A Project of the Austin community foundAtion fALL 2011

CelebrateVolunteers

15ProfilesWill meredith mike haggerty sister Gertude

Andreana amp Kathleen Ledesmatwo of +1000 H-E-B Feast of Sharing Volunteers

Gifts thAt Give BAcK

Letter from the editorRebuilding 05

WhY i GiVe Mike Haggerty and why Turkey Trot works 06

UPdAteVolunteer this season Plus Sister Gertrude the wildfire photo and more 08

austIn busIness For GooDHomeslice Pizza and its carnival of caring 12

hAPPeNiNG NoWVolunteers make the Settlement Home Garage Sale happen 14

feAtUreSVolunteering is energizingA mother-daughter team are just two of the more than 1000 volunteers serving the community during H-E-Brsquos annual Feast of Sharing 19

Gifts that GiveA few great gift ideas that make giving more fun 24

GiVe BetterWhat is ldquooverheadrdquo 30

ProFIle Will MeredithA role model for next-gen philanthropy 30

GiViNG WorKSHow a CASA volunteer saved a family 34

Fall 2011 Issue 9editor-in-Chief

Monica M Williams

Managing editorSun Connor

Creative DirectorTorquil Dewar

October Custom Publishing

PhotographersGregg CestaroJoel Salcido

ContributorsStephanie FisherLeila KalmbachNarissa Johnson

Tiffany HamburgerMatt KouriAna Perkins

Shelley Seale

GivingCityTHE GUIDE TO DOING GOOD IN AUSTIN

Get GIVInGCItY onlIneFlip click and share the

digital version available at GivingCityaustincom

2011 Copyright GivingCity Austin and Austin Community Foundation No part

of this document may be reproduced without permission

CoNteNtS

Fall 2011 3

Photographer Deanna Roy is putting

her best work to good use

CelebrateVolunteers

4 GivingcityAustincom

What are some of the victims going through right nowsara Kennedy This is a really difficult emotional situation Wersquore trying to help families with cleaning materials to sift through the ashes and when we hand them a shovel a lot of them say ldquoNo you should give this to someone who really needs itrdquo And itrsquos hard but we have to say ldquoWell you are the person who really needs itrdquo

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 survivorrsquos guilt They feel like they shouldnrsquot talk about their losses even though therersquos a lot of stress for them as well

Itrsquos 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 Thatrsquos one of the reasons we have volunteer counselors emotional support is a big part of what we try to provide

What are their ongoing needs 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 whatrsquos next

When will clean-up begin and how can i help with rebuilding efforts Clean-up and rebuilding has begun We live in a really wonderful and generous community and itrsquos 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

Monica WilliamsEditor-in-Chief

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

Donate noW austinCForgwildfirerelief to apply for a grant visit the homepage at austinCForg

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

RebuildingiN

thiS iSSUe

Fall 2011 5

Wildfire Help

What does turkey trot mean to youIt 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 someonersquos lifestyle Itrsquos 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 thisIn the beginning ThunderCloud became involved after promoters approached us to sponsor the event I wanted to support the event

Mike Haggerty

photo by Joel Salcido

Twenty years ago he took over Turkey

Trot and made it ThunderCloud Subrsquos signature fundraiser

Herersquos how he harnesses the power

of hundreds of volunteers

6 GivingCityAustincom

CelebrateVolunteers

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 beneficiaryCaritas 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

did you expect the race to be the big success that it isHonestly I didnrsquot 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 werenrsquot 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 futureWhatrsquos 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

sIGn uP to run or volunteer at this yearrsquos turkey trot nov 24 at the long Center learn More at thunderCloudcom

Caritasrsquos Work in austinFood In 2011 Caritas will serve 100000 meals in our Community Kitchen and provide enough take-home groceries for 70500 meals Housing Will prevent 2000 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 nEEdEdThis is not a ldquo5Krdquo itrsquos a five mile So if yoursquore not quite ready for that distance herersquos 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

WhYi

GiVe

Fall 2011 7

GivingCity

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 beneficiaryCaritas 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

did you expect the race to be the big success that it isHonestly I didnrsquot 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 werenrsquot 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 futureWhatrsquos 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

sIGn uP to run or volunteer at this yearrsquos turkey trot nov 24 at the long Center learn More at thunderCloudcom

Caritasrsquos Work in austinFood In 2011 Caritas will serve 100000 meals in our Community Kitchen and provide enough take-home groceries for 70500 meals Housing Will prevent 2000 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 nEEdEdThis is not a ldquo5Krdquo itrsquos a five mile So if yoursquore not quite ready for that distance herersquos 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

WhYi

GiVe

Fall 2011 7

GivingCity

Things are getting better in Central Texas but holiday celebrationsmdashor lack thereofmdashcan burden a family already in need If you ever wanted to make

someonersquos holidays a little brighter nowrsquos a great time

Volunteers Needed

city Wide hold up for easter seals of central texas starts in mid-novemberThe University of Texas Wranglers enlist hundreds of volunteers and sends them to street corners to ldquohold uprdquo passing motorists for change citywideholdupcom

service Austin day by rotary clubnovember 18-20 at projects across townChoose from a long list of group projects Sign up online nowmdashit fills up fast serviceaustinorg 21st Annual thundercloud turkey trotnovember 24 at Auditorium shoresSome people choose to run the race you can help run the event Scores of volunteers make this annual trot a success thundercloudcomindexphptrot

h-e-B feast of sharingNovember 22 Make a reminder for this next year because even if you were reading this in 2010the 2011 spots would probably be gone Therersquos a reason why this one fills up -- H-E-B makes this a great volunteering experience See our story about it on page 16 handsoncentraltexasorg

