ATX Good News

06/27/2025

Now there's a place in Austin where you can do vintage shopping AND help women trying to get back on their feet and find a good job. That's what Dress for Success Austin's new boutique-style resale shop is all about. It’s called Impact Apparel and it offers high-quality, pre-loved clothing and accessories that are an earth-friendly alternative to fast fashion. The money you spend here supports the mission of Dress for Success and women like Monique. She was referred to DFSA by Safe Place. Monique was given all the resources and support she needed and is now thriving at a new job at PepsiCo.

Impact Apparel is open Th 12-6pm & Sat 11am-3pm
3000 S. I-35 Frontage Rd. STE. 175, Austin TX 78704

06/25/2025

Two Austin businesses partnered to offer sweet summertime treats to raise money and awareness for the nonprofit, Foster Village.

Graceful Spaces Organizing, a home organizing business, hosted a lemonade stand at the Container Store in North Austin. It’s part of Foster Village’s “Growing a Village is Sweet” campaign.

The nonprofit bridges the gap between those in foster care and those who want to help, providing practical needs like clothing and other essential supplies for foster families.

06/24/2025

Here's our favorite story of the week ... and it's sure to make both Longhorn and Aggie fans smile! Twin diving discoveries by twin siblings recover missing UT & A&M class rings in Lake Travis. Now, the rings are back on the fingers of the graduates who lost them.

( story from Fox 7 Austin)

A discovery at the bottom of Lake Travis has created a new bond between some Aggies and Longhorns.

06/19/2025

Happy Juneteenth! These pictures from Austin's 27th annual Juneteenth Celebration in East Austin ( courtesy of K*T Austin) are sure to make you smile.

06/15/2025

And they're off...
Flipper power propelled these Austin neighbors up a steep hill to the fin-ish line in a race to benefit Dell Children's Foundation this weekend. Tarrytown neighbor Douglas Gowland( seen here in the hat and Hawaiian shirt) started this annual Flipper Walk 5 years ago as a wacky, wonderful way to raise awareness and money for Dell Children's Medical Center. Thanks to generous sponsors and willing walkers, the "toughest 1/10 mile marathon in America wearing scuba flippers " has raised more than $17,000! ATX Good News is happy to report no one floundered and it was a
fin-tastic race.

06/13/2025

Texas Advocacy Project kicks off its annual Handbags and Backpacks for Hope Campaign this month. The statewide non-profit dedicated to ending dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, and human trafficking through free legal and social services, collects new purses, tote bags, diaper bags, and backpacks and puts them in the hands of survivors.

Each bag contains a discreet tag featuring TAP's confidential Legal Line, 800-374-HOPE, which connects survivors to resources and information about TAP's free legal and social work services.

Visit https://www.texasadvocacyproject.org/handbags-backpacks-hope for collection points until 6/28 or to donate.


Photos courtesy - Texas Advocacy Project

06/12/2025

The great outdoors is the perfect place to learn leadership, teamwork and build self confidence. Just ask Luis Lopez Hernandez. He credits his camping and wilderness experiences, and his team at Explore Austin, with keeping him on track, coping with the loss of his beloved brother and reaching his full potential.
Luis says, “My team, and Explore Austin, were there for me when I needed them, and I know they’ll be there for me for challenges to come." Luis is excited to start college at Texas A&M University this fall.
Explore Austin is a nonprofit immersing close to 300 local young people, from economically disadvantaged communities, in nature from 6 to 12th grade. The 100% free program teaches them how to camp, backpack, rock climb, canoe and mountain bike. Every summer their skills are enhanced during week-long, out-of-state summer wilderness trips all across the U.S. They also work with trusted volunteer mentors who model leadership, outdoor skills and instill a spirit of adventure.
https://exploreaustin.org/

This story came to us through our storytelling partnership with
I Live Here I Give Here highlighting local nonprofits and their missions.

06/10/2025

These adorable "graduates" have a very special bond. They were all born prematurely and spent time in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Now these little ones are happy, healthy and all smiles.
This past weekend more than 1,300 people turned out for Texas’ largest (NICU) Graduate Reunion at Q2 Stadium hosted by Hand to Hold & St. David's HealthCare.
Why a reunion? Caring for preemies can be long and intense, so parents often form lifelong relationships with their doctors, nurses and other families.
Hand to Hold is a nonprofit that provides NICU parents and babies resources and support.

05/30/2025

Meet Raghad. When she moved here from Syria, she was the grateful recipient of mentoring from GirlForward. Now she is a guiding force for other young women trying to find a new path in a new country.
Girl Forward is a nonprofit dedicated to creating connections and opportunities for high school-age girls who are refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers. Raghad now attends and works for Austin Community College, offers support and tours to girls applying to ACC and is a devoted mentor. She is such a superstar at Girl Forward that she received their Founders Award last year.
Raghad’s story came to us through our storytelling partnership with I Live Here I Give Here ...lifting up local nonprofits making a positive difference in our community.

https://www.girlforward.org/

05/28/2025

You give..they live! There are just a few days left to take advantage of a partnership between two beloved Austin originals: We Are Blood ( the sole provider of blood, platelet, and plasma donations to patients across Central Texas) and Kerbey Lane Cafe ( celebrating 45 years in business). Through May 31, every WRB donor gets a voucher for a free appetizer at any Kerbey Ln location. Your donation saves lives by supporting and safeguarding our local blood supply.
We are Blood : https://bit.ly/4j1EKp5

05/24/2025

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and we're honored to share the story of Cortney Jones and her efforts to change the foster care system and the lives of children aging out of it. She founded Change 1 Mind Change 1 Life after her own experiences as a foster child.

05/23/2025

A big day for those on the front lines helping foster children! Council Member Ryan Alter officially proclaimed it Foster Care Day in Austin. Cortney Jones was honored to receive that proclamation. She was once a foster child herself. Eleven years ago, Cortney founded Change1, a nonprofit dedicated to helping young people find stability, skills and direction in their lives when they transition out of foster care.
Look for our ATX Good News interview with Cortney about Change 1 Mind Change 1 Life, coming soon.