Mayor's proclamation lauds group
Christmas came early at the Greater Taylor Foundation’s first Impact Report and Recognition Luncheon.
The nonprofit outlined its achievements and highlighted awards to supporting organizations and individuals totaling thousands of dollars. To honor the foundation, Mayor Dwayne Ariola declared Dec. 12, “Greater Taylor Foundation Day.”
“The Greater Taylor Foundation has been a beacon of hope in progress within our community, tirelessly working to improve the quality of life for all residents,” Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Cmerek said at the luncheon, reading the proclamation on behalf of Ariola.
The top three donation receivers of its Give Taylor initiative at the luncheon Thursday, Dec. 12 included Taylor Educational Enrichment Foundation, St. Mary’s Catholic School and Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry & Thrift Store.
The foundation was established in 2023 and has since identified seven core issues in the Taylor community, creating “impact councils” to address them — child care and early education, community connections and collaboration, economic well-being, food insecurity, housing, mental health and disaster relief.
“We launched a year ago with our needs assessment study … It’s great to come back … and see the results from all the work that has happened in the last year,” GTF President Diana Phillips said at the ceremony.
Each council presented its accomplishments from the year and the goals members plan to work toward in 2025.
Child care
The Childcare and Early Education Impact Council engaged with the Department of Commerce and workforce child care experts nationwide and hired a national consultant to develop a comprehensive child care model.
According to the council’s presentation, in the area there are few quality child care providers and early learning centers, all with long wait lists.
The council aims to have more child care providers as members and develop workplace benefits and child care resources with the business community in the new year, officials said.
“My ‘Why (join the council)’ stems from seeing firsthand how access to child care can be the cornerstone of opportunity, not just for children, but for families, for businesses,” said Gabriella Westbrook, Childcare and Early Education Impact Council co-chairwoman and Workforce Solution Rural Capital Area contract manager. “Child care is not just a family issue — it’s a community issue, a workforce issue and, ultimately, an economic issue.”
Communication and Collaboration
The Communication and Collaboration Impact Council is working to dedicate Feb. 11 as “211 Day” to enhance community support and resource accessibility. The phone number is an anonymous service line that connects callers with resources for food, housing, child care or emergency services.
The council is also working to obtain volunteer management software that will connect volunteers to opportunities in the community.
“Lots of things are happening, but nobody knows about it,” Communication and Collaboration Impact Council co-Chairwoman Janetta McCoy said. “We want easy communication between the city, the county and the state agencies with the city residents.”
Economic Wellbeing
The Economic Wellbeing Impact Council was invited to participate in the Investing for Impact series with the Dallas Federal Reserve, which began Dec. 3 and will continue for six more sessions.
Next year, the council plans to begin an entrepreneur- development program called Launch Taylor and provide training for workers looking for higher-paying jobs and programs teaching financial literacy.
The council’s presentation cited that the city has more than 12% of households below the poverty line and has $30,000 less in household income than Williamson County’s average.
“What I love about all of this work is you start seeing it weave together,” said Tia Stone, Economic Wellbeing Impact Council co-chairwoman and Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “You start seeing that the reason that we work as one, even in separate councils, is because it’s all the same goal.”
Food Insecurity
The Food Insecurity Impact Council collaborated with the Central Texas Food Bank on a Williamson County food assessment, which revealed Taylor is the highest food-insecure community.
The council hopes to create a Taylor-specific food assessment and develop sustainable food options with agriculture and food co-op models to provide local pantries with fresh food in 2025.
“If you don’t have the food you need to sustain yourself, it’s hard to go to work,” Food Insecurity Impact Council co-Chairman Mike Kaspar said. “We need to think about what we can do to help those people that need the food so that they’ll go to work, you know, so that they can move to the next level, … and then to the next level.”
Housing Impact
The Housing Impact Council partnered with the city and housing authority on a $750,000 grant, and it hopes to continue the collaboration in 2025 to develop a catalog of pre-approved building plans, a community land trust and a financing hub.
“Many times when we talk about housing, we talk about affordable housing, we talk about homeless, but really, it’s all levels,” said Ebby Green, Housing Impact Council co-chairwoman and Taylor Housing Authority CEO.