Austin empty Bowl ProjectNovember 20 at the Marchesa Hall amp TheatreLots 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 austinemptybowlorg

Toy DrivesAdopt-a-Family

Bastrop Adopt a familyHerersquos your chance to help one of the families affected by the wildfires in Bastrop County Because itrsquos hard to start from nothing for the holidays adoptafamilyushome

christmas Bureau of Austin starts in early november Register online to adopt a family or sign up to help this all-volunteer organization cbofaustinorg

salvation Armyrsquos Angel tree ProgramLook for Salvation Army trees set up in businesses churches or malls to brighten an underprivileged youthrsquos holiday season usssalvationarmyorg

meals on Wheels Adopt a seniorSupport a senior citizen during the holidays by purchasing items off their wish lists mealsonwheelsandmoreorg

holiday Wishes Partnerships for childrenDonate Christmas presents to kids in the Child Protection Services partnershipsforchildrenorg

Lifeworks Project holiday helpAdopt a family sponsor a party or simply donate necessities to help out needy Capitol area families during the holiday season lifeworksaustinorg

8 GivingCityAustincom

GivingCity

Time to Pitch InCelebrateVolunteers

if therersquos one thing sister Gertrude Levy has learned in her almost 92 years on the planet itrsquos that people want to help others

ldquoPeople are very generous and very willingmdashalmost anxiousmdashto contribute their money where they know it will be used for the intention in which they gave itrdquo she said

She would know Sister Gertrude whose lifersquos passion is helping the poor and the sick has worked with the Seton Fund since 1973 most of that time working to cultivate solicit and steward prospective and current donors

In 1999 for Sister Gertrudersquos 80th birthday the Seton Development Board set up the Sister Gertrude Levy Endowment in her

Looking back on a 38-year career with Seton Fund

by Leila Kalmbach

honor Thanks to contributions from friends and colleagues more than $23 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 shersquos pleased with the way shersquos spent her time

ldquoWhen I finish my day even if Irsquom tired I know that Irsquove done what I

should have done and I really have no regrets each dayrdquo she said ldquoMy community keeps asking me [if Irsquoll retire] and I

just say no When itrsquos time for me to quit I will dierdquo

Growing up Sister Gertrude went to Catholic school along with eight

brothers and sisters But it wasnrsquot just her schooling that inspired her to want to help others

ldquoMy grandfather visited the charity hospital in New Orleans every Sundayrdquo she said ldquoHe brought things the men would need shaving cream or razors or toothbrushes and he did the same in the womenrsquos ward and to the children he always brought toysrdquo Though her grandfather was Jewish this was Sister Gertrudersquos first exposure to the Daughters of Charity who administered the

hospital Sister Gertrude is pleased

with the way her work with the Seton Fund has allowed her to serve others and is thrilled that her work will live on in perpetuity

ldquoThe Sister Gertrude Levy Endowment initiated by the Seton Development Board and made to flourish because of contributions of many generous donors will be forever my testimony of care for the poor who come to us at the Seton clinicsrdquo she said

For More InFo about the sister Gertude levy endowment visit setonFundorg

UPdAte

ldquoMy community keeps asking me if Irsquoll retire and I just say no When itrsquos time for me to quit I

will dierdquo

Livingto Serve

10 GivingCityAustincom

GivingCity

ldquoWe were driving up Loop 360 near Westlake when we saw the skyline of Austin backed by smoke

ldquoIt just didnrsquot seem that was what it could berdquo 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 hadnrsquot 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 ldquoPeople saw it and realized that this wasnrsquot a small thing Itrsquos bigger than the city I think this picture made people realize mdash they need helprdquo

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 theyrsquod 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 ldquoEven though this photo shows the big picturerdquo Deanna says ldquothe story is really about individual lives that were changed and thatrsquos something you canrsquot see in the picturerdquo

Sudden Clarity

by Narissa Johnson photo by Joel Salcido

Deanna Roy took the photo that put Austin-area wildfires into perspective Now she volunteers her skills for local families

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 RecapturingMemoriesProjectorg

Fall 2011 11

GivingCity

CelebrateVolunteers

if yoursquore talking about Austinrsquos home slice pizzeria therersquos a whole lotta love being returned to the community through the businessrsquos frequent generous and zany philanthropy efforts

ldquoWhen we started Home Slice we knew we wanted to give back to our communityrdquo said co-owner Terri Hannifin ldquoWe were always really excited to be in Austin and in this neighborhood [South Congress] in particularrdquo

