Earlier this year we partnered with Oxford Commercial to help us move into our new Austin headquarters. As part of Oxford Commercial’s creative giving program, they donated a portion of our moving expenses to four charities of our choice. Today, we recognize one of those charities: LifeWorks. We are honored to welcome LifeWorks to share a little more about their great organization:

It all starts with acceptance.

At LifeWorks, we believe in the transformational power of acceptance. We are fiercely committed to empowering our clients to find their path to self-sufficiency and we are determined to have a positive, sustaining impact on our community that will last generations.

As an Austin non-profit focused on helping youth and families, we work every day with young men and women who’ve endured circumstances that are unimaginable: abuse, neglect, abandonment and violence. Many have endured years of moving from one foster care placement to another without ever knowing a single adult that they could depend on. Others have had to survive years of unstable or unsafe family situations. And far too many are forced into homelessness to escape intolerable circumstances for the “freedom” of life on the streets.

LifeWorks serves youth and families who want to change the direction of their lives, whether they are homeless, parenting or “aging out” of the foster care system. We offer 20 different results-focused programs – ranging from shelter, education and counseling to workforce development and affordable housing – all focused on helping clients find their path to self-sufficiency.

At LifeWorks we help our clients see themselves in new ways, and in the process, help them see their futures in new ways as well. We let them know that they possess the skills to address the challenges they face and the power within themselves to change the direction of their lives.

Empowering better futures requires proven, measurable results.

At LifeWorks we don’t shy away from data. We embrace it. It’s why we use a results-based accountability model to assess the impact and effectiveness of our services. For our organization to make an impact, all our passion, commitment and hard work must produce consistent, measurable and positive outcomes.

We serve over 10,000 individuals each year through 20 different counseling, education/workforce, youth development and youth housing/homelessness programs, providing the most comprehensive safety net of support in our community.

LifeWorks operates nine locations around the city of Austin, TX:

• Three Youth & Family Resource Centers (South, East & North)
• Street Outreach Drop–in Center for homeless youth
• Emergency Shelter for runaway, abused, abandoned and foster care youth
• Young Parents Program / Shelter
• Transitional Living Program
• Supportive Housing Program
• Affordable Housing Apartment Complex

It all leads to stronger families & a healthier community.

Every young person who comes to LifeWorks is facing a fork in the road.

One road leads down an all-too-familiar path of neglect, anger, apathy and disengagement. It’s the path that results in many young people becoming a burden of the state, or worse, the criminal justice system. And it leads to a world that propagates another generation of hopelessness.

But there is another road. It’s not fast or easy or painless, but it is empowering, rewarding and ultimately, life affirming. It’s the path to self-sufficiency. And it leads to a world where success is expected, achievement is celebrated, and independence is realized to the extent that it becomes utterly unremarkable. This is a world where hope is passed on from generation to generation.

To learn more about LifeWorks, make a gift or get involved, please visit www.lifeworksaustin.org.

For more about CSID’s involvement in the community, take a look at our new philanthropy page on Facebook.

Earlier this year we partnered with Oxford Commercial to help us move into our new Austin headquarters. As part of Oxford Commercial’s creative giving program, they donated a portion of our moving expenses to four charities of our choice. Today, we recognize one of the charities we gave to: the ALS Association. We are honored to welcome guest blogger Courtney Billingsley from the ALS Association to share a little more about this great organization:

The ALS Association is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When these cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement dies with them. Patients in the later stages of the disease are totally paralyzed, yet in most cases, their minds remain sharp and alert.

Every day, an average of 15 people are newly diagnosed with ALS — more than 5,600 people per year. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from time of diagnosis. Currently, there is no known cause or cure for the disease as ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries with the exception that military veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS for unknown reasons.

The ALS Association covers all the bases needed to defeat ALS — research, patient services, advocacy, public education & community resources. The Texas Chapter focuses on patient care, providing families and patients across the state of Texas with services free of charge, such as durable medical equipment, numerous support groups, transportation & respite grants, Certified ALS Clinics, and more.

Like many nonprofit organizations, The ALS Association relies greatly on the donations and support of the community. To ensure we can continue providing services to the ALS Community, hundreds of Walk to Defeat ALS events across the state and nationally are held. These 5k walks are the largest fundraising event for The ALS Association and include children’s entertainment, music, food and more as thousands join together to celebrate the courage of our patients and families as we walk to defeat ALS. For more information about The ALS Association Texas Chapter, Walk to Defeat ALS or to make a donation, please visit www.alsa-texas.org or call the Austin office at (512) 371-1718.

For more about how CSID gets involved with the community, take a look at our new philanthropy page on Facebook.

Earlier this year we partnered with Oxford Commercial to help us move into our new Austin headquarters. As part of Oxford Commercial’s creative giving program, they donated a portion of our moving expenses to four charities of our choice. Today, we recognize one of those charities: the American Cancer Society. We are honored to welcome Andrea Taurins, Sr. Director of Community Engagement from the American Cancer Society, to share a little more about this great organization:

The American Cancer Society greatly appreciates the generous contribution from CSID and Oxford Commercial in support of the Society’s work to save lives and celebrate more birthdays. The funds you provided will help people in Central Texas and beyond stay well by taking steps to prevent cancer or find it early when it is most treatable. Your support will help patients and caregivers get well through the American Cancer Society’s 24-hour information services, navigation programs, transportation, and lodging. Your contribution will fund research to better understand, prevent and find cures for cancer. And, through your support the Society will continue to work with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and to rally communities to join the fight. The American Cancer Society is available 24 hours day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-227-2345 and through cancer.org for those in need. We sincerely thank you for your support!

For more about CSID’s involvement in the community, take a look at our new philanthropy page on Facebook.