TOOF Gala

We love it when our partners come together to amplify impact! Kathryn Chandler of Patriots’ Hall of Dripping Springs and Courtney Santana of Survive2Thrive (and Antoni from Queer Eye!) were at the recent The Other Ones Foundation Gala with the idea that the future can be different for people experiencing homelessness in Austin. We believe every individual and organization we partner with are part of a greater whole of people working together to envision a different future — better services and support for people in need, be they veterans or women or people struggling with homelessness.

We are also here to tell you that pastel suits must be in this season if Antoni and Eloise agree 😎. Thanks to TOOF for a great night and for their work!

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When do bees get married?

When they’ve found their honey!

We love this video from Grow Appalachia on their bees and beehives project that we funded! Strengthening bee colonies strengthens our food systems and is a great way for people to earn income while growing and farming.

Join the #VibeShift

John Paul spoke at #SXSW2022 with his partner Dr. Deborah Brosnan about the new global trend emerging in how we conserve and manage our oceans. From coral reefs to the blue economy - technologists, investors, scientists, and communities are starting to do things differently and together. John Paul has personally invested in rebuilding coral reefs and protecting aquatic life so that the oceans can thrive. We need the oceans and the oceans need our help — we are in a global #VibeShift for our oceans. We've thought enough, we've talked enough - now, we must do enough. Follow @Vibeshift4oceans and get involved!

Austin Life Magazine

We are so pleased that the DeJorias are covering the December Philanthropy Edition of Austin Life Magazine! The article In the Glow of the DeJorias features so many causes we love and tells the story of their love so well. You can pick up a copy locally or find the whole December issue online.

PLH Apartment at Saint Louise House

Our team got together and set up an apartment for Saint Louise House here in Austin just in time to welcome a mom and her kids home for the holidays. From the shopping and decorating to assembling furniture, we had so much fun preparing a home for a family who will be able to live there for long enough to stabilize and move out on their own. Not gonna lie, the kitchen chairs made us consider giving up 😂, but we persevered and are so proud of the results.

Patriots' Hall of Dripping Springs Update

On a visit to see the almost-completed meeting room he sponsored at Patriots’ Hall Dripping Springs, John Paul was so pleased, he committed to sponsoring even more of the project. This 10 acre community center for veterans and their families has been envisioned by Kathryn Chandler. John Paul was so excited about the Wellness Clinic that will focus on holistic health, the gym that will provide a great place to stay healthy and engaged and the playscape to welcome kids’ and families that he agreed to sponsor them on the spot! We can’t wait for this space to be open and welcoming vets soon.

As a veteran himself, John Paul is committed to making sure veterans feel welcome and making sure they know that they have not been forgotten. Kathryn and the team making Patriots’ Hall possible are great partners in making this goal a physical reality.

Update on TOOF

The Other Ones Foundation hosted a groundbreaking last week for their new campus — a 200 unit transitional shelter complex. We were happy to be there and move some dirt, but we know their team and builders will be the ones hard at work these next few months to make dignified housing for the homeless a reality. Even in the midst of this building, they are continuing critical services. Since their founding, they have helped move 121 people into stable housing, helped clients earn $1,313,575 in income through their Workforce First program, provided 20,550 showers and removed 1,378,940 pounds of trash from green spaces in Austin,

PLH Village at TOOF

We recently announced a partnership with The Other Ones Foundation, an Austin-based nonprofit that offers extremely low-barrier work opportunities, case management, and humanitarian aid to people experiencing homelessness. We will be sponsoring a neighborhood of 50 homes in the new housing units about to be built on a former parking lot where many have been staying for the last couple of years. Stay tuned to see this neighborhood develop. There are already great people living there, just gotta build some homes and space around them to be able to offer dignified housing for our neighbors.

Eastwood Ranch

John Paul has been friends with Clint Eastwood since they met in 1990 in Los Angeles around the same time he met his wife Eloise. As longtime friends, they have remained active in supporting each other through business ventures and charity sponsorships. Clint’s daughter Alison is the founder of Eastwood Ranch — a non-profit Southern California based Animal Welfare and Rescue Organization. They rescue domestic animals from high kill shelters and support other vetted local rescues to provide care until a forever home is found. John Paul and Eloise recently attended their event full of their friends the Eastwoods and Paul Anka. Anka surprised John Paul and the audience by singing a new rendition of My Way about the animals and their supporters — even name checking John Paul! You can hear the song below! We are proud supporters of Eastwood Ranch and their work to protect animals.

John Paul on KVUE

John Paul was recently featured on KVUE Austin about his work with nonprofits benefitting unhoused people in Central Texas. You can watch the whole thing here!