Seedling Foundation

Changing the Landscape of Education

Our Mission:
The Seedling Foundation responds to the needs of public schools in Texas by providing resources, assistance and programming.  The Foundation focuses on: Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents and Campus Beautification

Our Vision:
Every school in AISD will be beautiful – and – the Seedling’s Promise Mentor Program will be in every AISD school which has eligible children.

Our History:
The Foundation was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1998.  Since that time, we have been known both as the Travis High School Educational Foundation and later as Travis Community Education Foundation, both names reflecting the scope of the organization’s work at a particular time in our history. In the summer of 2007, having touched dozens of schools and several school districts, we formally changed our name to the Seedling Foundation.  Whether a small non-profit with a presence in a handful of schools or a large one with a presence that spans multiple school districts, our model has remained the same;  a group of committed citizens, public corporations and small businesses working collaboratively with schools to build long-term, sustainable partnerships. These partnerships have provided computers, software and training for teachers, new facilities, Internet support, mentoring, major exterior renovations of campuses and a variety of academic enhancement programs for students ranging from math summer camps to paid summer internships in specific career pathways. Working with our school partners, Seedling Foundation has invested millions of dollars in the "Renaissance of Central Texas Public Schools." 

In 2009 the Seedling Foundation was awarded The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence.  This seal is awarded to the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.  These standards include those required by the US Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive in the world.
Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent, meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded this Seal. 

Our Signature Programs:

Seedling Campus Beautification
The Seedling Foundation has used landscaping and exterior improvements for AISD campuses to build community in our public schools. Our close partnership with AISD has allowed them to do much more to their aging urban campuses than the budget would usually allow.The Foundation crafts three-year plans for the schools we support that are developed with the school leadership, parents and neighborhood representatives. "Working Saturdays" are as much about building community as they are about improving the campuses. The students, parents and faculty work side by side with friends of the Foundation resulting in a newly discovered pride of ownership in their schools. The work is varied and always challenging. Heavy equipment is ordered days before the beginning of the project to dig holes, put sprinkler lines in place and prepare the work area. Skilled professionals build flowerbeds, create lovely rockwork and borders, install sprinklers and spread topsoil before the volunteers arrive for the "Working Saturday." The fun is in the planting, and we want that to be a good experience for our community volunteers. In the weeks that follow, smaller crews work on painting, mold abatement and drainage issues. Sometimes the more challenging issues must be set aside until the summer when our contractors have provided the work crews and materials for major projects including courtyards and sidewalks. Seedling Campus Beautification projects can be seen at more than thirty AISD campuses, and are often a visible sign of the rebuilding of community at those schools.  In 2008 the Austin Partners in Education organization recognized Seedling Board Member Chuck Borgeson and his wife Luan as "Outstanding Volunteers of the Year" in recognition of the countless hours of leadership each has provided to ensure the success of the Campus Beautification projects.

• Major Accomplishments:
  • In September of 2006, the foundation won a $381,000/three-year grant from the United States Department of Health & Human Services.  During the first year of the grant, the Foundation more than tripled the scope of the program and affected more than 150 children in 17 AISD schools.
  • In school year 2007-2008 Seedling's Promise partnered with 19 schools in AISD, added a school in Pflugerville and two in Round Rock ISD and affected over 200 children. 
  • In August of 2007, at the invitation of the Seedling Foundation, journalist and noted author Nell Bernstein (All Alone in the World, Children of the Incarcerated), national expert and Director of the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated, Ann Adalist-Estrin, and co-author of the Children's Bill of Rights for children of the incarcerated, Dee Ann Newell, came to Austin to speak to mentors and train the Austin ISD Guidance and Counseling professionals. This training of school counseling professionals around issues pertaining to children of the incarcerated was the first of its kind in the country. 
  • Executive Director Sari Waxler was recognized as APIE "Mentor of the Year" for 2008 and the Seedling's Promise program was a finalist for "Outstanding Program of the Year."
  • In May of 2007 the Rourke College Scholarships were offered for the first time to 8th graders who were being mentored in the Seedling’s Promise Program.  Since that time, a total of eleven students have won college scholarships which are being held in a trust until their graduation from high school and acceptance into the two or four year higher education program of their choice.
  • In school year 2008-2009, Seedling's Promise launched what was to become a successful pilot in two elementary schools in the Georgetown ISD.  The pilot’s success provided effective leverage and the Foundation went on to win a $20,000 grant from the United Way of Williamson County in the summer of 2009 to support expansion of the program in  Georgetown and in Round Rock. 
  •School year 2009-2010 brought with it services to 400 children, in four school districts, and in 33 schools.  Seedling’s Promise was identified by the Austin Independent School District as one of only six “program treasures” or programs worthy of study and replication.

• June, 2011 Ann Adalist-Estrin, national expert and Director of the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated trained Counselors throughout the district and spoke at a Donor Appreciation evening. One of the most exciting events of the year was the graduation and fulfillment of the Seedling's Promise to our very first recipients of Seedling College Scholarships.  These two young women will pursue their education at UT San Antonio and Austin Community College.

Seedling’s Promise has gained national attention as a successful site-based approach to matching high quality mentors with a specific group of children through a cooperative partnership with a large urban school district.  AISD has been a leader in the nation, and through this partnership many children are getting the support and adult friendship they need to be successful.  Supported, nurtured and encouraged, Seedling's Promise mentors get a great mentoring experience and the return rate has been far above the national average.  Quality mentoring, over time, has the potential to avert the intergenerational trajectory towards incarceration for children who grow up with parents who are in prison. Such is the vision of Seedling’s Promise.

An outstanding, small academic support program began in 2004-2005 when professional SAT Tutor and Princeton Review Authority Chris Blazier and renowned Mathematics Teacher Frances Martinez joined our volunteer team and recruited a group of specialists to work with rising juniors at select high schools with the goal of improving their eventual PSAT scores, and even achieving recognition in the PSAT National Merit Scholarship competition.

In closing….