen & Kris Carter
Jenny Cotner
Donald D. Hammill Foundation
Jenny Everett & Kelly Keisling
Mara & Phil Fouts
Lynn & Bill Fowler
Aetna Foundation
Amber Atkins
Wes Burke
Jennifer & John Cummins
Cushman & Wakefield
Kendall Garrison
AMBASSADOR
Carolina & Sergio Alcocer
Arnold Foundation
Beverly & Sam Bakir
Cindie Brooks
Cadence Bank Foundation
Mary & Lance Carlson
Dennis Cavner
Henry Chang
Charles Schwab Foundation
Anna & Russ Denton
Theresa & Erik Dithmer
Jeanne & Craig DuBois
Lilliana & Joe Garcia
Emma & Mark Garrett
Dewitt & Belinda Gayle
George & Dianne Koehler
Humanitarian Charitable Fund
Christina Gorczynski &
Brett Merfish
Michael Hamilton
Lezli Harrell & Cole Erwin
Sarah Harris & Bruce Walden
Project Management Institute Austin Chapter
Theresa & Adam Rappaport
Mary Beth & Michael Hubik
Charisse & David Hughen
Sara & Michael Johnson
Erin & Chad Kingsbury
Alisha & Jamie Lagarde
Myra Leo & Billy Atkins
Kelly & Sam Liang
Dale Linebarger
Bridgit & Corky Logue
Carolyn Long
Hans Malzar
Cecilia Abbott
Yuliana Alanis
Cindy Alaniz & Gavin Villareal
Stacy Armijo
Tamara Atkinson & Steve Zielke
Leslie & W. Gaines Bagby
Cynthia & Clay Bernard
Sarena & Ray Bruce
Rachel Carter
Jennifer Chidsey
Jeffrey Clark
Lisa & John Dennis
Jill & Joe Farmer
Sharon & Gregory Figaro
Teresa Finney
Linell Goodin-Brown &
Calvin Brown
Liz & Fred Heldenfels
Sharon & Chris Heuer
Karon & Billy Hill
Katherine Hill & Mark Cooper
Timothy Holck
Jay Howard
Johanne Ibsen-Wolford & Steve Wolford
Kathy & Greg Johnston
This year’s Good Friends of Goodwill honors our 2024 leading benefactors, whose generous support provides education, career training, and life-changing job opportunities for Central Texans across our community.
L-X Ranch Foundation
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
Margaret & Mat Moten
Rob & Melinda Neville
Texas Mutual
United Way for Greater Austin
Denise Funk
Elizabeth & Gary Gunter
Independent Financial
McCoy’s Building Supply
Regions Bank
Melinda & Richard Shields
Catherine & Dave Savage
Hal Smith
Katherine & Paul Solon
Jason Stewart
Kandy & Tommy Toles
Kathryn & Aaron Moncibaiz
Elizabeth Monteleone
Tom Moore
Cindi Moreland
Beth Moten & Alan Reuther
Tom Nelson III
Shelley & Curtis Page
Pearl & Love Paul
Julie Peña & Aaron Pratt
Janis Powers & Matthew
Robertson
Jane & William Keene
Katina Kenyon
Del Kolbe
Sandra & Bill Lewis
Jennifer & James Love
Claire Mathias
Monica L. Matous
Jackie & Jeff Moseley
Nancy Shapiro & Michael Moss
Kathryn & Raj Reddy
Linda & Dan Richards
Brian Riley
Ring Results
JoAnne Robbins & Gary Guilbert
Maddy Schroller & Benjamin Langford
Smarter Benefits Solutions
Gabriel & Keith Spears
Nathan Stricklen
Audrey & Louis Munin
Caroline & Michael Murphy
Liliana & Luis Patiño
Joel Rice
Lindsay Richards
Sandra Ritz
Alina Sanchez & George Bryson
Melissa & Ryan Shaer
Way Service, Ltd.
WoodNext Foundation
Sunrise Technologies
Surangi Widyaratne & Dilum Chandrasoma
Kendall Thornton
J-Ann Tio & Chad Toles
Marian & Scott Wallace
Hayden Warzek
Helen & Sandy Watkins
Richard Wheelus
Carrie & Kurt Wilkin
Renee & Ken Womack
Kate & Craig Wright
Buo Zhang
Anonymous UFCU
Tracie & Eamon Stookesberry
Rhonda Summerbell
Christina Thorsen & Frederic
Colin
Chris Turnley
Michelle Weisblatt
Justin Wood
Stacy & Paul Youngdale
Anonymous
SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 The Junior League of Austin Center
Food, drink, fashion, storytelling, and generosity all in the company of good people.
Benefiting programs that transform lives through education and work.
Scan the QR code for event details, updates, and sponsorship opportunities.