Pizza With a Heartby Tiffany Hamburger photo by Gregg Cestaro

Just about everyone loves pizza But have you heard of pizza loving back

And give back they have In addition to two large-scale annual charity eventsmdashCarnival orsquo Pizza and Music by the SlicemdashHome 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 childrenrsquos charities music

the arts and environmental groups ldquoWe donrsquot make a big deal about

it as much as we could Itrsquos not really about thatrdquo said co-owner Joseph Strickland For the three owners of Home Slice itrsquos more about staying close to the people and the place that make their success possible ldquoThe best thing about

the restaurant business is that yoursquore right there with your customers and you make real connectionsrdquo he added

ldquoWe say yes to all kinds of thingsrdquo said co-owner Jen Scoville Strickland ldquobut we choose things that match our brand things wersquore passionate aboutrdquo

ldquoThe wackier the better as far as wersquore concernedrdquo said Strickland

Joseph Strickland Terri Hannifin and Jen Scoville

Strickland co-owners of Homeslice Pizza

AUStiNBUSiNeSSeS

forGood

12 GivingCityAustincom

The wackiest way Home Slice shows its gratitude is through the annual Carnival orsquo Pizza which benefits a different chosen nonprofit each year and features entertainments like dough-throwing pizza-eating and box-folding contests along with raffles music and the now legendary Hands on an Eggplant Sub contest

ldquoEvery year we do thisrdquo said Hannifin of the carnival now in its sixth year ldquowe have so many moments where we just look at each other like lsquoYou are kidding mersquo It gets sillymdashwe giggle about it because itrsquos just so funrdquo

ldquoThe carnivalrdquo said Strickland ldquois where we really say to the world more than anything we do who we are and what wersquore aboutrdquo

ldquoThe wackier the better as far as wersquore concernedrdquo

Over the years the carnival which was born out of gratitude for surviving the first year in the treacherous restaurant business has generated nearly $40000 for local nonprofits This yearrsquos carnival on November 19 will benefit the Austin Bat Cave a nonprofit writing and literacy center for children and teens

ldquoIt really is just about connectingmdashwith our customers with our neighbors wanting our success to spread out and be everybodyrsquos success just wanting to share the friendliness and genuineness and good vibes that Home Slice tries to be aboutrdquo said Scoville Strickland

ldquoThis 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 parkrdquo

Learn more about Homeslice and Carnival orsquo Pizza on nov 19 at HomeslicePizzacom

Fall 2011 13

GivingCity

The wackiest way Home Slice shows its gratitude is through the annual Carnival orsquo Pizza which benefits a different chosen nonprofit each year and features entertainments like dough-throwing pizza-eating and box-folding contests along with raffles music and the now legendary Hands on an Eggplant Sub contest

ldquoEvery year we do thisrdquo said Hannifin of the carnival now in its sixth year ldquowe have so many moments where we just look at each other like lsquoYou are kidding mersquo It gets sillymdashwe giggle about it because itrsquos just so funrdquo

ldquoThe carnivalrdquo said Strickland ldquois where we really say to the world more than anything we do who we are and what wersquore aboutrdquo

ldquoThe wackier the better as far as wersquore concernedrdquo

Over the years the carnival which was born out of gratitude for surviving the first year in the treacherous restaurant business has generated nearly $40000 for local nonprofits This yearrsquos carnival on November 19 will benefit the Austin Bat Cave a nonprofit writing and literacy center for children and teens

ldquoIt really is just about connectingmdashwith our customers with our neighbors wanting our success to spread out and be everybodyrsquos success just wanting to share the friendliness and genuineness and good vibes that Home Slice tries to be aboutrdquo said Scoville Strickland

ldquoThis 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 parkrdquo

Learn more about Homeslice and Carnival orsquo Pizza on nov 19 at HomeslicePizzacom

Fall 2011 13

GivingCity

you either get second-hand shopping or you donrsquot But if yoursquore 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 itrsquos 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 Itrsquos hard dirty work and itrsquos 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 herersquos how to help these girls and shop lsquotil you drop Attend the Garage Sale and buy lots of stuff Volunteer as an individual or group to help move stuff

Settlement Home Charity Garage Salenov 4-5 at Palmer events center

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

More at settlementHomeorg

Volunteers like co-chairs Margaret Scott and Michele

Brocato work at the warehouse work year roundmdash

with no air conditioningmdashto sort and price donations

Volunteers Make it Happen

hAPPeNiNGNoW

14 GivingCityAustincom

GivingCity

CelebrateVolunteers

Event listing brought to you by AustinSocialPlannercomMake sure to list your event on Austin Social Planner

all events pulled from austinsocialPlannercom listing as of september 2011

oct 16 aIDs Walk1230-5pm at Austin City HallBenefitting AIDS Services of AustinASAustinorg

oct 16 austin Humane society Film Festival1230-230 pm at Alamo Drafthouse South LamarBenefitting Austin Humane SocietyDrafthousecom

oct 16 luminalia6-9 pm at Umlauf Sculpture GardeBenefitting Austin Shakespeareluminalia2011-zventseventbritecom

oct 17 Fire relief the Concert for Central texas 7-10 pm at Erwin CenterBenefitting Austin Community Foundationfirerelieftexasorg

oct 18 Celebration of Giving6-9 pm at Four SeasonsBenefitting Austin Community FoundationAustinCForg

oct 19 austin Film Fest Film amp Food Party7-10 pm at Driskill HotelBenefitting Young Filmmakers ProgramAustinFilmFestivalcom

oct 20 Heroes for Health630 pm at Four SeasonsBenefitting Marathon KidsMarathonKidsorg

oct 20 safePlace Celebration Film Screening7 pm at Alamo Drafthouse South LamarBenefitting SafePlaceDrafthouseorg

