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Today we announced a new partnership with Greenlights for Nonprofit Success to survey Central Texas nonprofit organizations. Clearly the recession is having an impact on local nonprofits, with this study, we hope to better understand exactly what that impact is, and hopefully attract more investment and resources for the whole sector. The survey is open now until Aug 7, is anonymous, and the responses will be aggregated and made available for anyone to use. The survey invitation was sent to over 1,100 Executive Directors this morning. If your organization would like to participate, please drop an email to Kim at wilsonk@greenlights.org and she will be able to send you the survey link.

The Lights. Camera. Help. team has announced the 19 finalist videos for their upcoming non-profit film festival. Our Give 5 video, created for us by our friends at Overflow Creative, is one of them: Learning about Lights. Camera. Help. for the first time? Check out this cool video about the festival:

Congratulations to our Interim President Debbie Bresette! She’s a nominee finalist for the Austin Business Journal’s Profiles in Power & Women of Influence awards. The ABJ describes its criteria for picking nominees as: “We identify the top Central Texas women industry leaders who have forged their own path and developed their own leadership principles. These women have something to offer the next generation of women leaders. They have made a difference in their communities, blazed new trails and are leaving a mark on Central Texas business.” Learn more about the awards and register to attend the event here.

Dear Community Partners, Hands On Central Texas, a program of United Way Capital Area, invites you to submit a volunteer project for the United Way Fall Day of Caring, presented by Freescale Semiconductor. United Way Day of Caring is a community-wide event that addresses critical social issues through meaningful volunteer action. Each year, more than 1,500 corporate & community volunteers lend a hand in tackling issues such as poverty, education and health — doing everything from building homes to delivering meals to beautifying community parks. On Friday, September 11, 2009, we will host multiple volunteer projects centered around the United Way & Hands On focus areas: Education, Financial Stability, Health & Environment. If your organization could benefit from the inspired actions of a group of coordinated volunteers, we encourage you to submit a volunteer project. We’ll work on recruiting the volunteers for your Day of Caring project and help with the logistics. And when the Fall Day of Caring arrives, you’ll be amazed at what these volunteers accomplish in just a few hours! This year, as we come together as a community for this important day of service, we’ll also kick off the annual UWCA campaign. So join us as we start the day with the United Way Day of Caring Kickoff, where volunteers will hear guest speakers and learn about the impact they’re making in the community, enjoy breakfast, meet other volunteers, and check-in for their projects. United Way Day of CaringDate: Friday, September 11, 2009Time: 8:30 – 9:45 […]

Traveling somewhere exotic this summer…Peru? Morocco? El Paso? Don’t forget to pack your Live United t-shirt, and show your support with a Live United Travel Shot!Send us the best vacation pictures of you, your family and friends posing in the Live United t-shirt to: web@unitedwayaustin.org …and we’ll feature them in upcoming newsletters! Support United Way Capital Area’s programs, and get your Live United t-shirt online at our website. For a $20 donation, you can have your own Live United t-shirt. They are available now in 5 sizes.

City of Austin administrative offices and other municipal facilities will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. Closures include City Council offices, the Town Lake Animal Center, all recreation and senior centers, clinics, cultural centers and museums. The First Workers Day Labor Center will also be closed. Normal business hours will resume Monday, July 6. Austin Public Library facilities will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. If a library facility is regularly open on a Sunday, it will be open on Sunday, July 5. Garbage, recycling and yard trimmings collection for City of Austin Solid Waste Services customers will remain the same. If your regular collection date is scheduled for Friday, July 3, it will be picked up on Friday. However, the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility will be closed Saturday, July 4. City of Austin aquatic facilities will be open their regular schedule on Independence Day. Check www.cityofaustin.org/parks/aquatics.htm for pool hours. The Austin Nature and Science Center will be open during its normal business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, July 3, but will be closed Saturday, July 4. Several streets will be closed for events during Independence Day weekend: Cesar Chavez Street from MoPac Expressway to Barton Springs Road at Auditorium Shores will be partially closed from 10 a.m. to midnight, July 4.Several blocks downtown, close to Lady Bird Lake will also be closed, as well as access to neighborhood streets along Barton Springs Road.For precise locations and a […]

So here’s the wrap on our Vivir Unidos volunteer fair for Hispanics down at the beautiful MACC in Austin. We had over 300 folks attend, delicious tasty food, dancing, music, Univision 62, Ahora Si, the Austin American Statesman, Giving City magazine and about 30 nonprofits represented. The vibe was good, well, APD Chief Art Acevedo was there to ensure no-one got out of hand, and everyone seemed to get the message of the night: get involved. Si se puede. Vivir Unidos We’ve posted our photos here on Flickr. Many thanks to everyone who participated and sponsored Vivir Unidos! If you were there, please leave us a comment and/or send us any pictures you’d like to share.