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Press Release: Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation announces pledge to help open shelter for women, children and families

September 9, 2019

At a press conference this morning, the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation pledged its financial support for the Rathgeber Center—a new, temporary emergency shelter for women with children, as well as families. The Downtown Alliance Foundation will contribute $100,000 and assist in efforts to raise additional funds needed to open the shelter.

“We can bring attention to this critical issue in our community and take this opportunity to rally support among our friends and the community who care about downtown and women and children in need, this challenge grant allows the Downtown Alliance Foundation to leverage our funds with Dick Rathgeber’s pledge and for others to get involved to make an immediate impact on homelessness in Austin.”

– Molly Alexander, executive director of the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation

The Rathgeber Center is a newly constructed, $12 million, 212-bed, family emergency shelter scheduled to open this fall, provided the Salvation Army closes a $500,000 fundraising gap in the $4.9 million needed for annual operations. Local philanthropist Dick Rathgeber has pledged to contribute $100,000 of his own funds if the Downtown Alliance Foundation can help to raise an additional $300,000.

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