Big Hearted

Austin Nonprofit Groups Deliver Cheer Year Round

by Patrick Cosgrove

Photography by Barton Wilder Custom Images

Austin's reputation as a liberal, iconoclastic oasis in the heart of Texas, with a tendency to embrace the offbeat, is well deserved. After all, where else has a grass-roots campaign been launched to ensure that the residents of a municipality maintain a reasonable level of weirdness?

But we've got a lot more going for us than our propensity for creative individualism. Whether building low-income houses on the East Side or throwing a ten-act fund-raiser to help a band replace stolen instruments, the people of Austin regularly demonstrate that this is a place where good deeds are as prevalent as bats and barbeque.

What follows are brief profiles of ten of the scores of nonprofit organizations having a real impact on the quality of life for all of us who call Austin home. (Given more space and time we could have written about lots of others as well. Our choices were thoughtful but admittedly arbitrary. Many of the dozens of other nonprofit groups deserving of attention and support are listed in the accompanying article, "Other Big Hearted Nonprofit Groups.") All of these groups rely on the support of the community. Cash contributions and volunteer commitments are encouraged and greatly appreciated.

American YouthWorks

Richard Halpin is the quintessential man on a mission. His goal: to save every at-risk youth in Austin-and eventually in the rest of the nation.

Halpin began his quest back in 1978 with the opening of the American Institute of Learning, Austin's first facility for high-school dropouts and the first to offer undereducated young adults alternatives to traditional high school. Today the award-winning program, called American YouthWorks (AYW), offers at-risk kids the resources necessary to become productive, self-sufficient citizens. "We create opportunities for people to break the cycle of poverty and become contributors," says Halpin. "We take young people who the system has given up on, or who simply got bored with it."

AYW, located downtown on Fourth Street just east of Congress, succeeds with a series of innovative educational, human services, and job-training programs developed through numerous corporate, governmental, and private partnerships. Each program is designed not just to educate students, but to improve the quality of life of the whole community in the process.

For example, AYW offers the Casa Verde Builders program to teach home construction skills. Participants receive a living stipend, earn both an AmeriCorps educational award of $4,725 and up to thirty-one college credit hours while they build single-family, energy-efficient houses in East Austin. Other services and programs include Computer Corps, Environmental Corps, Cultural Warriors, Green Builders, the College and Career Resource Center, and the Downtown Youth Center for Health run by the People's Community Clinic.

Many of the kids involved in these programs also pursue their high-school diplomas while enrolled in the American YouthWorks Charter School. Established in 1996, the institution is a fully accredited public high school emphasizing project-based education resulting in real-world services or products.

With the support of the community, AYW was able to open a second facility in South Austin earlier this year. But Halpin will not be satisfied until he can reach out and connect with every young person in need of help. "Seven out of ten people in prison are high-school dropouts," says Halpin. "We all pay to arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate young people who are poor and desperate. For a fraction of the cost, we can get people to learn and earn and contribute to the common good in society rather than the common bad."

Contact: www.americanyouthworks.org <mail@ail.org> 512-472-8220.

Court Appointed Special Advocates

It might seem like quite a leap, jumping from a successful career in architecture to the top spot at a nonprofit organization devoted to children. But Karen Cox has never second-guessed taking the path that lead her to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Travis County Inc. Director of the organization since 1996, Cox leads a full-time staff of twenty-two, as well as dozens of volunteers who mentor children taken from their families by state Child Protective Services due to abuse and neglect.

"To begin with, these children's families have gotten into trouble, and they have been hurt," says Cox who began as a CASA volunteer in 1989. "Child Protective Services finds the situation serious enough to remove them. We become the child's voice in court and we are directed to tell the judge what action is in the child's best interest. Judges have to treat us like a triage and pick the very worst cases (for us to intervene in)-the ones where the children have been hurt the greatest."

