For over 50 years, St. Edward's University (SEU) has been home to the nation's longest-running College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). Established as a federal program in 1972, SEU CAMP has championed over 3,000 scholars—children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers by dismantling persistent cultural, socioeconomic, and academic barriers to higher education. SEU CAMP has provided comprehensive academic, financial, and moral support, empowering students to overcome challenges and flourish. For many, the CAMP office becomes a "segunda casa" (second home), a hub of encouragement where they can build a strong foundation for a brighter future.

Nearly 100% of CAMP Scholars are first-generation college students and call Texas home. Seventy-six percent of CAMP scholars graduate from college within six years, compared to Texas’ statewide average (52%) and the national average (55%). Due to generous investment from the University and private donors, CAMP students graduate with 33% less debt than the national average. 

Each year, Foster Angels of Central Texas (FACT) works to improve the outcomes for thousands of children and older youth who experience foster care across a 30-county region.

The transition to adulthood can be challenging for young people, but youth aging out of foster care often face this time alone--without the support of family or caseworker services they received in the foster care system. Not surprisingly, these young adults are more likely to experience behavioral and mental health issues, homelessness, incarceration, and other hardships.

However, negative outcomes for these young people are not guaranteed. FACT provides resources to young people ages 18 - 26 to help with housing, transportation, food access, and education needs.

Education plays a large role in breaking the cycle by providing the skills and knowledge needed to secure stable employment and improve overall quality of life for former foster youth. Only 50% of former foster youth in Texas graduate high school, and they have even lower rates for achieving a post-secondary degree.

Sooch Foundation seeks to make a positive and permanent change in the lives of economically disadvantaged people in Austin through increased educational opportunities. We fund programs that support post-secondary educational success, workforce skills development, and dual-generation learning. We know, however, that it is nearly impossible for individuals to succeed in these opportunities if they do not have the basic stability that housing provides. Affordable housing is a necessary ingredient for the economic mobility we hope to support.

The Texas Housing Conservancy (TxHC) was formed in 2016 by a group of experienced Austin real estate, finance and affordable housing professionals to ensure that the Texas workforce can afford housing by building a social impact fund to create and preserve well located multi-family apartment properties for long-term affordability, as well as provide programs to build community and improve resident outcomes.

Communities In Schools of Central Texas is going to college!

For almost 40 years, CIS has collaborated with school communities throughout the region to empower students to stay in school and on the path to success.

CIS serves more than 64,000 K-12 students—including providing individual case management services for more than 8,400 students—offering critical behavioral and mental health services, academic support, and attendance monitoring to help students reach the goal of earning a high school diploma.

CIS students have higher graduation rates, compared to averages for the region and state. And, the increases are larger when comparing CIS graduation rates to state and regional averages among Black and Hispanic students, as well as students from economically disadvantaged households.

Now, CIS is excited to be bringing our effective, evidence-based case management model to support students at Austin Community College.

Sooch Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $725,000 to fifteen non-profit organizations that make a significant difference in the educational and economic success of thousands of individuals and families who live in Central Texas.

Organizational impact ranges from assisting with post-secondary transitions and persistence, to upskilling for workforce mobility, to dual generation learning to ensure school and employment achievement.

Grantees include American YouthWorks, Assistance League of Austin, Breakthrough Central Texas, Capital IDEA, Code2College, Communities in Schools Central Texas, E4 Youth, Foster Angels of Central Texas, Foundation Communities, Friends of the Children, Level, LifeWorks, Skillpoint Alliance, Texas Empowerment Academy, and Todos Juntos.

We're so inspired by their dedication and innovative approaches, and we're proud to support their vital work. Keep an eye out for more stories about their impact in the coming months!

Capital IDEA addresses two critical community needs: providing low-income adults with the training necessary to enter high-demand careers and equipping Central Texas businesses with access to a skilled local workforce.

Since 1998, Capital IDEA has empowered more than 2,400 individuals to achieve family-sustaining wages, benefits, and financial stability. With its innovative career-focused approach, this nonprofit advances economic mobility by bridging the gap between education and employment through comprehensive support and partnerships with local employers, higher education institutions, and workforce development agencies.