Mental Health
With a lack of awareness of services in the city, the Mental Health Impact Council plans to hold Mental Health Month activities in May and has developed a Mental Health First Aid Workshop series to kick off the new year in January.
“We envision a future where mental health care is supported and prioritized for all in our community. … That the pathways accessing mental health care … is clear and efficient,” Mental Health Impact Council co-Chairwoman Pamela Johnston said.
Help during emergencies
To address disaster relief, the foundation assembled the Greater Taylor Community Organizations Active in Disaster, which entered a memorandum of understanding with Taylor during a City Council meeting the night of Dec. 12.
In the event of a citywide emergency, the Taylor government will work with COAD to assist residents in need until state or federal relief arrives.
The organization will host a public meeting in February to share its work with the community and seek volunteers and support.
“In our worst hours, we put forth our finest efforts, and the only way we can do that is to define what the needs are,” Greater Taylor COAD Chairman Thomas Martinez said.
Awards celebrate Taylor
The foundation also spearheaded its Give Taylor campaign in 2023, which raised $24,400 for local nonprofits on Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to encouraging everyone worldwide to do good, held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, according to givingtuesday.org.
This year, Give Taylor raised a total of $70,929, including a $10,000 match from Faykus Financial, surpassing its $40,000 goal.
Officials said the campaign received a 440% increase in donors, 190% increase in dollars raised, 29% increase in nonprofit participation and 69% increase in nonprofits receiving funds.
“It’s always fun when you can give out money in your community,” Phillips said.
To celebrate the achievement and community support, the foundation awarded the top three organizations that received the most donations.
The Taylor Educational Enrichment Foundation was awarded the No. 1 spot, receiving $16,690 in donations, and for receiving the highest average gift.
The TEE Foundation will use the funds to give back to the teachers in the Taylor Independent School District through its three grants: Mallard Grants, New Teacher Welcome grants and Game Changer grants. The foundation awarded 15 grants during the fall semester, and TEE Foundation Executive Director Anita Volek hopes to match or surpass that number in the spring.
“We’ve (the foundation) also encouraged the campuses to think big,” Volek said to the Press. “We haven’t had a large Game Changer grant … but we would like to give big.”
Game Changer grants provide teachers funds for items over $3,000, up to $25,000.
The TEE Foundation accepts applications from Taylor ISD employees on a rolling basis. More information is available on the foundation’s website, tayloreducationfoundation.com/grants.
Shepherd’s Heart received the second-highest donation amount, $11,309, and also received an award for the highest number of donors.
Shepherd’s Heart is home to a food pantry, thrift shop, General Educational Development program and other community support services. The nonprofit plans to use the funds to pay for operational costs that will allow it to continue its work to support those at-risk in the Taylor and east Williamson County community.
“(The work) can only be done if we’re funded to do it,” Shepherd’s Heart Executive Director Loretta Masters said to the Press. “It’s a lot of work, but that’s what we’re called to do. … These people (the volunteers) are called by the heart to do this.”
Masters said the organization can always use more volunteers. To learn more about how to get involved with Shepherd’s Heart, visit the website at shepherdshearttaylor.org.
St. Mary’s Catholic School received the third-highest donation amount, $6,795.
The school plans to use the funds to renovate the campus’ two playgrounds. The playground serving the school’s older students, those 6 years old and older, will get a gaga ball pit. The early learners’ playground will have the pea gravel replaced and various play and workstations installed to help develop motor skills and creativity.
“I’m just very excited to be a part of what the Greater Taylor Foundation is doing,” St. Mary’s Head of School Heidi Altman told the Press. “It’s my joy to serve, and it’s my joy to build up this community and to be a part of a wonderful town like Taylor.”
GTF also awarded supporting individuals, organizations and businesses with Community Impact Awards.
Susan Faykus, founder and CEO of Faykus Financial, received the Philanthropist of the Year award for exceptional generosity and commitment to philanthropic causes.
United Way for Greater Austin was named Nonprofit Champion for outstanding support and collaboration with local
nonprofits. Durcon was named Corporate Philanthropist for remarkable corporate social responsibility and financial contributions.
Deneece Ferrales received the Changemaker Award for innovative leadership and transformative impact within the community.
Sam Dowdy, president of S&D Plumbing, was named Business Champion for “exceptional in-kind support” that significantly expanded the mission of nonprofits.