With the stakes so high, CASA volunteers receive some of the most rigorous training required by a nonprofit organization. Forty hours are necessary to provide the volunteer with basic knowledge of both the welfare and legal systems. Once trained, volunteers commit to a minimum of twenty hours a month. "You spend a lot of time with the child," Cox explains, "but it is not as court entrenched as it sounds. Much of the one-on-one time is at McDonald's, or visiting their school, or simply doing things they would seldom get the chance to do."

For Kathy Carvell, a clinical nurse specialist and veteran CASA volunteer, the payoff is worth the commitment. "The best thing for me about this job has been seeing the change in the children," she says. "Children who have been abused often lose the ability to react as children. They may not be able to choose a flavor or a color. But when they have been cared for-after a month, six months, or a year-you see them experience the joys of childhood again. That is the joy of being a CASA volunteer."

Contact: www.casatravis.org <casatc@casatravis.org> 512-459-2272.

Casa Marianella

There is nothing much out of the ordinary about the house, at first glance, situated as it is on a pleasant, tree-lined street, in a modest East Austin neighborhood. Painted a vibrant yellow with orange trim, well-worn lawn furniture sits unpretentiously in the yard and the garbage awaits delivery to the street. If it weren't for the simple sign hanging from the front porch, there would be little to identify the last house on the right, known as Casa Marianella, as the safe haven it has been for the last two decades for thousands of immigrants and refugees fleeing economic hardship or political oppression in their native countries. Today Casa Marianella continues to offer a place of comfort and security-and hope for the future-for people in great need.

Jennifer Long, Casa Marianella executive director, recognizes the special needs of immigrants who have left their homelands under duress: "Immigrants who find themselves homeless have a unique culture, with unique needs. The purpose of Casa is to help them get on their feet. What we have discovered over the years is that the hospitality and assistance made available is largely provided by the immigrants themselves. We are here to support them however we can."

What the shelter provides besides a safe environment is basic needs: room and board, clothing, a place to receive phone messages and to pick up mail. There is space for twenty-two men and seven women in dorm-style rooms. When necessary, the living room becomes a makeshift bedroom sleeping three. Guests are allowed to stay one month during their first visit; subsequent stays are allowed for up to two weeks. English classes are offered at nearby Allen Elementary four nights a week.

Earlier this year, Casa opened a second facility to address the special needs of women with children. Posada Esperanza houses four women and their children in separate bedrooms. "It's very exciting, a huge improvement," Long says.

The outlook for the future of Casa Marianella is good. "The challenges for a little organization that grew tremendously," Long says, "is to keep from collapsing under your own weight and just keep it going."

Contact: www.casamarianella.org <info@casamarianella.org> 512-385-5571.

Capital Area Food Bank

Rising country star and recent Grammy Award nominee Pat Green is looking spiffy in all black and sunglasses as he faces a bevy of television cameras and reporters inside a large South Austin warehouse. He and country music running buddy Cory Morrow, surrounded by Austin Mayor Will Wynn and various civic dignitaries, are drumming up publicity for their next big concert event. But on this occasion it's not a record label showcase, a daylong shindig in the park, or an album release bash. This time Green and Morrow are intent upon shifting the spotlight away from themselves and onto a problem that is worsening in Central Texas: hunger.

"I've been very fortunate not to have to deal with hunger in my life, but there are far too many who do," Green says, explaining why he gladly agreed to help raise money and awareness for the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) by headlining the Harvest for Hunger II benefit concert (which was held November 19).

The reality is that the need for food assistance in Central Texas has grown dramatically in recent years. "A downturn in the economy leads to two critical situations," says Ray Fernandez, CAFB director of communications, "a greater demand for assistance and shrinking donations of both food and money. There are many more families out there who are having trouble putting food on the table. We help them make ends meet."

The CAFB distributes food to 340 human service agencies that serve people in need throughout twenty-one Central Texas counties, an area that runs from Waco to San Marcos, Fredericksburg to La Grange. These agencies include food pantries, emergency food assistance programs, low-income daycare centers, hospice facilities, senior centers and many more. In tough economic times, as the needs of each of these entities become more acute, the mission of the CAFB also becomes more critical.

