Where Do They Go?

The Foundation is fortunate enough to award monetary scholarships to deserving LTHS seniors every year.  This incredibly talented and gifted group graduates soon after - and then they are off.  Off to persue thier dreams, find new ones, and make the most of the incredible opportunities they have been given.  We love it when they check in with us from time to time and let us know what they are up to and where they have gone.

Last week we got a short note from the mother of one of our recipients - Anneka DeCaro.  Anneka received the Rachel Ann Mauer scholarship in 2014 and is now at the University of Pennsylvania making her mark.  A gifted artist (that's her drawing on the cover of A Visual Bliss over there on the right!), she is now creating a comic strip that is published in the University's paper - The Daily Pennsylvanian.  While we may not get the humor because we are not Penn students, we certainly can appreciate the talent.  Thank your for your donations so we can continue to support students like Anneka.

Closing the Deal

It doesn't matter where you drive in Lakeway and Bee Cave, there is construction.  New homes, new businesses, just lots of new.  Someone has to broker all of those deals, and one of those real estate agents is Kellie Noaks.  She's not only selling property, she's giving back too!  Everytime she closes a deal, she's committing $250 toward LTEF.  What a deal!  To learn more about Kellie and how she's giving back to our kids and our community, visit her web site here:  http://kellienoaks.com/

Thanks Kellie!

Playing it Forward

I love surprises.  Especially when they are really good ones!  This afternoon I was working away when LTHS graduate and LTEF scholarship recipient Zach walked in.  And he brought donations!  Zach is a Membership Director at the Hills Country Club and is running a promotion where new members at the Lakeway level donate $500 to LTEF in lieu of an initiation fee.  This morning, prior to Zach's surprise appearance, the total was $3,000.  By the time he left our total was $6,500!

Want to Play it Forward?  Find out more about the Hills program here!

Time to Tee Off!

I know what you are doing right now.  Answering emails and returning phone calls from last week that you didn't get to.  Setting up some project for this week and all the while thinking...I could be out there today playing golf.  Sigh.  It's going to be ok - because the Lake Travis Education Foundation has joined forces with the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce to bring you Birdies By the Lake Fore the Kids!  Set for Monday, October 27th at the Hills Country Club, you won't want to miss this!! Two flights, forecaddys, food and fun....all on a MONDAY!!  Totally beats checking email.  Your excuse for getting out of the office?  Easy.  This tournament benefits LTISD schools and our local businesses.  Truly the easiest decision you will make today is clicking on this link and registering your team to play and business to sponsor the event.  All the details are on the web site - but call us if you have questions!  Suzanne with LTEF 512-533-5968 or Laura with LTCC 512-263-5833.

Click here to Register Now!

The Day After

The sun rose this morning and it was official.  We made it through another "First Day of School".  The drama of what to wear, what to pack for lunch, what time to leave to account for traffic is behind us.  Our kids came back with stories of who they sat with at lunch, what kid they don't like in their class and who their favorite teacher is going to be.  This morning things were a little calmer, still feeling the early school year stress, but somehow we have made it and we likely have all breathed at least a small sigh of relief.

Scott and Tamra Villarreal are breathing a little easier this morning as well.  Their big family is out the door this morning and off to school.  Long time supporters of LTEF, the Villarreal's know how important supporting the Foundation is to the teachers and students of LTISD.  This year we are honored to have them serve as the Honorary Chairs of our Annual Giving Campaign.

Our teachers are ready, thier classrooms full of projects and plans to engage our children and prepare them for thier next step.  No matter what that may be.  Join us today in supporting the teachers and staff of LTISD so they can continue to help build the dreams of our children.

The BIG Picture

What a week!  Like many of you, we are anxiously anticipating the beginning of a new school year.  With that comes quite a bit to accomplish.  This year, LTEF has reached out to the teachers and staff at LTISD in our annual employee giving campaign. We are overwhelmed with the response!  Last year, 1.9% of LTISD staff were donors, contributing about $3,800 to the Foundation.  This year, staff came together and championed our cause.  The result - as I type this 48% of the staff are now Friends of the Foundation and have pledged monthly gifts or made one-time gifts totalling $18,782.  AMAZING!!!  This group of 1000 plus employees is extraordinary.  They are invested in our kids in so many ways and committed to giving our youth the brightest future possible.  We hope you will join them and look over the right side of this page and click the DONATE button.  Your kids, our kids, deserve it!  Thank you LTISD staff!

Working Weekends

It doesn't really matter what day of the week your "weekend" actually is, no one wants to be working on that day.  But sometimes it's just what has to be done.  What began as just a day to catch up - turned into a something more - an unexpected donation!  Pedernales Electric Cooperative has made a contribution of $1,000 to LTEF through their Partners in Learning program.  Thank you so very much!  Not only is PEC providing some of our families the power to light their homes, they are providing our children with power to ignite their minds.  If every working weekend started out this way, I might just find myself in the office on a few more Saturdays.