American YouthWorks (AYW) annually connects over 400 youth and young adults, ages 16-35, with innovative education, paid career training, certification attainment, and comprehensive job readiness services. Through award-winning programs, Conservation Corps (AYW-CC) and YouthBuild (AYW-YB), participants gain valuable job skills through projects that address critical challenges in the community. These include constructing micro homes for people experiencing homelessness, disaster response, wildfire prevention training, increasing community resilience, and providing access to affordable housing and healthcare.

AYW-YB serves 200+ youth, ages 16-24, teaching technical skills in Manufacturing/IT, Healthcare, and Construction while earning a GED or high school diploma. Participants receive paid training, certifications, and personalized support to ensure career or education success.

AYW-CC engages 200+ young adults, ages 18-35, in conservation projects and disaster recovery. Participants gain hands-on experience, including FEMA disaster response training, and connect with industry professionals and project partners for job opportunities that advance their commitment to serving the community.

Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate women’s achievements and also recognize their resilience, innovation and lasting impact across every industry. At Skillpoint Alliance, we honor the trailblazing women employed in the skilled trades—those who are breaking barriers, defying expectations, and reshaping the workforce. The trades have long been considered a male-dominated field but more and more are making the choice to step into careers that offer better pay, stability, and upward mobility.

At Skillpoint Alliance, we are committed to empowering women to take the next step in their career, and we provide support through the entire process. Women make up just 5% of the skilled-trade workforce nationwide, but they represent 16% of our participants—a testament to our program’s model and the impact accessible training has to break down traditional gender barriers.

Ayani*, who is 11 years old, likes to think out loud a lot, whether she is brainstorming new crafts to do at the Friends Austin Clubhouse or talking about her career goals, which can change from actor to singer to neonatal doctor on a given day. “From our first outing, I could tell she wanted to accomplish big things,” recalls her Friend, Lupe.

Friends of the Children Austin is committed to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. They do this by pairing professional, salaried, full-time, bilingual mentors (called “Friends”) with children facing life’s greatest challenges. Friends Austin commits to these children from kindergarten through high school graduation – 12+ years, no matter what.

The Friends Austin model is distinct, courageous, and proven. Friends of the Children redefined youth mentoring by creating the first and only long-term professional mentoring program in the country. Friends use their relationships with youth as the context for evidence-based, targeted interventions. Friends spend at least four hours of 1:1, intentional time every week in the classroom, home, and community with their youth, working toward goals and building life skills which enable them to thrive.

*Youth name changed for privacy.

On January 14^th Texas Empowerment Academy (TxEA) will celebrate a significant milestone, marking its first year on an expansive 89,000-square-foot campus. This growth is a testament to TxEA’s vision and resilience over its 26-year history as a pioneering charter school in Texas. Despite 86% of its students being economically disadvantaged, TxEA consistently demonstrates remarkable achievements, transforming narratives surrounding Black youth success.

In a broader educational landscape often focused on challenges like low graduation rates and achievement gaps, TxEA offers a compelling counter-narrative. The academy is dedicated to fostering an environment of educational equity and cultural responsiveness, enabling its Pre-K through 12th-grade students to consistently meet and surpass standardized assessment expectations. This tailored approach ensures personalized attention and academic success, challenging conventional perceptions of Black academic potential.

On August 9, 2024, Code2College held its inaugural AI Demo Day (AIDemoDay.mp4), showcasing the talents of young students.  These future tech leaders, some as young as 15 and 16, took the stage with confidence to present AI-driven projects developed over 8 weeks of hard work during the AI Fellows Program, which allowed students to immerse themselves in the exciting and rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.

Students spent their summer not only learning cutting-edge AI technologies but also applying those skills to real-world challenges through their projects.  From enhancing accessibility to improving gaming experiences, these projects reflect the diversity of thought and creativity within our student cohort. 

Hello all! One of my goals as Executive Director of Sooch Foundation is to take a moment every month to spotlight the profound work of our partners in the community, and to occasionally bring broader light to the systems and issues related to the Foundation’s mission.

First, though, I wanted to introduce myself. For those of you who do not know me, I started in this role on July 1, carrying on the legacy of founding Executive Director Mary Ellen Pietruszynski. I’m coming from a 30+ year career in nonprofit leadership, most notably as co-founder and longtime CEO of LifeWorks here in Austin.

I’m also a moderately-paced but dedicated runner and cyclist, a yoga enthusiast, and a community volunteer for organizations such as Austin Together and The New Philanthropists.