A Real Privilege

One of the best things about being at Greenlights is that we regularly come in contact with truly inspiring people and their work. And when the annual Crossroads Conference and the Nonprofit Excellence Awards roll around, this is especially true.

We are currently accepting nominations for the 2009 Nonprofit Excellence Awards, and through them we once again have a front row seat to the most exciting, inspired, creative, and effective nonprofit work in Central Texas. To share a little of that love and inspiration, here’s a little about the 2008 Award winners:

Innovation: PeopleTrust
The first community land trust in Texas, PeopleTrust creates permanent, affordable housing in Austin so that working families can build financial security and improve their communities.

Service Excellence: Caritas
Caritas has an outstanding track record for providing a variety of services for people experiencing poverty since 1964. Caritas is Travis County’s largest source of non-governmental assistance for the working poor, the unemployed, the homeless, and documented refugees.

Collaboration: Capital IDEA
Capital IDEA lifts working families out of poverty by sponsoring educational services that lead to life-long financial stability. Their innovative and highly collaborative “Teacher Pipeline Project” addresses the teacher shortage in Austin by providing AISD paraprofessionals with the opportunity to earn bachelor’s degree and become certified teachers.

Learning in Action: Waterloo Counseling Center
Waterloo Counseling Center offers affordable mental health counseling services to anyone in the Austin area and advocates specifically for the GLBT community and those affected by HIV/AIDS. Waterloo’s application of learning gained from an RGK Center’s Nonprofit Leadership Retreat not only enhanced the nonprofit’s operations, but completely transformed the organization.

Please consider nominating a deserving organization for a 2009 Nonprofit Excellence Award. We look forward to the privilege of learning about your nominee’s great work and to celebrating this year’s winners – and all of our achievements – at the Crossroads Conference on September 24th!