Support for the CAFB can come in many ways, but cash contributions have the biggest impact. "One dollar can be converted into five and a half meals," Fernandez says. Community food drives also have a significant direct impact on the variety and quality of food distributed by the CAFB. Food drives organized by civic, student, or church groups are welcome year around.

Contact: www.austinfoodbank.org <communications@austinfoodbank.org> 512-282-2111.

Family Eldercare

In many ways, Austin is a city geared toward youth. With the country's largest university, dozens of clubs blasting the hip tunes of twenty-somethings, and unique outdoor attractions inspiring the pursuit of robust physical activity, Austin is a Mecca for young people.

But special qualities also abound that make Austin a fabulous place for senior citizens, and an appealing place to spend life's twilight years. For that reason, there is a critical need for organizations providing support and services for the growing elderly population. One organization leading the way with innovative programs and creative partnerships is Family Eldercare (FE), the largest nonprofit provider of community-based services for the elderly in Central Texas. FE offers an array of services for residents of Travis and Williamson counties including in-home care and respite services, eldercare consultation, guardianship, money management, and more.

An important part of the community since 1982, the challenges facing the agency have multiplied in recent years. Karen Langley, FE executive director, says, "The demand for services not only for the elderly, but in support of their caregivers, has increased dramatically as more and more baby boomers reach their advanced years. Consider the fact that between 1990 and 2001, the senior population in Travis County increased twenty percent. And the number of elder adults is expected to increase from seven percent of the population today, to twenty percent by 2030."

Despite having to close Eloise's House, FE's Alzheimer's daycare program, Langley is at once realistic and optimistic about keeping up with the demand. "All of us who operate nonprofits compete for scarce resources to meet our critical needs," she says. "But the Central Texas community is very generous and cares very much about the community as a whole."

In 2004, the organization will open its first senior center in East Austin. "We're excited about this facility, because with the help of community services the center will provide an alternative to premature nursing home placement for many elders," Langley says. "Our philosophy is, 'A neighborhood is a great place to grow old.'"

Critical to the work done by FE is committed volunteers. "Our programs are all designed to be supplemented by volunteers," Langley says. "Right now we are short volunteers in both our bill paying and guardian advocate programs."

Contact: www.familyeldercare.org <info@familyeldercare.org> 512-450-0844.

Junior League of Austin

When asked to describe in a nutshell what her organization is all about, Susie Balagia, president of the Junior League of Austin (JLA), offers this a simple explanation: "Our focus is to meet community needs by providing volunteers and funds for other organizations having an impact on the community." This description, while accurate, simply does not adequately convey just how prominent a role the Junior League plays in uplifting the quality of life in Austin through partnerships with other organizations. Contributions the JLA make run deep and cut across the full spectrum of Austin's nonprofit community.

The list of beneficiaries of JLA's hard work and generosity is impressive. Among the prominent nonprofit agencies receiving JLA assistance are the Capital Area Food Bank, SafePlace, CASA of Travis County, Habitat for Humanity, Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, and Texas Rural Legal Aid, to name just a few. "For our organization to be successful, our volunteers have to be interested," Balagia says. "So we try to work with a wide variety of groups."

In essence, the Junior League serves as a potent force for positive change within each of their community partners, with the ultimate goal of making Central Texas a better place to live. "The Junior League played a big part in getting CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) into Austin," says Karen Cox, CASA executive director. "Junior League volunteers make a huge contribution to CASA and help us move forward in the community." The same could be said about JLA's contribution to many other local groups.

As for the JLA themselves, their biggest fund-raiser is the annual, holiday shopping extravaganza called A Christmas Affair, held in late-November. The event features the goods of more than two hundred merchants over four days in a festive thematic setting. The JLA sells two award-winning cookbooks, Necessities and Temptations and Austin Entertains, year around. And the organization also operates the Junior League of Austin Resale Shop, located at 6555 Burnet Road.

