Dear friend of El Buen,
El Buen Samaritano welcomes 2012 with a sense of urgency. We're officially in our 25th year of service, and to celebrate, we'll host our Gala de Esperanza in April. In an effort to better serve the Latino community, El Buen Samaritano will unveil and begin the implementation of a five-year strategic plan, which will lay the foundation for tactical and purposeful growth in the coming years. This anticipated growth calls for accelerated outreach efforts and additional buildings on our 11-acre campus as we help Latino families in need lead healthy and productive lives by bringing high-quality programs, spirituality and community together.
We know the Austin area has seen a rapid growth in the Latino community in the past 10 years. With this growth comes an unprecedented demand for our programs and services. Looking ahead, we believe El Buen Samaritano is well-positioned and capable of meeting these needs, but only with the help of our friends and partners.
We thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to a fruitful and dynamic year ahead.
Sincerely,
Victor Azios, Executive Director
Make El Buen Samaritano part of your 2012 calendar!
Looking for ways to redeem your New Year's resolutions? We would love your help! As we continue to kick off the New Year, El Buen Samaritano invites you to get involved and help us celebrate the 25 years of our mission of hope!
Three ways to get involved in 2012:
1. Support our mission while celebrating our legacy at the Gala de Esperanza!
On April 20, 2012, friends and partners of El Buen will come together to celebrate our 25th anniversary while raising funds to support ongoing programs and services. There will be a cocktail reception, a sit-down dinner, silent auction, lively music, dancing and an evening of honoring a great tradition of service and community. Sponsorships are currently available and tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, February 13, 2012.
Save the Date:
Friday, April 20, 2012, 2012 at 6 p.m.
El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission, Courtyard
Help us spread the word as we invite everyone to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our mission of hope!
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2. Share your talents at El Buen Samaritano!
Commit to your New Year's resolutions by giving back to your community. We are still currently welcoming volunteer applications for ESL Teaching Assistants, Child Learning Center Assistants and a few upcoming opportunities with our youth programs for the spring semester. Fill out a volunteer application if you're interested!
Don't have much time for ongoing volunteer programs? Come help out one morning at El Buen Samaritano's food pantry or join an event planning committee to help support our large community events: the Gala de Esperanza, Hands of Hope Thanksgiving Event and Breakfast with Santa! For more information, contact Claudia Herrington.
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3. Try new ways to make an impact!
• Randall's Good Neighbor Program: Give back while grocery shopping! If you own a Randall's Remarkable Card, you can select El Buen Samaritano as your charity of choice to receive a portion of all your purchases. Just link El Buen Samaritano Good Neighbor Account Number--365--to your card and your donation will be submitted automatically. By supporting El Buen Samaritano, you will be able to save money at Randall's and be eligible to enter contests, all while donating to a great cause! For more information, visit El Buen's donate page.
• Vehicle Donation Program: Have a car taking up space in your garage? One person's junk has just become another person's treasure! If you have a car that you wish to donate, call Charitable Auto Recycling at (512) 398–5995 and let them know it will benefit El Buen Samaritano. Donating your old car will allow you to benefit from a tax deduction! We accept most cars, trucks, vans, trailers, fleet vehicles, boats and recreational vehicles, running or not--with the exception of older vehicles whose value would not offset the cost of towing. For more information on donating your car to El Buen Samaritano, visit El Buen's donate page, visit Charitable Auto Recycling or contact Erica Solis.
• Corporate Matching Gifts: Many employers offer a matching gift program which can double or triple the amount of your investment, or even match volunteer hours with a monetary contribution. Inquire today about your employer's corporate matching policies and consider setting up a monthly or annual contribution to El Buen Samaritano. Contact your company's human resources office!
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Strong partnerships = meaningful impact
Nearly 17 percent of Latinos drop out of high school as a result of language and developmental delays at a young age. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the shortfall in children's reading proficiency is especially pronounced among low-income children. Nearly a third of children attending Austin Independent School District are labeled as "Limited English Proficient," increasing their possibility to drop out of school, as stated by the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas. A leading concern facing the Latino community is the fact that low-income Latino children face language and developmental challenges making it difficult for them to succeed once entering preschool. As young Latinos in Austin continue to face these challenges, El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission provides them with the necessary tools to succeed in school.
While clients participate in El Buen Samaritano's wide array of programs and services, their children attend the Child Learning Center. The CLC provides young children from six months to five years of age with the education needed to succeed once they enter the public school system. Its preliteracy curriculum focuses on early-childhood learning objectives such as listening comprehension, speaking skills and speech production.
Through a strong partnerships with 3M and the Donald D. Hammill Foundation, El Buen Samaritano's Child Learning Center has provided a better education, language and developmental foundation to the children of the families we serve. Thanks to 3M and the Donald D. Hammill Foundation, we've achieved our goal of providing more than 200 Latino children with the preliteracy skills needed to prepare them for preschool. Their support has provided the Child Learning Center with appropriate equipment and supplies for this school year. Thank you, 3M and Donald D. Hammill Foundation!
