UWATX has partnered with Famigo, a local Austin tech startup, to help parents discover quality apps for their children and help young children access educational apps more securely. Already, UWATX’s first cohort of Play To Learn families have logged more than 2,500 minutes since October, with an average of 61 logins per user. Famigo is an app on the Android market that allows children to access a collection of educational games, interactive books and other child-appropriate content hand-selected by their parents. Once inside Famigo, children can’t wander to outside content, including apps not selected by their parents. The service also provides a library of apps rated by their staff so parents can easily find new interactive education experiences for their young children. Only apps rated 3 or higher make it into the library, meaning all of the content is high-quality and safe for families and also has exceptional design and a great interface. Through this partnership, UWATX has loaded Famigo onto each tablet distributed to Play To Learn participants, who receive a Samsung tablet at the end of an 8-week parent-and-child education course. Famigo provides data on how families are using the service and what app are most popular. “Famigo works really well with our Play To Learn project because we are already integrating Samsung tablets so families can extend their education beyond our 8-week in-person course,” said Kaley Horton, UWATX Project Coordinator for Success By 6. “This app allows us to get deeper insights into how parents are engaging […]
Read MorePartner Profile: AVANCE
Posted on by Aviva Pinchas
Name: AVANCE Partner for: 6 years Partner for: Success By 6 Our relationship: Expanding services that work UWATX funding supports AVANCE’s dual generation program – a holistic program for low-income, primarily Latino families with a focus on enhancing parenting skills, promoting long-term success for children, and family support. Over the years, our funding has more than doubled and UWATX has leveraged other grants to increase our support for this effective and successful program. Thanks to these efforts, AVANCE has been able to expand services in the Dove Springs and St. John’s neighborhoods and begin helping families in Manor as well. Sharing best practices and improving care AVANCE takes advantage of UWATX’s Family Support Network – a group that encompasses every agency that serves families with young children outside of formal child care in Greater Austin. UWATX brings providers together to coordinate services and share information, provide professional development and aggregate data. Thanks to this coalition, families in Greater Austin receive better care and agencies use resources more efficiently. Advocating for young children Thanks to recent advocacy work from UWATX and our partners, nearly $500K of City funding was restored to services for young children. Sofia Casini, AVANCE’s Executive Director, helped reach out to City staff and the community to give voice to this important issue. As UWATX continues to improve the landscape of care for young children, AVANCE plays a critical role in planning for Austin’s growing Latino population. Together, UWATX and AVANCE continue to work together to educate […]
Read MorePoverty continues to climb for Austin children
Posted on by Aviva Pinchas
January is Poverty Awareness Month – a month dedicated to learning more about poverty in our communities, how poverty impacts all of us and what we can do to help. At United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX), preventing poverty is our key goal as we work to help Austinites overcome barriers to opportunity so we can all thrive. In Travis County, more than 192,000 individuals – or nearly one in five – live in poverty. Since 2011, an additional 1,512 children have fallen into poverty so that one in four Travis County children live in poverty, the highest poverty rate of all age groups. Poverty has a lasting impact on children, affecting how the brain develops and often leaving young children with long-term deficits in their academic and emotional growth. Stress caused by poverty can even lead to permanent changes in the structure and function of the brain. Living in poverty in the earliest years (birth to age 2) can even predict high school achievement as well, making children roughly 30% less likely to complete high school. The cycle of poverty begins early and continues to permeate all stages of development, from childhood to adulthood. Starting behind early in life is a key indicators that a child is unlikely to transcend poverty. Nearly half of all children that are born into poverty will continue to be poor as adults. Nearly half of all children that are born into poverty will continue to be poor as adults. But it doesn’t stop there: graduating high […]
Read MoreLocal resources for FREE tax prep
Posted on by Christa Berry