oct 21 Fall Golf ClassicAt Onion Creek Golf ClubBenefitting GAHCCGAHCCorg

oct 21 texas book Festival First edition literary GalaAt Four SeasonsBenefitting Texas Book FestivalTexasBookFestivalorg

oct 21 Four seasons bake sale amp raffle9am-3pm at Four SeasonsBenefitting Setonpressfourseasonscom

oct 21 safePlace Celebration luncheon with erin brokovich11am-1pm at Austin Convention CenterBenefitting SafePlaceSafePlaceorg oct 21 Masquerade Gala6pm at Starlight TerraceBenefitting American Diabetes Associationadagalablogspotcom

oct 22 beretta usa no Worries Classicat Cypress Valley PreserveBenefitting Wonders amp Worrieswondersandworriesorg

oct 22 stiletto stampede for the Cure9 am at Hill Country GalleriaBenefitting Susan G Komen for the CureStilettoStampedeorg

oct 22 taPrsquos Fun Fall Fundraiser Cook-off12-5 pm at Central MarketBenefitting Theatre Action ProjectTheatreActionProjectorg

oct 22 light the night Walk5-11 pm at Lake Park at MuellerBenefitting Leukemia amp Lymphoma SocietyLighttheNightorg

oct 22 20 Years with Dave steakly6-9 pm at The W HotelBenefitting ZACH TheatreZACHTheatreorg

oct 22 season of Dance Gala6-10 pm at Hilton AustinBenefitting Austin Childrenrsquos ShelterAustinChildrenShelterorg

oct 23 the Pink ball630 pm at Four SeasonsBenefitting Seton EndowmentsSetonFundorg

oct 29 austin Interfaith arts amp Music Festival10am-8pm at St Ignatius Family CenterBenefitting Austin InterfaithAusitnInterfaithFestivalorg

oct 29 Play bingo ladies luncheon1030-1pmBenefitting The Center for Child ProtectionCenterforChildProtectionorg

oct 29 la Calaca Masquerade ball8-11pm at Mexic-Arte MuseumBenefitting Medic-Arte MuseumMexic-ArteMuseumorg

oct 29-30 srsquomore soireeat lake travisBenefitting Girl Scouts of Central TexasGSCTXorg

nov 2 Harvey Penick award Dinner6-9 pm at Four SeasonsBenefitting Caritas of AustinCaritasorAustinorg

nov 4 Film + Food + Focused on Good6-9 pm at CTC GardenBenefitting Lights Camera HelpLightsCameraHelporg

nov 5 step out Walk to stop Diabetes9 am at Tech Ridge CenterBenefitting American Diabetes Associationmaindiabetesorg

nov 6 american Girl Fashion showat Westin Austin at The DomainBenefitting Dell Childrenrsquos ChildrensAustinorg

nov 7 bridging the Gap featuring Carrie Fisher530 pm at Texas State History MuseumBenefitting New Milestones FoundationNewMilestonesorg

nov 8 austin recovery featuring rob loew1130 am - 1 pm at ACL Live Moody TheaterBenefitting Austin RecoveryAustinRecoveryorg

nov 10 Vive le Vin7-930 pm at Ben Hur Shrine AuditoriumBenefitting Ballet AustinBalletAustinGuildorg

nov 10 Copa de Vida7-11 pm at The Palm DoorBenefitting Texas Child Study CenterChildrensAustinorg

nov 11 black amp White Gala 6-1030 pm at Four SeasonsBenefitting Boys amp Girls ClubBGCAustinorg

nov 13 race for the Cure6am-12pm at Downtown AustinBenefitting Susan G Komen for the CureKomenAustinorg

nov 13 HeartGift Fine Wine amp luxe living auction530 at Driskill HotelBenefitting HeartGift FoundationHeartGiftorg

nov 13 spirit of Place Gala6 pm at Four SeasonsBenefitting Witliff Gallery CollectionsTheWitliffCollectionstxstateedu

nov 16-20 a Christmas affairat Palmer Events CenterBenefitting The Junior League of AustinJLAustinorg

nov 17 big reds amp bubbles630-930 pm at Driskill HotelBenefitting the Food amp Wine Foundation of TexasWineFoodFoundationorg

nov 19 eCHo Family Festival11am - 2 pm at St Ignacius ChurchBenefitting ECHOFrontStepsArchWordpresscom

dec 3 Holiday swingBenefitting Project TransitionsProjectTransitionsorg

dec 4 Dancing with the stars austin7-11 pm at Hilton AustinBenefitting the Center for Child ProtectionCenterforChildProtectionorg

dec 5 Conspirare Holiday Gala530 pm at the Long CenterBenefitting ConspirareConspirareorg

dec 30 big band Dance7 pm at Austin Womenrsquos ClubBenefitting Austin Symphony OrchestraAustinSymphonyorg

CALeNdAr

Fall 2011 15

ldquoVolunteering is energizingrdquo

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 livesmdashor of how much volunteerism would shape Kathleen into the young adult she became

ldquoWe searched online and the Feast of Sharing sounded interesting to both of usrdquo Andreana says ldquoThere is something for everyone from greeting people as they arrive to serving food to helping other kids with arts and craftsrdquo

