Austin Angels
Lake Austin Spa Resort proudly features the organizations and efforts of the twelve, randomly selected winners for the Austin Angels giveaway. This new program is aimed at building awareness for charities and organizations in need, as well as thanking those who devote endless hours to community outreach.
We'd like to thank everyone who participated in our first Austin Angels giveaway, particularly the nominees, who do so much for our community. For an extended list of the organizations that are supported by our local community members, please click here.
Austin Angels
Marissa V., Little Helping Hands
Little Helping Hands offers hands-on volunteer opportunities in the Austin community to educate young children about the value of community service while at the same time providing a fun and positive learning experience for the entire family. Their mission is to be a resource for parents, caregivers, educators, and businesses looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities suitable for young children in the Austin community. Families can sign-up on-line for volunteer activities suitable for children between the ages of 4 and 12, making it simple for parents and caregivers looking to introduce and regularly expose their children in early childhood to the rewards of helping others and caring for our environment.
Betty S., Spicewood Community Library
Betty, who was encouraged to volunteer at the Spicewood Community Library by her granddaughter, is the most active volunteer. She enjoys her work as it keeps her mind active and gives her an incentive every day to "get up and go". She says she would be lost without it. Her efforts with the library are important to her as she currently holds the position of Chair of the Books for the Homebound and the Caretaker of the Overdue Book Accounts. Additionally, the library has a program called "The Friendly Reminder" that notifies the organization's volunteers of the days to work, which she organizes and enjoys dearly. While most volunteers work one or two shifts a month, in December, Betty was schedule to work eight, even with holiday closures. The Spicewood Community Library is 100% privately supported and does not receive any state/county dollars.
Patty G., Girl Scouts of Central Texas - Oak Hill Service Unit
Patty has been a leader in the Oak Hill Service Unit (Girl Scouts of Central Texas), a large service unit with many selfless volunteer moms and dads, for 7 years. She supports her 2 daughters who participate in Girl Scouts and has been a Co-Leader-Troop 1147-8th Grade Cadettes, Fall Product Coordinator for the Oak Hill Service Unit, Service Unit Campout Coordinator, Service Unit Quartermaster, and Troop 2041 Cookie Coordinator.
Girl Scouts is the world's largest organization dedicated to empowering girls to be leaders. In partnership with adult volunteers, girls develop leadership skills, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth. The Council's vision is to provide the best outcomes-based leadership opportunities for girls. To accomplish this, Girl Scouts provides by girl, for girl programming that prepares girls to: lead with courage by speaking out on issues they care about and taking active roles in their communities; lead with confidence by making the most of their strengths and feeling empowered to make a difference in their lives and beyond; and lead with character by acting with integrity and compassion, making decisions that promote the well-being of themselves and others.
Robin H., Sustainable Food Center
Robin has been volunteering with the Sustainable Food Center (SFC) for several years. She works tirelessly for the Austin Farmers Market information booth supports the farmers and local food and rallies other volunteer to join her, as well. She is now also a Good Food Ambassador which means she represents SFC wherever she goes! From attending lectures putting together information for us or simply working in the office Robin is always available for the SFC.
From seed to table, SFC creates opportunities for individuals to make healthy food choices and to participate in a vibrant local food system. Through organic food gardening, relationships with area farmers, interactive cooking classes and nutrition education, children and adults have increased access to locally grown food and are empowered to improve the long-term health of Central Texans and our environment.
Kim N-A., Cancer Connection
Kim is a cancer survivor who left her job as a lawyer in Austin to take care of her two sons. When cancer struck in 2000, she battled it courageously for almost 3 years. A stem-cell transplant knocked her lymphoma into remission, and she has been cancer-free since 2004. It wasn't enough after that brush with death that she returned to the legal field and began counseling other cancer victims. She now leads a colon cancer support group with terminally ill cancer patients through the Cancer Connection.
Cancer Connection volunteers are all cancer survivors or family members who have cared for a loved one with cancer. Prior to volunteer service, Cancer Connection volunteers attend a 10-hour training class designed to prepare volunteers to help others cope with the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the cancer experience. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, our volunteers visit with patients in local oncology centers and hospitals. Through this unique service, volunteers are able to provide comfort, support and informational resources to cancer patients and their families.
Annette K., Hospice Austin
After losing her husband in 2003, Annette volunteered for Hospice Austin for over six years helping the organization maintain its database. Although it is not a highly visible or glamorous volunteer position, Annette takes on a tedious task every week to update patient information. This year, Annette had to retire from her volunteer position due to health issues and the members of Hospice Austin appreciate and miss her dearly.
Hospice Austin is a non-profit organization that serves terminally ill and bereaved persons in our community with integrity, compassion and respect. The organization offers a full range of health care services such as medical and nursing care, spiritual and emotional support, social work, personal care, special therapies, volunteer and bereavement services. Our services are designed to improve comfort, manage symptoms and deal with other difficulties such as emotional distress and grief. They also provide important emotional and spiritual support to families and friends as they cope with caring for a loved one with an advanced illness, and the grief they experience after their loved one dies.