Contact: www.jlaustin.org <info@jlaustin.org> 512-454-7518.

People's Community Clinic

In 1970, Austin was a much different place than it is today: Willie Nelson, not yet a cultural icon, had just ditched Nashville; a funky music venue called the Armadillo World Headquarters opened its doors for the first time; and dogs sporting red neckerchiefs were regularly seen pulling their owners up and down the Drag. Hippies, students, cosmic cowboys and politicos all coexisted in relative harmony, and the less fortunate among them could wander into a place called the People's Free Clinic, located in the basement of a church across the street from the University of Texas campus, to receive basic healthcare from an all-volunteer staff.

Almost thirty-four years later, what is now People's Community Clinic (PCC) is a comprehensive provider of quality, affordable healthcare to the ever-increasing numbers of Central Texas' uninsured and underserved children and adults. Operating out of a centrally located 14,000-square-foot health center, plus two additional outreach facilities, PCC's dedicated eighty-person, paid medical and support staff continues, and extends, its mission to serve the needy.

"As the largest freestanding, nongovernmental, nonreligious clinic in Central Texas, we think of ourselves as the community safety net," says Regina Rogoff, PCC executive director since April. "With 240,000 citizens of Central Texas uninsured, and 110,000 seeking healthcare annually-roughly ten percent of them here-what I see is that we are maxed-out. There are only so many people you can see based on the number of providers."

To avert what is already shaping up as a national healthcare crisis, facilities such as PCC need the full support of the community. "We're trying to maximize use of this space," Rogoff explains. "Our board has begun campaign to raise $10 million to help us extend the reach of our services. But the bottom line is we need funding. We're a full-service clinic. We operate a pharmacy and lab. We need funds."

An excellent opportunity to help the clinic is through participation in one of Austin's most famous rites of spring held in March. The PCC has been designated the sole beneficiary for the 2004 Capitol 10,000. Serious athletes, weekend warriors, casual Town Lake joggers, walkers, and folks merely dedicated to keeping Austin weird are urged to register for the event, which is scheduled for March 28. (Register at www.statesman.com/sports/content/cap10k.)

Contact: www.pcclinic.org <alicer@pcclinic.org> 512-719-3777.

SafePlace

A portion of the complex resembles a typical corporate campus. Another area, because of its proximity to the Riverside Campus of Austin Community College in southeast Austin, has the appearance of standard student housing. But the facility inside the tall, black iron fence is a very different place, a special haven of immeasurable importance to many of Travis County's most vulnerable citizens. Since 1998, when the Center for Battered Women and the Austin Rape Crisis Center merged, SafePlace has been a refuge from fear and violence for thousands of abuse victims.

Often referred to as a "battered women's shelter," that description covers only a fraction of the services and programs available at SafePlace. Besides emergency shelter and transitional housing, the center operates a twenty-four-hour crisis hotline, and provides hospital support, counseling, legal advocacy, disability and school-based services, and community education for thousands of women, children, and men from all walks of life.

The campus includes a 24,000-square-foot resource center, a forty-unit supportive housing community, a 105-bed family shelter, and a child development center. In addition, SafePlace operates a seventeen-bed women's shelter and the ThriftPlace thrift shop, and provides staff for services at the county and district attorneys' offices.

While 150 full- and part-time employees are SafePlace's lifeblood, their work would grind to a halt without the contribution of volunteers, at least 150 of whom help with daily operations. "Anyone who has the desire to get involved is welcome," says Volunteer Director Elizabeth Hummer. "We need all types because the problem affects all types. If there are people, for example, who would like to work with children, they are all over the place around here."

Training time varies depending upon the work. Fifteen hours are required to care for children; to be a legal advocate takes at least forty hours. "We recommend that people check out one of our monthly orientations to find out what's up," Hummer says. "The bottom line is any amount of time, doing any sort of thing, helps keep us going day-to-day."