Both mother and daughter enjoyed the experience so much that they kept returning year after year ldquoFor us volunteering is energizing especially in contrast to the day-to-day routine of school and workrdquo Andreana explains ldquoItrsquos an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way and to meet new peoplerdquo

H-E-Brsquos Feast of Sharing keeps volunteers like the Ledesmas coming back for moreby Shelley Seale photos by Joel Salcido

16 GivingCityAustincom

CelebrateVolunteers

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 Districtrsquos 2011 Outstanding Community Service Volunteer Award

Kathleen even wrote about the influence volunteering has made on her on her college application essay ldquoWhen 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 beforerdquo

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 ldquoWe really rely on the community to help us with putting on this large of an eventrdquo says Tamra Jones public affairs specialist for H-E-B ldquoIt takes a village to be able to do this kind of thing we have over 1000 volunteers who

Fun Feast oF sHarInG stats Volunteers serve 3625 pounds of turkey 3200 pounds each of mashed potatoes and vegetables 170 gallons of gravy 13000 dinner rolls and more than 1000 pies para the H-e-b eddie Garcia Mobile Kitchen is a state-of-the-art vehicle equipped to handle the preparation of more than 2500 meals per hour eddie Garcia the kitchenrsquos namesake was a 47-year H-e-b employee and pioneer of the Feast of sharing and other hunger relief efforts para 500 meals are also delivered to homebound participants through Meals on Wheels 18 GivingCityAustincom

will be out there helping with every aspect of this eventrdquo

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 Austinrsquos 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 ldquoI would have never thought I would be running the program one dayrdquo she says ldquoIrsquove seen it grow tremendously in that time Itrsquos become part of H-E-Brsquos continued belief and commitment to improving quality of life in the communityrdquo

Nearly one in five Central Texans are considered ldquofood insecurerdquo which means they donrsquot have access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times More than three-fourths 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 9000 to 13000

ldquoWe donrsquot simply cut a checkrdquo Jones says ldquoWersquore out there in the community we roll up our sleeves and we participaterdquo

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 Comptrollerrsquos Office And while H-E-B provides the main food for the meal corporate sponsors such as Mrs Bairdrsquos Bakery and Coca-Cola contribute important accompaniments

This yearrsquos 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 publicmdash

anyone is invited to participate in the free meal ldquoIt was initially started as a way to fight hunger but itrsquos also turned into a way to bring people together for the holidays Itrsquos become more than feeding the needy itrsquos become a celebration for the whole communityrdquo

H-E-Brsquos 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 $600000 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

ldquoItrsquos an opportunity to give back in a

meaningful way and to meet new peoplerdquo

Fall 2011 19

GivingCity

More Than A GiftFeel great about shopping with gifts that give back by Ana Perkins

40 of the sales of each piece from GENEROUSART

COM goes to the charity of your choice (generousartorg)

Help the local artisans from Madagascar who make these

colorful clutches from MAR Y SOL ($79 madimportsorg)

100 of proceeds from PHILOSOPHYrsquos Sweet Dreams body wash goes to First Book which provides books for kids

in need ($38 philosophycom)

Limited edition Pink Roses Candles from DIPTYqUE smell divine 20 of proceeds go to breast cancer research ($32

diptyquepariscom)

Men love the calming Thymesrsquo Frasier Fir candle Buy through

Gifts that Give and $220 goes to Americans for UNFPA

($11 giftsthatgivecom)

These Red Cordrsquos Menrsquos Classics are perfect for a stroll Each pair purchased TOMrsquoS

gives a pair to a child in need ($54 tomscom)

Buy this western shirt and Orvis donates to Malpai

Borderlands for ecosystem management in the

Southwest ($79 orviscom)

Give an LP with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic

Zeroes and more Proceeds benefit writing programs for kids ($1599 insoundcom)

When you purchase this Jonathan Adler iPhone cover

through Gifts that Give $499 goes to Americans for UNFPA ($2495 giftsthatgivecom)

20 GivingCityAustincom

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 Districtrsquos 2011 Outstanding Community Service Volunteer Award

Kathleen even wrote about the influence volunteering has made on her on her college application essay ldquoWhen 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 beforerdquo

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 ldquoWe really rely on the community to help us with putting on this large of an eventrdquo says Tamra Jones public affairs specialist for H-E-B ldquoIt takes a village to be able to do this kind of thing we have over 1000 volunteers who

Fun Feast oF sHarInG stats Volunteers serve 3625 pounds of turkey 3200 pounds each of mashed potatoes and vegetables 170 gallons of gravy 13000 dinner rolls and more than 1000 pies para the H-e-b eddie Garcia Mobile Kitchen is a state-of-the-art vehicle equipped to handle the preparation of more than 2500 meals per hour eddie Garcia the kitchenrsquos namesake was a 47-year H-e-b employee and pioneer of the Feast of sharing and other hunger relief efforts para 500 meals are also delivered to homebound participants through Meals on Wheels 18 GivingCityAustincom

will be out there helping with every aspect of this eventrdquo

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 Austinrsquos 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 ldquoI would have never thought I would be running the program one dayrdquo she says ldquoIrsquove seen it grow tremendously in that time Itrsquos become part of H-E-Brsquos continued belief and commitment to improving quality of life in the communityrdquo

Nearly one in five Central Texans are considered ldquofood insecurerdquo which means they donrsquot have access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times More than three-fourths 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 9000 to 13000

ldquoWe donrsquot simply cut a checkrdquo Jones says ldquoWersquore out there in the community we roll up our sleeves and we participaterdquo

