Sports « Around Dripping Springs

Week of Online Giving 2015
April 19-26

Around Dripping Springs is pleased to feature this series of GWIL non-profit profiles to help publicize their unique missions to the community. We invite you to get to know these wonderful organizers and learn more about the important work they are each doing to enrich our community. Please share their stories, and be sure to donate to your favorite during the Week of Online Giving! Learn more at: http://www.GivinWhereImLivin.org

NOW MEET DS KIDS FUN FOUNDATION WITH BOARD PRESIDENT, JENNIFER DODSON:

WHEN, HOW, AND WHY WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION FOUNDED?

DS Kids Fun Foundation – formerly DS Youth Activity Fund (DSYAF) – was founded in 2009. Our Board of Directors & Advisory Committee are comprised of community members with significant experience in the non-profit world , working with children, and management of extracurricular activities. We were formed out of an outreach committee within the Dripping Springs Presbyterian Church (DSPC) while brainstorming community needs we could help fill. As discussions formed around the expense of extracurricular activities, and how many of our neighbors struggle with things like critical illness and job loss – we wondered if there was a need to help families that didn’t qualify for financial aid, but were likely in need of assistance. We quickly determined that there was in fact a need – and research shows how greatly children benefit from participating in sports & the arts outside of school. We wanted to help families keep their children involved in these activities as they struggled through short-term or long-term financial struggles. We decided that this program should come from the community, not just within the walls of DSPC, so we created the Foundation – and invited others to join our newly formed Board.

WHAT IS YOUR MISSION?

DS Kids Fun Foundation was formed to provide financial assistance to children that reside in the Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) who would otherwise be unable to participate in extracurricular activities due to financial constraints. Our goal is More…

Week of Online Giving 2015
April 19-26

The 2015 Givin’ Where I’m Livin’ (GWIL) campaign provides support and publicity for local non-profit charitable organizations competing for GWIL matching funds during the campaign’s Week of Online Giving, April 19-26. Around Dripping Springs is pleased to feature this series of GWIL non-profit profiles to help publicize their unique missions to the community. We invite you to get to know these wonderful organizers and learn more about the important work they are each doing to enrich our community. Please share their stories, and be sure to donate to your favorite during the Week of Online Giving! Learn more at: http://www.GivinWhereImLivin.org

NOW MEET THE SPRINGS FAMILY YMCA WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JASON DANIEL:

WHEN WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION FOUNDED?
We have been operating in Dripping Springs since 2007. We are a part of the YMCA of Austin which was founded in 1953. Our Springs Family YMCA
Executive Director is Jason Daniel.

WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY MISSION?
Our Mission is to put Christian Principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We are a dynamic association of men, women and children joined together by a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. We believe that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. That’s why, at the Y, strengthening community is our cause and our programs are always based on the needs and interests of our communities.

The Y is dedicated to building programs for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility that promote strong families, character values, youth leadership, community development and international understanding. The Y makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower people and communities to learn, grow and thrive by providing supportive and inclusive environments that nurture the potential of every youth and teen, improves the nation’s health and well-being and provides More…