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A Dream Come True - Our New Campus is NOW Open!
On October 7, 2009, we celebrated the opening of our new campus with a Grand Opening Celebration that drew over 500 supporters each of whom helped fulfill our vision to better serve more children!
Elected officials, community leaders, board members, Guild members, Kids’ Council members, donors, volunteers and staff came with their families to tour the new facilities and witness the official ribbon cutting ceremony. It was a night to remember as the journey that began nearly 14 years ago unfolded into opportunity! In 2003 Sara and Dick Rathgeber donated the land launching an expansion plan fueled by community support, and with the help of so many donors who gave their financial support and donated in-kind goods and services, the vision became a reality.
The ACS Grand Opening event included tours of the buildings by Guild members, food tastings donated by Eat Out In, Which Wich, Tres Amigos, Stardust Pastry and El Chile Cafe y Cantina, Applebee’s, Teo Espresso and Gelato, Steiner Ranch Steakhouse, Cookwell & Company and Food Heads and the Youth Council’s lemonade stand. There were plenty of activities for the children with Minis and Friends miniature horses, a Play-Doh station, chalk sidewalk art, face painting and the Austin Toros’ Da Bull, dancers and coaching staff. Live music with the Austin Community Steelband, The Biscuit Brothers and Elizabeth Wills added more fun.
We’d like to thank our keynote speakers: Commissioner Anne Heiligenstein, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Capital Campaign Chair Gary Farmer, Board Chair Chas Studor and Representative Patrick Rose for speaking so eloquently during the program. Our special thanks go to two former clients, sisters Jennifer Emelogou and Caroline Bogues for sharing their story and leaving us all with the knowledge that we do make a tremendous difference in the lives of the children who come through the doors of ACS.
News Coverage:
Photo Album:
View more photos of the event on our photo album.
Learn more about the expansion here.
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