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 Comptrollerrsquos Office And while H-E-B provides the main food for the meal corporate sponsors such as Mrs Bairdrsquos Bakery and Coca-Cola contribute important accompaniments

This yearrsquos 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 publicmdash

anyone is invited to participate in the free meal ldquoIt was initially started as a way to fight hunger but itrsquos also turned into a way to bring people together for the holidays Itrsquos become more than feeding the needy itrsquos become a celebration for the whole communityrdquo

H-E-Brsquos 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 $600000 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

ldquoItrsquos an opportunity to give back in a

meaningful way and to meet new peoplerdquo

Fall 2011 19

GivingCity

More Than A GiftFeel great about shopping with gifts that give back by Ana Perkins

40 of the sales of each piece from GENEROUSART

COM goes to the charity of your choice (generousartorg)

Help the local artisans from Madagascar who make these

colorful clutches from MAR Y SOL ($79 madimportsorg)

100 of proceeds from PHILOSOPHYrsquos Sweet Dreams body wash goes to First Book which provides books for kids

in need ($38 philosophycom)

Limited edition Pink Roses Candles from DIPTYqUE smell divine 20 of proceeds go to breast cancer research ($32

diptyquepariscom)

Men love the calming Thymesrsquo Frasier Fir candle Buy through

Gifts that Give and $220 goes to Americans for UNFPA

($11 giftsthatgivecom)

These Red Cordrsquos Menrsquos Classics are perfect for a stroll Each pair purchased TOMrsquoS

gives a pair to a child in need ($54 tomscom)

Buy this western shirt and Orvis donates to Malpai

Borderlands for ecosystem management in the

Southwest ($79 orviscom)

Give an LP with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic

Zeroes and more Proceeds benefit writing programs for kids ($1599 insoundcom)

When you purchase this Jonathan Adler iPhone cover

through Gifts that Give $499 goes to Americans for UNFPA ($2495 giftsthatgivecom)

20 GivingCityAustincom

will be out there helping with every aspect of this eventrdquo

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 Austinrsquos 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 ldquoI would have never thought I would be running the program one dayrdquo she says ldquoIrsquove seen it grow tremendously in that time Itrsquos become part of H-E-Brsquos continued belief and commitment to improving quality of life in the communityrdquo

Nearly one in five Central Texans are considered ldquofood insecurerdquo which means they donrsquot have access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times More than three-fourths 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 9000 to 13000

ldquoWe donrsquot simply cut a checkrdquo Jones says ldquoWersquore out there in the community we roll up our sleeves and we participaterdquo

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 Comptrollerrsquos Office And while H-E-B provides the main food for the meal corporate sponsors such as Mrs Bairdrsquos Bakery and Coca-Cola contribute important accompaniments

This yearrsquos 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 publicmdash

anyone is invited to participate in the free meal ldquoIt was initially started as a way to fight hunger but itrsquos also turned into a way to bring people together for the holidays Itrsquos become more than feeding the needy itrsquos become a celebration for the whole communityrdquo

H-E-Brsquos 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 $600000 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

ldquoItrsquos an opportunity to give back in a

meaningful way and to meet new peoplerdquo

Fall 2011 19

GivingCity

More Than A GiftFeel great about shopping with gifts that give back by Ana Perkins

40 of the sales of each piece from GENEROUSART

COM goes to the charity of your choice (generousartorg)

Help the local artisans from Madagascar who make these

colorful clutches from MAR Y SOL ($79 madimportsorg)

100 of proceeds from PHILOSOPHYrsquos Sweet Dreams body wash goes to First Book which provides books for kids

in need ($38 philosophycom)

Limited edition Pink Roses Candles from DIPTYqUE smell divine 20 of proceeds go to breast cancer research ($32

diptyquepariscom)

Men love the calming Thymesrsquo Frasier Fir candle Buy through

Gifts that Give and $220 goes to Americans for UNFPA

($11 giftsthatgivecom)

These Red Cordrsquos Menrsquos Classics are perfect for a stroll Each pair purchased TOMrsquoS

gives a pair to a child in need ($54 tomscom)

Buy this western shirt and Orvis donates to Malpai

Borderlands for ecosystem management in the

Southwest ($79 orviscom)

Give an LP with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic

Zeroes and more Proceeds benefit writing programs for kids ($1599 insoundcom)

When you purchase this Jonathan Adler iPhone cover

through Gifts that Give $499 goes to Americans for UNFPA ($2495 giftsthatgivecom)

20 GivingCityAustincom

More Than A GiftFeel great about shopping with gifts that give back by Ana Perkins

40 of the sales of each piece from GENEROUSART

COM goes to the charity of your choice (generousartorg)

Help the local artisans from Madagascar who make these

colorful clutches from MAR Y SOL ($79 madimportsorg)

100 of proceeds from PHILOSOPHYrsquos Sweet Dreams body wash goes to First Book which provides books for kids

in need ($38 philosophycom)

Limited edition Pink Roses Candles from DIPTYqUE smell divine 20 of proceeds go to breast cancer research ($32

diptyquepariscom)

Men love the calming Thymesrsquo Frasier Fir candle Buy through

Gifts that Give and $220 goes to Americans for UNFPA

($11 giftsthatgivecom)

