Impact Austin Awards $450,000 to Six Community Partners

Impact Austin, one of the largest women’s philanthropy organizations in the United States, announced the recipient of its first-ever $50,000 catalyst grant and its five, traditional $80,000 high-impact program grants at their Annual Meeting on June 8, 2015. The six 2015 Community Partner grants total more than $450,000, bringing the organization’s total investment in Central Texas past the $5 million dollar mark and representing the sum of more than 51 grants awarded by Impact Austin’s members since 2003.

On Tuesday, June 23 2015, Impact Austin hosted a public Check Presentation Ceremony at Austin City Hall Plaza. All six of its Community Partners were present to receive their respective grant checks.  Click to see a picture album of the event!

Chosen from more than 100 applicants, the five $80,000 Focus Area Program Grants recipients are:

Culture – VSA Texas, formerly known as Very Special Arts, is an affiliate of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This grant will expand VSA’s Body Shift classes for Austin’s mixed-ability dancers, offering people with and without disabilities the opportunity to experience the freedom of dance through additional classes, workshops and performances.

Environment – Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center leads the Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin, which has more than 30 organizational members and hundreds of individual participants. The Roadrunner Outdoor Adventure Bus will provide transportation to nature experiences for children visiting Westcave and those served by its member organizations.

Education – Council on At-Risk Youth (CARY) will expand their PeaceRox Aggression Replacement Training Program at Paredes Middle School and also pilot a summer camp at the same school. The programs will focus on the students with the highest emotional and behavioral needs and who would not otherwise receive services.

Health & Wellness – Drive a Senior’s expanded van program will benefit from funding for staff drivers and van maintenance, as well as the modifications needed to make the vehicles accessible to all. Additionally, the grant will be used to market the expanded services that reach seven Central Texas service areas plus Elgin and Georgetown and serve more than 60 ZIP codes.

Family – Catholic Charities of Central Texas (CCCT) – Central Texas has one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in the United States. CCCT’s Immigration Legal Services program will be expanded, providing families in Central Texas’ rural areas with access to qualified immigration attorneys and Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representatives.

The new $50,000 Catalyst Grant was awarded to a well-qualified nonprofit organization that previously achieved finalist status d