In the aftermath of the recent flooding in southeast Austin, which left more than 350 Austin Independent School District students and more than 25 AISD staff members homeless or temporarily displaced, I am especially thankful during this Thanksgiving holiday to all who stepped forward to help our students and families with volunteer support, financial contributions, and other assistance. Over this Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts and thanks go to the staff of Perez Elementary School, which was among the most affected by the floods, and to these amazing organizations and individuals:
So many individuals provided leadership in relief efforts and assistance to students and their families, including State Representative Eddie Rodriguez and Council Member Mike Martinez, and representatives of such community organizations as the Dove Springs Neighborhood Association, Dove Springs Proud, the Dove Springs Recreation Center Advisory Board, and such religious organizations as The Springs Community Church, Parker Lane United Methodist Church, Holy Family American Catholic Church, the Austin District of the United Methodist Church, and the Religious Coalition to Assist the Homeless.
All 100 ACE tutors headed to Dove Springs on Veteran's Day to help with the flood clean up and ACE Perez Elementary tutors also worked helping families immediately after the flood.
Please keep the families who are still putting their lives back together in your thoughts during this Thanksgiving season.
- Our school principals, who are to be commended for their excellent management of extremely difficult and challenging circumstances;
- The Family Resource Center at Mendez Middle School, and AISD Project Help, who were some of the first to assist those impacted and are continuing to provide their assistance;
- The Red Cross, the Austin Disaster Relief Network, H-E-B, the Assistance League of Austin, AISD Food Service staff, Mendez Middle School cafeteria staff, Capital Metro and the Austin Police Department assisted students and families with clothing, housing, food, transportation and other needs; and
- The many generous donors who supported our families and staff:
Jeanne and Michael Klein, who contributed $50,000 to launch fundraising efforts
The Tapestry Foundation and the Buena Vista Foundation, which joined efforts to issue a $40,000 matching challenge grant
Wells Fargo
The Links Town Lake Chapter
MWM Design Group
The Moody Foundation
Sandy and Lisa Gottesman
Julian Gold
AISD Employee Charitable Fund;
Members of the AISD Board of Trustees
Members of my Senior Cabinet
Ballet Austin
The Tapestry Foundation and the Buena Vista Foundation, which joined efforts to issue a $40,000 matching challenge grant
Wells Fargo
The Links Town Lake Chapter
MWM Design Group
The Moody Foundation
Sandy and Lisa Gottesman
Julian Gold
AISD Employee Charitable Fund;
Members of the AISD Board of Trustees
Members of my Senior Cabinet
Ballet Austin
So many individuals provided leadership in relief efforts and assistance to students and their families, including State Representative Eddie Rodriguez and Council Member Mike Martinez, and representatives of such community organizations as the Dove Springs Neighborhood Association, Dove Springs Proud, the Dove Springs Recreation Center Advisory Board, and such religious organizations as The Springs Community Church, Parker Lane United Methodist Church, Holy Family American Catholic Church, the Austin District of the United Methodist Church, and the Religious Coalition to Assist the Homeless.
All 100 ACE tutors headed to Dove Springs on Veteran's Day to help with the flood clean up and ACE Perez Elementary tutors also worked helping families immediately after the flood.
Please keep the families who are still putting their lives back together in your thoughts during this Thanksgiving season.