These Red Cordrsquos Menrsquos Classics are perfect for a stroll Each pair purchased TOMrsquoS

gives a pair to a child in need ($54 tomscom)

Buy this western shirt and Orvis donates to Malpai

Borderlands for ecosystem management in the

Southwest ($79 orviscom)

Give an LP with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic

Zeroes and more Proceeds benefit writing programs for kids ($1599 insoundcom)

When you purchase this Jonathan Adler iPhone cover

through Gifts that Give $499 goes to Americans for UNFPA ($2495 giftsthatgivecom)

20 GivingCityAustincom

Why not make their glasses great For every pair Warby

Parker sells a pair is donated to someone in need ($95

warbyparkercom)

100 of this Kids Japan Love graphic tee from JCrew goes to the Japanese Red Cross Society and victims of the tsunami ($25 jcrewcom)

At The Working Proof 15 of the proceeds of each

of their prints sold will be donated ($25 to $100 theworkingproofcom)

Playful delicious chocolates make great stocking stuffers Proceeds from this 20-piece box benefit

Relief International in Darfur ($50 compartescom)

Adorable Stella amp Dot bracelets introduce your daughter to

charity Benefitting buildOn Accion USA and Girls Inc

($39 stelladotcom)

GIVeasYouGetCoMBy partnering up with stores like drugstorecom 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 itrsquos Safe Place or Emancipet now your favorite Austin charities can benefit every time you hit ldquoAdd to cartrdquo How brilliant is that

visit GiveAsyouGetcom for more

Fall 2011 21

You buy the Giving Card and the person you give it to donates to the charity of their choice

(+$10 austincforg)

and herersquos how to give back with every gift

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 ldquoprogramsrdquo as opposed to ldquomanagementrdquo and ldquofundraisingrdquo 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 Irsquove heard ldquoI only give to nonprofits that put 100 percent of my donation toward lsquothe causersquordquo or ldquoIf they spend less than 75 percent on programs they are not a good nonprofitrdquo

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

GiVe Better

I Am OverheadAustinrsquos expert on nonprofit management on why we canrsquot judge a nonprofit by how much it spends directly on its clients

ldquothe truth is nonprofits are expected to operate at a higher

standardrdquo

by Matt Kouri

22 GivingCityAustincom

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 donrsquot 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 ldquopercentage spent on programsrdquo metric in most peoplesrsquo vernacular

I am okay with the fact that I am at least partially ldquooverheadrdquo 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

MATT KOURI Matt Kouri is president and executive director of Greenlights for Nonprofit Success where he leads the organizationrsquos efforts to strengthen nonprofits consults directly with several nonprofits and develops research and best practices in nonprofit management Learn more at Greenlightsorg

Fall 2011 23

GivingCity

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 donrsquot 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 ldquopercentage spent on programsrdquo metric in most peoplesrsquo vernacular

I am okay with the fact that I am at least partially ldquooverheadrdquo 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

MATT KOURI Matt Kouri is president and executive director of Greenlights for Nonprofit Success where he leads the organizationrsquos efforts to strengthen nonprofits consults directly with several nonprofits and develops research and best practices in nonprofit management Learn more at Greenlightsorg

Fall 2011 23

GivingCity

Will meredith knows his stuff Wersquore sitting at a tiny table in the

coffee shop on the ground floor of Four Seasons Residences Hersquos come armed with a stack of nonprofit brochures and a site plan of the Chestnut development project in East Austin He has notes Hersquos pre-answered my questions

Meredith is not your typical young professional with a few boards on his resume Hersquos the son of Tom and Lynn Meredith one of Austinrsquos wealthiest and most generous couples Itrsquos clear that theyrsquove passed on their philanthropy philosophy to Will but he seems to have taken the ball and run with it

ldquoWill has that sense of stewardship that is not a given when yoursquove got meansrdquo says Walter Moreau of Foundation Communities whorsquos worked with the Merediths ldquoand that speaks of a level of maturity and thoughtfulness thatrsquos uncommonrdquo

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 hersquos involved in many other nonprofit projects itrsquos 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

Hersquos 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 Therersquos 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

ldquoInstead of just donating the landrdquo says Meredith ldquowe 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 solutionsrdquo

Karen LaShelle of Theatre Action Project says ldquoWill puts a lot of time and effort thinking about the project in-depth and as a whole Hersquos taking the gifts hersquos been given seriously to leave a legacyrdquo

GiVe Better

Hands-On PhilanthropyForget the word ldquodonorrdquo Will Meredith models the next generationrsquos approach

by Monica M Williams photos by Joel Salcido

Fall 2011 25

26 GivingCityAustincom

26 GivingCityAustincom

Not every new philanthropist can have such an influential role in a project of this size but Meredith believes itrsquos not the resources you bring itrsquos your passion

ldquoThe next generation of philanthropists has transitioned away from building wealth to a more incremental approach of doing well by doing goodrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos about finding ways to showcase your true values by finding a way to do whatrsquos needed in our communitiesrdquo