Contact: www.austin-safeplace.org <info@austin-safeplace.org> 512-267-SAFE.

Texas Folklife Resources

Well into conversation and after grappling with the whole idea for a bit, Martha Norkunas, director of Texas Folklife Resources, finds just the right words to illuminate what is at the heart of her work: "Folk life is community life and values expressed artistically." That's a precise definition for a concept that encompasses so many of the experiences we all share.

It is also a concept essential to understanding the mission of Norkunas and her tiny staff. Texas Folklife Resources (TFR) is dedicated to documenting, interpreting and presenting the many cultures of Texas. Taking over as head of TFR a year ago, Norkunas, who holds a PhD in folklore from Indiana University, brings a personal vision that will expand upon strong music and art programs already established. She clearly has a passion for the traditions that shape the people, families, and communities of Texas-and her passion infuses everything she does.

At the TFR center on South Congress, which also serves as an art gallery and performance space, Norkunas talks further about the mission of TFR. "The heart and soul of our organization is field work," she explains. "We go out and work with various cultural communities-sometimes ethnic, occupational or music. Sometimes a project is formed around an issue. My hope in the work that we do is that it ultimately contributes to a deeper understanding between cultural groups."

As is the case with so many organizations, achieving goals is tied directly to fund-raising. The quest for funds is a constant, and during a stagnant economy, resources are even harder to come by. Writing grant proposals can take up as much time as planning intellectually stimulating and artistically significant programs. "Most of the funding organizations support projects," she explains, "so you have to build in administrative costs into each project." But Norkunas is undeterred. For her and her staff it just means working harder and trying more creative approaches. "My fantasy is to have Wal-Mart fund a project on stores in rural towns in Texas."

Contact: www.texasfolklife.org <marthanorkunas@austin.rr.com> 512-441-9255

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

Just off one of Austin's main north-south traffic arteries, and within view of lasting symbols of the nineteen-nineties' economic explosion in Central Texas, sits a tranquil natural jewel untouched by urban commotion. The Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is a quiet oasis in the midst of booming Austin that, not unlike Barton Springs, offers visitors a pristine piece of the beloved Texas Hill Country painstakingly protected from the calamitous creep of progress.

A mere six miles from the heart of Austin, Wild Basin is a 227-acre wilderness jewel just off Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360) that offers Central Texans an array of educational and cultural experiences. "Wild Basin provides a sense of place, a sense of time and a sense of history," says Carol Knepp, Wild Basin executive director. "We help connect people to the land, the culture and the natural history." WBWP does this by providing the community with an opportunity to explore and learn about the beauty and mystery of Central Texas flora, fauna, and geology, 365 days a year.

Fulfilling this mission requires the hard work and commitment of countless staffers, patrons and volunteers. "We have some corporate help, but we rely a lot on special events," Knapp says. One such event, the annual Haunted Trails, has become a Central Texas Halloween tradition since its inception seven years ago. Another key fund-raiser is the invitation-only YIMBY (yes, in my backyard) party and silent auction hosted by country music big wheel Ray Benson, a board member who resides in the hills nearby. Benson also hosts an annual celebrity golf tournament to benefit the preserve.

On April 3, 2004, the WBWP will hold the inaugural Miles of Texas Tour, a bike ride to benefit its educational programs. "We decided it was time to branch out," says Knepp. "Since so many cyclists pedal by on Loop 360, we thought we'd just have our own bike ride." To better accommodate athletes of all levels, event planners opted for the flat terrain east of Austin, charting a course for the event in and around Elgin.

Contact: www.wildbasin.org <hike@wildbasin.org> 512-327-7622.

Patrick Cosgrove hopes the organizations featured here will benefit from the new year's resolutions of many, many people. You may e-mail Patrick at pcosgrove@goodlifemag.com.

Other Big Hearted Nonprofit Groups

We may have missed a few key nonprofit organizations in Central Texas but this is what we found in a fairly extensive search. Like the nonprofit groups profiled in the accompanying article, these also rely on the support of the community and would benefit greatly from contributions and volunteering.

