Our Crowdfunding Groups
The is one of the largest day of service events in the state of Texas, taking up to 2,000 University of Texas students into the local community on an annual basis to provide thousands of hours of tangible service. Through this impact, we strive to connect the sometimes disjointed student and local neighborhoods, foster lasting relationships with resident partners, and combat social injustice through community engagement.
In 1999, a group of UT students got together with Keep Austin Beautiful staff to create a single-day, student-run service event. Their goal was to provide a place for 1000+ UT students to be able complete a sizable service project. The event, called Project 1000 for the number of students expected to participate, was set at the Rosewood Housing Complex in East Austin. Much to the surprise of all those planning the event, over 2,000 student volunteers poured into the neighborhood to participate!
After witnessing such an outpouring of compassion and service, an emotional Keep Austin Beautiful and a group of UT student leaders decided that “The Project” would become an annual event. The event would be renamed each year to represent a more accurate count of volunteers, as well as signify the year of the event.
The Project has become one of the largest single-day student, community-run service events in Texas. The event has brought together over 2,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community volunteers annually in a spirit of service to assist a local Austin neighborhood in need. And, in response to the work that the annual projects have accomplished, The Project has received numerous awards for community service.
One of the features that makes The Project unique from other days of service across the country is the fact that we invest in a specific neighborhood as opposed to sponsoring projects across the city. With an emphasis on relationship building, these partnerships usually last 2-3 years and help us build connections with community leaders and residents. 2017 was the second year of a partnership with the Rundberg neighborhood in Central Austin. Headquartered at Dobie Middle School, we transported over 800 volunteers to 18 sites across the community. The projects ranged from landscaping in front of the school to painting a playscape to resurfacing an activity area to graffiti abatement to picnic table construction. Austin's mayor, Steve Adler, even made guest appearance! By the end of the day, close to 5,000 hours of effort had been poured into the community, helping to transform the lives of local residents.
The Project operates on a budget between $10,000 and $60,000 depending on the demands of the year, and nearly all of that comes from private and corporate donations. Despite the tireless efforts of our outreach committee, we sometimes still fall a little short of our goals. This is where you come in! Every contribution helps and donations to our cause are even tax-deductible. Whether it's through financial support or through sharing with your network, we appreciate any way you choose to aide our organization.
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With a $25 contribution, you can help purchase two shovels for use at a site. You will be thanked with an email thank you!
A $50 contribution will purchase the paint supplies for an entire site. You will be thanked with an email and a social media shout out!
At this level, you would sponsor the renting of a school bus to transport our volunteers. You will be thanked with a handwritten thank you note!
With your $500 contribution, we can purchase the mulch and plants needed for a school beautification project. You will be thanked with a filmed thank you message from the Project 2018 executive board!
A $1,000 contribution will pay for the supplies, tools, and resources for an entire site. Level 5 sponsors will receive a handwritten thank you as well as site sponsor recognition at on of our sites during Project 2018!
A $5,000 contribution would pay for a Project 2018 shirt for every single volunteer that attends. Level 6 sponsors will be invited as keynote speakers for our kickoff event during Project 2018!
