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COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The holidays are a time for giving, and there are no organizations more deserving than local nonprofits. GivingTuesday is a chance to engage, volunteer and donate to local causes. There are several Hays County area nonprofits that are participating in the campaign, including the San Marcos Youth Service Bureau, Own Your Own Universe, Hays County Food Bank, Save Our Springs Alliance, Sun Radio Foundation and Texas Parent to Parent, among others.
I Live Here I Give Here is a platform that connects individual donors and volunteers with local causes that they find meaningful.
“[It was chosen as the] official community leader in the Central Texas region for GivingTuesday 2024 for the eighth year in a row,” officials with I Live Here I Give Here stated. “During GivingTuesday 2024, Central Texans are invited to support local nonprofits through I Live Here I Give Here by making an unrestricted, sustaining donation toward their fundraising efforts. Giving together on this mo- mentous day allows us to shape the future of our community by donating, engaging in virtual and/ or in-person volunteerism and performing acts of generosity.”
Terri Hendrix is the founder and director of Own Your Own Universe is a nonprofit based out of Martindale that provides free and low cost art classes and events in order to make arts accessible to the community. Hendrix has been participating in GivingTuesday through AmplifyATX since becoming a nonprofit, and it has really helped to fund their programs throughout the year.
“For us personally, it helps set us up for the next year because we’re right in the thick of booking our programs and lining up our teachers, and then we have the women’s retreat coming up. And then, of course, we have to start planning the festival that we’ll have. We’re gonna have two festivals next year,” Hendrix said. “GivingTuesday helps fill up the bank because by this time it’s time to fundraise. For us, it’s important to meet a certain quota so that we have reserves for us in the bank.”
Julie Hollar is the executive director of the Youth Service Bureau, a nonprofit organization that helps kids by providing educational, volunteer and recreational opportunities after school and during the summer. This is the organization’s second year participating, and Hollar enjoys that I Live Here I Give Here provides more than just donations; they provide board training and other educational opportunities as well.
“You can designate your donation to one of the agencies that’s listed, and they potentially will provide a match depending on what area you’re working in. Like somebody will say, ‘Well, I’ll match up to $10,000 if you support kids.’ And that kind of thing,” Hollar said, adding that the donations will be helpful in supporting the YSB during the summer, their greatest time of need. “Our summers are really expensive because we take the kids swimming. There’s always entry fees and more kids, and they need more snacks. And there’s just a bigger need. … We will be able to take them swimming and, on occasion, to a movie or to get them a special treat or something.”
To participate, use AmplifyATX. org, a platform where anyone can search, discover and donate to more than 700 nonprofits in Central Texas.
“At checkout, there will be an option to make an additional contribution to the Amplify Fund,” according to I Live Here I Give Here. “The Amplify Fund energizes donors and nonprofits on Amplify Austin Day, [which occurs] March 5 to 6, 2025. It is the source of critical matching dollars shared across all organizations. Donations to the fund can also be made directly on their site.”
Donate to the local nonprofit organizations participating in Giving Tuesday at this link amplifyatx.org/ search?page=1&search_ term=san%20marcos.