AIDS Services of Austin-Responds to HIV needs of Austin area by providing services that enhance the well-being of individuals and the community. 512-458-2437 <asa.mail@asaustin.org> www.asaustin.org.

Alzheimer's Association Capital of Texas Chapter-Source for Alzheimer's information and programs in Central Texas. 512-241-0420 <amberly.summers@alz.org> www.alz-austin.org.

Animal Trustees of Austin-Represents, protects and finds new homes for animals. 512-302-0388 www.animaltrustees.org.

Any Baby Can Child & Family Resource Center-Provides prenatal, parenting, and child-development education for at-risk families, and support to children with significant developmental delays. 512-454-3743 <info@abcaus.org> www.abcaus.org.

The Arc of the Capital Area-Provides services to children and adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and their families in Austin. 512-476-2499 <information@arcofthecapitalarea.org> www.arcofthecapitalarea.org.

Arthouse at Jones Center (formerly Texas Fine Arts Association)-Promotes the growth of contemporary art in Texas. 512-459-4830 <info@tfaa.org> www.arthousetexas.org.

Austin Area Urban League-Assists African Americans and disadvantaged citizens in the achievement of social and economic development. 512-478-7176 <aaul@austinfree.net> www.aaul.org.

Austin Children's Museum-Committed to inspiring young children and the adults in their lives to experience the joy of learning through the power of constructive play. 512-472-2499 <criderg@austinkids.org> www.austinkids.org.

Austin Children's Shelter-Provides emergency shelter, high-quality care, and hope for the future for abandoned, abused, and neglected children of our community. 512-322-9461 <gena@austinchildrenshelter.org> www.austinchildrenshelter.org.

Austin Groups for the Elderly (AGE)-Provides support to organizations and individuals involved in the process of vital aging. 512-451-4611 <ageprograms@aol.com> www.ageofaustin.org.

Austin Humane Society-Dedicated to rehoming orphaned animals, promoting the human-animal bond, educating children and adults about responsible pet ownership, and preventing pet overpopulation. 512-837-7985 <cblack@austinspca.com> www.austinspca.com.

Austin Latino/Latina Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Organization (ALGO)-Works to achieve a just and equitable society that celebrates and nurtures vibrant people of color and queer cultures through arts, health and advocacy programming. 512-472-2001 <allgo@allgo.org> www.allgo.org.

Austin Museum of Art-Pursues a mission of educating and inspiring a diverse audience about the visual arts and their relevance to our times. 512-495-9224 <info@amoa.org> www.amoa.org.

Austin Public Library Foundation-Supports the Austin library system. 512-974-7353 <margaret.henkels@austin.ci.tx.us> www.austinlibrary.org.

Austin Sculpture Center (formerly Elizabeth Ney Sculpture Conservatory)-A sculptors' guild that educates the public about sculpture and the many media of this art form, promotes the work of sculptors, and serves as a liaison between sculptors everywhere. 512-371-7606 <gbarrera@tsos.org> www.tsos.org.

Austin Sierra Club-A grass-roots volunteer organization caring for the environment. 512-443-1135 <ascot.enterprises@earthlink.net> www.texas.sierraclub.org/austin.

Austin Smiles (The Austin Plastic Surgery Foundation)-Provides reconstructive plastic surgery for children, primarily cleft lip and palate, in Central Texas and Latin America. 512-451-9300 <ausmile@texas.net> www.austinsmiles.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas-Helps youth of Central Texas achieve their potential so they may live productive and healthy lives. 512-472-5437 <info@bbbscentraltx.org> www.bbbscentraltx.org.

Breakthrough: Students Teaching Students-Provides a path for high-potential, low-income students, and promotes careers in education. 512-232-5181 <info@breakthroughaustin.org> www.breakthroughaustin.org.

Breast Cancer Resource Center-Provides support services for women going through the diagnostic process or treatment for breast cancer. 512-472-1710 <mail@bcrc.org> www.bcrc.org.

