Turkey Trot raises $200,000 for Caritas
This year’s ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving raised a record $200,000 for Caritas of Austin thanks to a boost in attendance.
The sub shop chain, with 24 stores in the Austin area, presented the local nonprofit with a check Monday.
The event has raised more than $1 million for Caritas over 19 years.
“When we chose Caritas as our charity partner 19 years ago, it was because of the great job they were doing in the community,” said John Meddaugh, ThunderCloud Subs’ co-founder.
“I don’t think any of us realized how successful the event would become, but Austin has really adopted the run as a Thanksgiving Day tradition and a way to give back.”
Money raised for Caritas will help it continue to provide housing, food, education and employment services to more than 20,000 adults and children in the Austin area.
Gifts to BookSpring help children get books
Hundreds of children received books from BookSpring thanks to donations by area businesses and schools.
Applied Materials Inc., a semiconductor equipment manufacturer; the accounting department of Temple-Inland Inc.; the Long Center; and area schools donated money and gently used books.
Applied Materials and the schools held book drives to collect the BookSpring books. Temple-Inland staffers adopted BookSpring for its annual Holiday Fundraising Campaign.
BookSpring promotes early literacy and was created through the merger of Reading is Fundamental of Austin and Capital Area Reach Out and Read.
Local builder gives $25,000 to CapCityKids
The DPR Foundation, the charitable arm of local builder DPR Construction Inc., donated $25,000 to the CapCityKids nonprofit.
The local organization helps children in the Austin Independent School District facing homelessness get a quality education, according to a news release.
“DPR’s long-term goals include being integral and indispensable to the community in which we work and live,” said Gary Nauert, regional manager of DPR’s Texas office.
“CapCityKids’ programs go straight to one of our most vulnerable populations — children facing homelessness — to provide one-on-one support,” he said.
The grant money will help to pay for tutors in homeless shelters, a social worker for homeless high-schoolers, bus passes for students to get to school, uniforms, vaccinations and more.
BookSpring Covered in The Statesman On Philanthropy