Did you know that you can make up to $57,000 annually and still qualify for free tax preparation services? At United Way for Greater Austin, we’re dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome barriers to economic opportunity, so this tax season we want to make sure Austinites take advantage of local FREE tax preparation services that will help them get all the tax credits they’re eligible for. If you are someone that makes less than $57,000, check out these three free options: Call 2-1-1 and receive information about the free tax prep location closest to you. 2-1-1 is free, 24/7, confidential and multilingual. In 2011, the UWATX Navigation Center, which runs the local 2-1-1 program, received more than 5,000 calls from callers looking for free tax preparation assistance. Visit MyFreeTaxes.org/uwatx to file your taxes online for free! MyFreeTaxes provides free tax preparation and filing assistance for individuals or families with a combined income under $57,000. Since 2009, MyFreeTaxes has helped 4.5 million families claim nearly $6 billion in tax credits and refunds! Visit one of Foundation Communities’ Community Tax Centers in the Austin area. They provide free tax preparation at seven convenient locations by their IRS-certified volunteer preparers for Austin area residents who make up to $50,000 per year. Walk-ins are always welcome, you can make an appointment starting February 15 or you can even drop off your tax documents so you don’t have to wait. These local, free resources can also help working individuals and families receive important federal tax credits they may […]
Read MoreGrowing challenges for family budgets
Posted on by Aviva Pinchas
This week, Frances Deviney, Ph.D., Texas KIDS COUNT Director at CPPP, presented to the UWATX Women’s Leadership Council about the growing budget challenges facing Austinites and what they could do to get involved. Here are some highlights: Nationally, a family of three is considered poor if their total income is less than $18,123 annually. This does not take into account regional differences in cost of living or changing expenses, including rent, health care, child care and transportation. The child poverty rate in Texas (27%) is higher than the overall US rate (23%). The Travis County child poverty rate (24%) has also climbed above the US rate. In Travis County, income has not kept up with inflation. Adjusted for inflation, Central Texans are making $6,000 less on average than in 2000. Many families – including 21% of 2 parent, 2 child households and 61% of single parent, two child households – are not making enough to make ends meet. At UWATX, statistics like this drive our work every day. We are working to provide families with higher quality, more affordable child care options, improve public support for early childhood and provide financial literacy.
Read More14th Annual MLK Blvd. Clean Up honors Martin Luther King, Jr.
Posted on by Christa Berry
This past Saturday State Rep. Dawnna Dukes held the 14th Annual MLK Blvd. Clean Up to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, this service project brings together hundreds of volunteers who dedicate time to beautifying the Austin street bearing King’s name. “MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service, a holiday that calls for all of us to work together to strengthen our community,” said Dukes. “I’m so grateful to see all of these empowered volunteers here today, dedicating their time and energy to honor Dr. King’s vision – a ‘Beloved Community.’” This year’s day of service was solely dedicated to the beatification of MLK Blvd. United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX) supported the family-friendly event by recruiting 400+ volunteers through its volunteer program, Hands On Central Texas. Total volunteer hours for the day were 1,260! That’s equivalent to $27,606.60 in volunteer time given back to the community! “Our vision is for Greater Austin to be a resilient, innovative, philanthropic, creative and thriving community for all,” said UWATX President Debbie Bresette. “What is happening here today supports this vision. I think Dr. King would be proud of Austin and the direction we’re headed.” Volunteers gathered at J.J. Seabrook Park at 9 am for registration, supplies distribution and an official kickoff led by Rep. Dukes, Mayor Leffingwell and Huston-Tillotson President Dr. Larry Earvin. After the kick-off, volunteers dispersed along MLK Blvd. to pick up trash and […]
Read MoreUWATX named major beneficiary of new Austin international music festival!
Posted on by Christa Berry
We’re so excited to announce that UWATX was named the major beneficiary of a new world music festival that will take place April 6 and 7, 2013 at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in downtown Austin! The festival, called WobeonFest, will feature internationally acclaimed musicians, including Angelique Kidjo and Collie Buddz, as well as local artists. An outdoor main stage will feature acts, flanked by a grassy lawn and international food and beverage vendors. A global bazaar will spread across the expansive Zocalo area of the MACC and will feature a marketplace of merchandise, artists and cultural organizations that reflect the global nature of the festival. UWATX is teaming up with WobeonFest to assist in organizing and hosting the first-time festival AND we will receive a portion of the proceeds from the music festival! UWATX was chosen as a festival partner because of our dedication to ensuring Austin continues to thrive, which aligns with WobeonFest’s vibe – a diverse and culturally dynamic event. “We are delighted to be working with WobeonFest,” said Debbie Bresette, President of UWATX. “The festival provides an excellent vehicle to bring greater awareness of the issues faced by our diverse community, and to raise additional resources to help us serve its needs.” Stay tuned for information about tickets and volunteer opportunities! A limited number of on-site vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available. Up-to-date festival information and artist lineup can be found a www.wobeonfest.com. For more details, please contact christa.berry@uwatx.org.