Caritas of Austin-Provides rent, utilities, food and support for people in need. 512-479-1690 <info@caritasofaustin.org> www.caritasofaustin.org.

Clean Water Action-Works for clean, safe and affordable water and the prevention of health-threatening pollution. 512-474-0605 <sparky@cleanwater.org> www.cleanwateraction.org.

Communities in Schools-Helps kids learn, stay in school and prepare for a successful life by providing school-based social services. 512-462-1771 <webmaster@cisaustin.org> www.cisaustin.org.

Dance Umbrella-Austin's only arts organization serving the dance Community. 512-450-0456 <dance@austinfree.net> www.danceumbrella.com.

Ecology Action-An all volunteer organization that promotes environmental issues and especially recycling. 512-322-0000 <recycle@ecology-action.org> www.ecology-action.org.

El Buen Samaritano-Helps Hispanic families acquire the language, cultural, and economic skills needed to secure a meaningful place in the community. 512-439-0700 <info@elbuen.org> www.elbuen.org.

For the Love of Christi-Provides grief support for those who have lost a loved one. 512-467-2600 <for_love_christi@yahoo.org> www.forlovechristi.org.

Girlstart-Empowers girls to excel in math, science, and technology. 512-916-4775 877-768-4775 (toll free) <rachel@girlstart.org> www.girlstart.org.

Habitat for Humanity-International Christian organization committed to eliminating poverty housing. 512-472-8788 <info@ahfh.org> www.ahfh.org.

Hill Country Conservancy-Land trust committed to preserving the natural beauty and open spaces of the Hill Country. 512-328-2481 <info@hillcountryconservancy.org> www.hillcountryconservancy.org.

Hospice Austin-Serves the terminally ill and the bereaved in the community with integrity, compassion, and respect. 512-342-4700 <info@hospiceaustin.org> www.hospiceaustin.org.

Hostelling International Austin-Helps all, especially the young, to gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. 512-444-2294 <hostel@hiaustin.org> www.hiaustin.org.

House the Homeless-Provides education and advocacy surrounding the issues of homelessness. 512-796-4366 <info@housethehomeless.org> www.housethehomeless.org.

Interfaith Care Alliance-Provides compassionate, practical, and emotional support for people living with AIDS and other serious illnesses and their loved ones. 512-459-5883 <icase@interfaithcarealliance.org> www.interfaithcarealliance.org.

Junior Achievement of Central Texas-Educates and inspires young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of life. 512-499-8025 <dswincher@jacentex.org> http://centraltexas.ja.org.

Keep Austin Beautiful-Dedicated to empowering the citizens of Greater Austin to take personal responsibility for enhancing their community's environment. 512-974-3577 www.keepaustinbeautiful.org.

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center-Operates a botanical garden where people reconnect with the land and learn to appreciate the natural beauty, economic value, and environmental necessity of native plants. 512-292-4100 <wildflower@wildflower.org> www.wildflower.org.

Lance Armstrong Foundation-Enhances the quality of life of those living with, through, and beyond cancer. 512-236-8820 www.laf.org.

LifeWorks-Transitions youth and families from crisis to safety and success. 512-735-2200 <susanmcdowell@lifeworksweb.org> www.lifeworksweb.org.

Literacy Austin-Offers free literacy and English as a Second Language classes to adults. 512-478-READ (7323) <literacyaustindirector@yahoo.com> www.literacyaustin.org.

Meals on Wheels and More-Nourishes and enriches the lives of the homebound through services to promote independent living. 512-476-6325 <email@mealsonwheelsandmore.org> www.mealsonwheelsandmore.org.

Mexic-Arte Museum-Provides cultural enrichment and education through the presentation and promotion of Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture. 512-480-9373 <info@mexic-artemuseum.org> www.mexic-artemuseum.org.

