Serving kids and families is more than a job, it’s a calling. That’s why we have Southwest Key’s Employee Giving fund. We want to keep giving back to the communities and families in need, especially during tough times. For instance, consider Melissa’s story about helping families in Laredo, TX this past summer. She and her team handed out HEB gift cards to help assist with the cost of living in these rough economic times. 

But the work didn’t stop there. Southwest Key’s Upward Bound program has been helping us connect families in need with gifts from our Employee Giving fund. Upward Bound serves high school students in East Austin by providing one-on-one tutoring and career advice, helping them blossom into young leaders on track for a brighter future. Upward Bound goes beyond tutoring, too. The program helps students with financial aid applications, college exam preparation, and free college tours to help students decide where to go after high school. 

Thanks to the connections through Upward Bound, we were able to send more gift cards to families who are struggling to get by. “These days,” one mother said, “our hours at work have been cut down to just two or three days a week. These gift cards have been so helpful in keeping us steady.”  

“If it wasn’t for this support, I wouldn’t have been able to buy things like shampoo and bath soap for my family. Thank you so much, our family really appreciates what this has done for us.” 

As anyone who’s ever struggled through financial hardship knows, a small gift can go a long, long way toward safety and peace of mind. These are just a few stories of the many families helped by Southwest Key’s Employee Giving Fund. With your help, we can do even more. 

Read other stories about Employee Giving and learn about our response to COVID-19.