Read MoreGet involved in National Mentoring Month locally
Posted on by Christa Berry
January is National Mentoring Month and what a great time to either get involved in a mentoring program or thank someone who has mentored you over the years! Established in 2002, National Mentoring Month celebrates mentoring and the evidence-based, positive effect it can have on our youth. At United Way for Greater Austin, our Target Graduation program connects middle school students to the mentoring services they desperately need. In the 2011-2012 school year, 350 students from three local middle schools received mentoring services as a results of UWATX funding and coordination. Studies have shown that: Middle school students with at least one supportive adult in their lives are almost twice as likely to graduate high school. Mentored teens are 46% less likely to get into drugs, 59% get better grads and 73% raise their goals. Mentoring has a positive impact on the number of unexcused absences, increases students’ attitudes about school, decreases the incidences of disruption in class and increases the likelihood of being engaged in what is going on in the classroom. Mentors can change the course of a young person’s life – they can provide support in education, in day-to-day living and even in the workplace. If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, here are several local organizations that can connect you to that perfect opportunity! Hands On Central Texas – Connects the community to all types of volunteer opportunities, including mentorship opportunities. Communities in Schools – One-on-one mentoring and tutoring programs available on several campuses across AISD […]
Read MoreQ&A: Jennifer Poppe on early childhood education and the WLC
Posted on by Aviva Pinchas
Jennifer Poppe is a partner at Vinson & Elkins and a member of our Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) Executive Committee. In December 2012, her firm gave a $10,000 grant to Success By 6 to support young children. We spoke with her about why early childhood is important to her and why she’s chosen to be involved with UWATX. What inspires you to help young children? Over the last few years, I’ve realized how much early childhood education and development matters. I’ve seen it with people close to me – both children and adults in my family – and have also seen its impact on our community more broadly. In one case, I know someone who started school behind because he moved here when he was young from another country. Because of that difficult beginning – starting just a little behind the curve because of a language barrier – he struggled with confidence in his academic skills and wasn’t sure he could catch up through high school and into college. Those beginning years really lay the foundation for your school career and not starting on the right foot can be a serious challenge. Given this importance, I want to do what I can to help make a difference. What’s your most memorable experience giving back through Success By 6? I attended the Success By 6 Summit last year and learned a lot about how important the program is to our local community. The keynote speaker focused on statistics – that early […]
Read MoreSupport giving back this holiday season
Posted on by Debbie Bresette
Let’s be honest: many of us need a good tap on the shoulder to remind us to give back, and the holidays are a perfect reminder. As our families come together, we realize all that we have to be thankful for, we come to appreciate our community even more and it’s often a powerful inspiration to give. But there’s also another motivator: the Dec. 31 tax deadline. Right now, if you give a gift before Dec. 31, federal tax laws allow you to deduct that gift from your income and save a bit this coming tax season. The Council of Nonprofits reported that 20 percent of online giving for the entire year occurs on December 30 and 31 – so that deadline seems to be just the right tap on the shoulder for many people. But this year, with the nation’s “fiscal cliff” looming, there has been a lot of talk about capping or re-evaluating the charitable deduction. With that tap on the shoulder weakened, this could mean a devastating ripple effect. Individual donations to nonprofits equaled $298 billion in 2011. These are investments from families, parents and neighbors in our communities or in issues we care about – a way of “buying in” to a cause or a future. 20% Portion of online giving donated on Dec. 30 or 31 $298B Total individual donations to nonprofits And the need for those investments continues to grow. Our Navigation Center, which connects those in need to valuable resources, has seen it […]
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