Mother's Milk Bank-Provides human milk for babies in neonatal intensive care units and in several special care nurseries in Austin. 512-494-0800 <info@mmbaustin.org> www.mmbaustin.org.

Nonprofit Center of Austin-Provides management assistance for nonprofit organizations. 512-451-5315 <sduncan@npcaustin.org> www.npcaustin.org.

People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources (PODER)-Redefines environmental issues as social and economic justice issues to increase the participation of communities of color in corporate and government decision-making related to toxic pollution, economic development and their impact on our neighborhoods. 512-472-9921 <poder_tx@sbcglobal.net> www.poder-texas.org.

Project Transitions-Serves people with AIDS by providing hospice, housing, and support in a compassionate, caring environment. 512-454-8646 <chale@projecttransitions.org> www.projecttransitions.org.

Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK)-Provides individual children in Williamson and surrounding counties safe, affordable hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, and related educational programs to develop physical, emotional, social, and educational skills, as well as self-esteem. 512-930-ROCK <rock@thegateway.net> www.rockride.org

Ronald McDonald House Charities-Home away from home in Austin for families with critically ill or injured children. 512-472-9844 <info@rmhc-austin.org> www.rmhc-austin.org.

Saheli-Assists Asian families seeking help with domestic violence and abuse. 512-703-8745 <saheli@salehi-austin.org> www.saheli-austin.org.

Save Barton Creek Association-Protects and preserves flora, fauna, and water quality of Barton Creek, Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer. 512-480-0055 <sbca@austin.rr.com> www.savebartoncreek.org.

Save Our Springs Alliance-Protects the Edwards Aquifer, its streams and contributing springs, and the natural and cultural heritage of the Hill Country watersheds with a special emphasis on the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer. 512-477-2320 <sosinfo@sosalliance.org> www.sosalliance.org.

Service Corps of Retired Executives Association (SCORE)-Provides guidance to start-up and existing businesses. 512-442-7235 www.main.org/score.

Settlement Home-Serves abused and neglected children in residential treatment, group houses, and foster families. 512-836-2150 <info@settlementhome.org> www.settlementhome.org.

Texas Alliance Education & the Arts-Empowers communities and individuals to grow through the positive impact of arts and education. 512-327-5282 <alliance@eduarts.org> www.eduarts.org.

Texas Rural Legal Aid-Provides legal services for indigent residents. 888-988-9996 <ffuchs@trla.org> www.trla.org.

Tomorrows Women in Science and Technology (TWIST)-Organizes annual Expanding Your Horizon conferences for middle-school girls with the support of community organizations, businesses, and foundations. Registration deadline for 2004 Conference is January 31. <twist@twistinc.org> www.twistinc.org.

Travis Audubon Society-Promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and preservation of wildlife and their habitats in Travis county. 512-347-0452 <info@travisaudubon.org> www.travisaudubon.org.

Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum-Provides arts experiences that encourage understanding and appreciation of sculpture. 512-445-5582 <info@umlaufsculpture.org> www.umlaufsculpture.org.

West Austin Caregivers-Provides volunteer services for seniors allowing them to live independently in the community. 512-472-6339 <WACaregivers@juno.com> www.io.com/~wacgive.

Westcave Preserve-Sustains this unique ecological treasure and offers it as educational and scientific resource for the community. 830-825-3442 <westcave@moment.net> www.westcave.org.

Wright House Wellness Center-Provides physical, emotional, and social support, education, and compassion to people with HIV, AIDS, cancer, and hepatitis C. 888-381-5180, 512-467-0088 <info@thewrighthouse.org> www.thewrighthouse.org.

Writers' League of Texas-Provides a forum for information, support, and sharing among writers to help members improve and market their writing skills, and to promote the interests of writers and the writing community. 512-499-8914 <wlt@writersleague.org> www.writersleague.org.

Zilker Theatre Productions-Provides pay-what-you-can theatre entertainment including the Zilker Park Summer Musical. 512-479-9491 <mail@zilker.org> www.zilker.org.

-Patrick Cosgrove