Donna P., Street Cat Rescue
Donna runs Street Cat Rescue, an all volunteer non-profit organization, serving the Austin, TX area and its surrounding communities. Their program provides a humane solution for the Community Cats of the Austin area - Helping the Community and the Cats.
Their mission is to trap/neuter/return (TNR) feral and stray cats that are not adoptable, rescue abandoned or neglected cats/kittens, adopt out socialized cats and kittens, increase public awareness of the pet overpopulation crisis, and educate the public on Trap/Neuter/Return programs for feral cats, including free resources like the Austin Humane Society's feral cat clinic. Since forming Street Cat Rescue, they have helped over 600 cats and feed 100 TNR'd cats daily. Street Cat Rescue relies heavily upon donations from the public and is further funded by adoption fees. They are always searching for volunteers who have a passion for helping the "forgotten" to join in their mission.
Sheila F., Angelheart Children's Shelter
Sheila founded the Angelheart Children's Shelter many years ago after spending most of her childhood in a shelter herself. Angelheart is a licensed non-profit organization responsible for providing a children's shelter and establishing foster care for children from newborn to 18 years of age that have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or severe neglect, located in rural Travis County, Texas.
Founded solely to provide comfort and security to abused and neglected children, Angelheart is licensed by and receives limited funding from the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services. The shelter provides assessment services, including comprehensive medical and dental exams, psychological evaluations and/or psychiatric assessments, educational enrollment and assistance, and recreational activities. Angelheart offers children from birth to 18 years of age shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and most significantly a newfound sense of comfort and security. The shelter is staffed around the clock and provides continuous support for 22 kids at a time and nearly 300 children each year.
Lindsey H., Austin Children's Shelter
Lindsey hosted her own canned food drive, attends charity events and helps the Austin Children's Shelter in any way that she can. During the holidays, she encouraged her friends to join her "angel tree" to purchase gifts for the children at the shelter. As a mother, she wants every child to feel as loved as her son does, and she spends her time volunteering with ACS and serving on the board of Child Protective Services.
The Austin Children's Shelter is an emergency shelter offering a safe haven for children who are removed from their homes due to life-threatening abuse or neglect. The children who come through our doors are traumatized, hurt, angry and despondent. ACS provides the high quality care and critical services they need to begin the healing process including individual and group therapy, medical and dental care, and educational assistance. The individual attention given to the needs of each child helps them to feel safe while re-building their self-esteem. The goal is to reduce the emotional trauma suffered by child victims of abuse and neglect and to lay a foundation of hope for a better future. Today, they provide care in a home-like environment on a new campus that allows care for up to 78 children at a time.
Alexandra W., CharityBash
Alexandra founded CharityBash and serves as the organization's Executive Director. In their first year, they hosted 10 fundraisers for local nonprofits and raised over $90,000. Alex spends countless hours devoted to these events to inspire and influence other young people to give back.
CharityBash's mission is to transform Austin's young professionals into philanthropists; ultimately redefining Austin's ranking as 48th out of the 50 largest cities in the nation per capita giving. CharityBash provides a feasible and fun way to financially give back to Austin. Through this trend of ‘partying for a purpose,' they hope to influence and inspire ‘giving' at a younger age. By partnering with established businesses and downtown venues, we are naturally being branded as the ‘it' monthly party where young people are being inspired to meet new people, give back to the community, and to learn something new.
Amber F., Amber's Angels
The inspiration for Amber's Angels came from the determination and "big heart" of Amberlyn Fett, who was diagnosed at a very early age with Cystic Fibrosis. She also has been diagnosed with asthma and diabetes. Since the age of one, she has been in the hospital at least twice a year, if not more, and spent many Christmas days in the hospital. During one such Christmas, Amberlyn quickly observed that many children in the pediatric units did not have family with them, nor any gifts to open at this special time. As a result, Amberlyn soon formed "Amber's Angels", raising more than $2,000 to make gift bags for patients of Austin Children's Hospital.
Amber's Angels is an all-volunteer, tax deductible organization dedicated to supporting children affected by cystic fibrosis, cancer, and asthma. During the Christmas Holidays, Amber's Angels provide gift bags to those children in the hospital during a time when most families are celebrating with their loved ones. Amber's Angels also provides "Dream Dresses" for those girls who may be less fortunate in purchasing one for their prom.
Meagan R., The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
Meagan is the Volunteer Resources Intern for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB). She did not need credit for a degree plan to volunteer - she simply wanted to gain experience and give back to her community. Since October, she has logged has over 80 hours in assisting the Volunteer Resources team with events administrative projects and handles hundreds of volunteer requests.
The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas provides food and grocery products to more than 350 Partner Agencies in 21 Central Texas counties. In 2009, CAFB provided more than 23 million pounds of food. Incorporated under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act, CAFB is a certified member of Feeding America. Additionally, CAFB plays an important role as leader and public advocate for hungry Central Texans. CAFB supports anti-hunger local, state and federal legislation, and provides leadership to mobilize community action. Food and grocery products provided by CAFB go to human and social service agencies. These Partner Agencies provide hot meals served on-site or groceries to Central Texans in need.