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 doesnrsquot 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

describe a way you think your donations have had an impact in the pastI donrsquot particularly care for the term ldquodonationrdquo 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 AustinIn 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 ldquononprofitrdquo Just because an organization serves social objectives doesnrsquot mean they donrsquot 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

ldquoI donrsquot particularly

care for the term lsquodonationrsquordquo

Fall 2011 27

GivingCity

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 ldquoasleeprdquo 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 parentsrsquo willingness to improve the situation - were completely devastating Yet for 18 solid months CPS leaned in the direction of returning the kids to their parentsrsquo 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

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 parentsrsquo 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 couldnrsquot go back

At the final hearing CPS was still pushing very hard for the kids to reunite with their parents despite the parentsrsquo 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

GiViNG WorKS

ldquoThank You CASArdquoWhen her sisterrsquos children needed help most a volunteer stepped in

Stephanie Fisher tells their story

Fisher and her adopted children Shae and Reece

28 GivingCityAustincom

CelebrateVolunteers

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 kidsrsquo 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 Irsquom pretty

Curious about beComing a volunteer advoCate CASA volunteers come from every walk of life and share a commitment to improving childrenrsquos 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 CASATravisorg

sure thatrsquos when everything changedTwo 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 wouldnrsquot be where we are now without the dedication and support of Ruth and CASA Irsquove participated in several events to benefit CASA and I will continue to do so for as long as I am able

Fall 2011 29

GivingCity

NEXT ISSUE GIVe betterLearn 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

GivingcityAustincom

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 ldquoasleeprdquo 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 parentsrsquo willingness to improve the situation - were completely devastating Yet for 18 solid months CPS leaned in the direction of returning the kids to their parentsrsquo 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

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 parentsrsquo 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 couldnrsquot go back

At the final hearing CPS was still pushing very hard for the kids to reunite with their parents despite the parentsrsquo 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

GiViNG WorKS

ldquoThank You CASArdquoWhen her sisterrsquos children needed help most a volunteer stepped in

Stephanie Fisher tells their story

Fisher and her adopted children Shae and Reece

28 GivingCityAustincom

CelebrateVolunteers

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 kidsrsquo 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 Irsquom pretty

Curious about beComing a volunteer advoCate CASA volunteers come from every walk of life and share a commitment to improving childrenrsquos 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 CASATravisorg

sure thatrsquos when everything changedTwo 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 wouldnrsquot be where we are now without the dedication and support of Ruth and CASA Irsquove participated in several events to benefit CASA and I will continue to do so for as long as I am able

Fall 2011 29

GivingCity

NEXT ISSUE GIVe betterLearn 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

GivingcityAustincom

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 kidsrsquo 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 Irsquom pretty

Curious about beComing a volunteer advoCate CASA volunteers come from every walk of life and share a commitment to improving childrenrsquos 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 CASATravisorg

sure thatrsquos when everything changedTwo 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 wouldnrsquot be where we are now without the dedication and support of Ruth and CASA Irsquove participated in several events to benefit CASA and I will continue to do so for as long as I am able

Fall 2011 29

GivingCity

NEXT ISSUE GIVe betterLearn 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

GivingcityAustincom

Givingcity Austin directory

Below is our growing list of community-minded for-profit and nonprofit businesses in central texas

Please support them and mention that you saw them in Givingcity Austin

APPtivistshelpAttack 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 HelpAttackcom

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 HotelsforHopeorg

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 foodmdashwhy not give a little back to the community while yoursquore at it Kiimbycom

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 MiniDonationsorg

sPonsorsvenuesctc 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 ctcinternationalorgevents four seasons hotel One of Austinrsquos few premiere venues for grand events and galas The Four Seasons Hotelrsquos beautiful ballroom and renowned Texas hospitality will make your event unforgettable FourSeasonscomAustin

hat creek Burgers This Austin business make feeding the homeless its business too Watch for their Mobile Loaves amp Fishes truck around town Hat Creek

Burger Co promises both along with fresh-cut fries and hand-dipped Blue Bell milkshakes HatCreekBurgerscom

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 JBlackscom

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 MolotovLoungecom

nonProfit consuLtAntscultural strategies Cultural Strategies is a marketing and advertising consulting firm that will give your business or organization an advantage in an increasingly multicultural America Cultural-Strategiescom

ridgewood Ingenious Communication Strategies Working with community-minded clients Ridgewood is a public relations firm that enables organizations to reach out to the public in effective powerful ways in a constantly changing communications landscape RidgewoodPRcom

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 KWProfessionalManagementcom

seeds for change Whether youre 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 SeedsforChangeConsultingcom

PhotoGrAPhersjoel salcido Joelrsquos 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 JoelSalcidocom

Gregg cestaro Specializing in fashion photography Greggrsquos 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 GreggCestarocom

ProfessionAL servicesAlt 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-Creativecom

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-Auctioncom

innu salon Innu provides impeccable customer service paired with an artistic fashion-forward aesthetic to give you a fabulous hairstyle The salon offers cuts color highlights perms makeup up-dos and extensions Innunet

Giverealty By donating 25 of their commission to the nonprofit of your choice Give Reality makes a huge impact on the community while still providing you with exceptional service GiveRealtyAustincom

Purple dot events Save time and money by putting this team of event-planning experts to work With Purple Dot Events the focus is on fun purpledoteventscom

retAiLerstouch 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 everyonersquos closet TouchofSassnet

GenerousArtcom When you purchase art from GenerousArtcom 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)

GiveAsyouGetcom 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 monicagivingcitycom or 512-472-4483