When: 9:30 AM, May 24, 2019
Where: School Gymnasium, Blackshear Elementary, 1712 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Beneficiary: Blackshear Elementary, a National Blue-Ribbon School
Amount Raised: $10,000.00 for direct funding of the After-School Tutoring Program helping 75 struggling students for two semesters
“This is a great example of the kind of community collaboration that makes East Austin shine. It’s wonderful to see the people who build the homes we live in also help our children build the educational foundation they need to succeed.” Natasha Harper-Madison District 1 Council Member “I am grateful for Builders Care for investing in East Austin children. This will make a real difference in the lives of Blackshear Elementary students.” Rep. Sheryl Cole, Texas House, District 46 “We are so very thankful for Builders Care Austin for the generous donation to Blackshear Elementary School’s after-school tutoring program,” said Superintendent Paul Cruz. “This donation will help many students get the assistance they need in language arts and math so they can improve their skills and meet their goals.”
As infill builders, associated trades, and professionals, we understand that strong, well-resourced local schools are key to building and maintaining strong and vibrant communities. As part of our ongoing effort to give back to the communities in which we build, and understanding that demographic and economic change often follow growth, we look for ways to help mitigate the impact of those changes and build a better future for our City.
Because funding for after-hours public school programs is often tied to neighborhood median income, many schools have lost funding for crucial programs as household incomes rise even though schools continue to have dire needs. One such school heavily impacted by the funding loss is Blackshear Elementary Fine Arts Academy, and one of the programs most drastically affected is the After-school Tutoring Program.
Working closely with the school’s principal, the Builders Care Austin Board determined that we could make a real difference in Blackshear students’ lives if we helped make up the funding shortfall for the program. According to the Principal, the school was losing $10,000 in after-school tutoring funding this year due to shifts in the neighborhood median income. Without that money, money that is paid to Blackshear teachers to tutor students after hours, many students will not get the crucial help they need in Language Arts and Math in order to improve skills and meet success. With the $10,000 raised, the school can provide 75 students with tutoring for nearly two semesters!
“With Builders Care Austin’s donation, we will be able to continue our crucial after school tutoring program for 2019-20,” Principal Rick Garner said. “We are very grateful for our community partners who help us continue our tradition of excellence. Thank you Builders Care Austin for supporting our students!”
Last year, during the first year of its existence, Builders Care Austin gave $10,000 to AISD to pay down student lunch debt. Builders Care is the 501C3 charitable giving arm of the Austin Infill Coalition.