Service
We are an organization that greatly values community service, a common belief that provides us an opportunity to work together in creating a positive impact in the Austin community. It is a principle which helped form the foundations of this organization, and a principle which visibly follows our members after graduation.
When our organization serves the community, we maximize our output with the time allotted. A recent service event was with the Austin Triathlon on Sept. 7th:
“We cannot say enough about the Texas Wranglers and how much we appreciate the hard work and great attitudes they brought to our event.No matter what the tasks, the guys executed above and beyond what we expected from any of our volunteer groups.”
- Michelle Lapuente,Volunteer Coordinator
Another event was with the Habitat for Humanity where we spent the day helping dig fence post holes on Aug. 29th:
“From the work that I've done with the Texas Wranglers as part of Austin Habitat for Humanity I can attest to their level of commitment in serving the community and the excellence of their leadership. The Wranglers spent one of the hottest days of the summer doing one of the hardest jobs we have -- digging fence post holes -- and they attacked the task with vigor and a positive attitude.”
- James Roberts, Volunteer Site Leader
Easter Seals of Central Texas
Easter Seals of Central Texas is our main philanthropy. Since 1937 this non-profit organization has provided vital support services for children and adults who are challenged by a variety of disabilities including developmental and learning delays, speech and hearing disorders, muscular dystrophy, amputation, and various genetic disorders to name a few. Easter Seals works daily to ensure that all people enjoy equal access, opportunities, and independence while serving 21 Texas counties. For more information about Easter Seals and its services, please visit http://centraltx.easterseals.com/.
The Texas Wranglers work alongside Easter Seals by providing weekly services, hosting various charitable events and annually organizing the largest single day service project at The University of Texas called City Wide Hold Up.
City Wide Hold Up
City Wide Hold Up is the annual fundraiser held by the Texas Wranglers to benefit Easter Seals–Central Texas. The event draws hundreds of volunteers and sends them to street corners throughout Austin to “hold up” passing motorists for change. Over the past ten years, with the help of over 6200 volunteers, City Wide Hold Up has raised over $330,000 for Easter Seals in only 50 hours! Our goal for 2009 is $40,000, which can be met and surpassed with your support. This would put the grand total over a milestone $370,000!
City Wide Hold Up was the original idea of Marence Daniel Anderson who became a Wrangler in the fall of 1996. Unfortunately, M.D. passed away before his vision was realized, but his closest friends and family became determined to fulfill his dream. Since the first City Wide, when the original goal of $10,000 was smashed, the Texas Wranglers have been dedicated to improving the event and improving the lives of the people served by Easter Seals.
Burnt Orange Bowl
Since 2002 the men of the Texas Wranglers and the ladies of Alpha Chi Omega have joined together every year to host UT’s largest flag football tournament of the year known as Burnt Orange Bowl. The tournament is a 7v7 32 team two-day elimination tournament which draws hundreds of the best athletes across campus. While the event helps promote athletic competition, all sponsorships and fees go directly to our valued philanthropy SafePlace. SafePlace provides a haven for women and children who are victims of domestic violence by providing a wide array of services, and have done so in the Austin community for over 30 years!
Maplewood Elementary School
Since 1990 the Texas Wranglers have had the privilege to work with Maplewood Elementary, a school rich in ethnic and economical diversity, by providing mentors during school and the full support required to fund and coach a little league baseball team of Maplewood students during the spring. The baseball team is a fun way to share our knowledge and experiences with sports with others, and next spring we’re looking forward to the 4th season of coaching the team.
Down Home Ranch
Down Home Ranch is a country place for kids and adults with special needs. It is a self-reliant community which offers training, housing, recreation, and dignified employment for kids and adults diagnosed with Down syndrome, the leading chromosomal cause of mental retardation. Every semester the Texas Wranglers enjoy a day of manual labor full of building, moving, demolition work, and anything else which requires a group of men to get done. There really is nothing like a hard days work, especially when the beneficiaries are so deserving.
Anchor Slam
Anchor Slam is a 3v3 double elimination basketball tournament in which every spring the Texas Wranglers join together with Delta Gamma to host hundreds of the universities most athletic basketball players. The event raises money for Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired while also promoting athletic competition among UT students.
Salvation Army
The Texas Wranglers are proud volunteers at the Salvation Army located in downtown Austin. We assist in preparing breakfast and aiding in morning activities for this outreaching non-profit. As many people are aware, the Salvation Army is dedicated to caring for the poor and feeding the hungry, and we are proud to help support the cause.
Other philanthropies we support
Along with the above philanthropies we regularly involve ourselves with Keep Austin Beautiful, Habitat for Humanity, Race for the Cure, and a number of other Austin philanthropies. We are proud to be known as a group that can muster up a handful of young men any given weekend to support various Austin initiatives, and consider this aspect of the organization a focal point of our identity.