Friends Foundation

Mission Statement
The Friends Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing financial support to the elderly and to those in need of nursing care, whether in a nursing home, an independent living center, or at their own home in the greater Dripping Springs, Texas area. The Friends Foundation’s program, Our Daily Bread, delivers meals to elderly home bound residents of the Dripping Springs area. The Friends Foundation may also provide or assist with financial support to a student who is a resident of the Dripping Springs area or a graduate of Dripping Springs High School entering a geriatric program of study. The organization may also support any other non-profit organization which provides care to the elderly or serves the greater Dripping Springs community.

History and Purposes
The Friends Foundation was originally incorporated as Friends of Hill Country Care in January 2003 to provide financial support to Hill Country Care Nursing Home in Dripping Springs, Texas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit facility. Friends of Hill Country Care raised money through an annual barbecue fund raising event as well as grant writing to provide funds to keep the nursing home open and to address significant repair and deferred maintenance issues.

Thanks to generous community support and the involvement of new management, Hill Country Care Nursing Home is now profitable and became a for profit corporation in March 2004.

The members of Friends of Hill Country Care recognized the still important need to provide support to the residents of the nursing home (instead of providing funds for capital needs) and to the low income elderly in the Dripping Springs area. To help meet those needs, Friends of Hill Country Care became The Friends Foundation in 2004 and broadened the scope of its activities to include:

	1.	Providing financial support to the eligible elderly and those in need of nursing care, whether in a nursing home, an independent living center, or at their own home in the greater Dripping Springs, Texas area.
	2.	Beginning and underwriting "Our Daily Bread," a program which brings hot meals to the homes of home bound elderly people three times a week.
	3.	Providing or assisting with financial support to a student who is a resident of the Dripping Springs area or a graduate of Dripping Springs High School entering a geriatric program of study and willing to work in a skilled nursing care facility after graduation.
	4.	Underwriting the "Butterflies are Free" program, a palliative care program through Hill Country Care Nursing Home.
	5.	Beginning and underwriting Philips Lifeling Medi Alert Program, a program which provides medical alert buttons to provide a method of reaching help simply by pushing a button on a device worn at all times.
	6.	Partnering with Steve Cothen for sale of Reclaimed Eco-Friendly Firewood to the Dripping Springs area. 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Friends Foundation for support of the elderly in Hays County. Delivery available, call 512-422-4298.
	7.	Partnering with the State of Texas Library to begin and underwrite a Books on Tape/Talking Books Program. This program will allow home bound elderly to enjoy listening to books on cassette tapes in their own home.
	8.	Supporting any other non-profit organization which provides care to the elderly or serves the greater Dripping Springs community and is exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code.

The Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of The Friends Foundation is currently composed of:

         Kathy and Steve Carriker
        Patti and Harley Clark
         Kathy and Wayland Clark
         Grace and Alex Dormont
         Karen Glass
         Debra and Robert Harris
         Cindy and Walt Krudop
       Judy and Melvin McNair
         Doris and Jaime Molina
         Nong Weitzel

The Friends Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers from the Dripping Springs community. No member of the Board of Directors receives a salary or other compensation except to reimburse the Board member for expenses advanced on behalf of The Friends Foundation. All proceeds from any money donated to our organization are used to benefit The Friends Foundation's goals. The Board holds semi-monthly meetings and welcomes any interested persons to join us and assist with our activities. Contact Patti Clark at 894-0756 for more information.

Awards
KXAN "Make a Difference" Award
The Friends Foundation has just learned that its new home delivery meal program, Our Daily Bread, was nominated and selected to receive KXAN NBC Austin's Make a Difference Award. KXAN Community Advisory Board selected Our Daily Bread as the recipent of a generous grant as a part of the award. The grant of $2,500 will be used to support our program delivering hot meals to elderly shut-ins in our community. We are very honored to receive this award and recognition. Thank you, KXAN!

American Red Cross of Central Texas 2009 Heroes of the Year Award
The American Red Cross has been a hero to so many people. It was quite an honor when the Friends Foundation received the American Red Cross of Central Texas 2009 Heroes of the Year Award. The Foundation was honored at an award ceremony on March 25, 2009 at Benihana's Restaurant in Austin, Texas. Visit the Red Cross' website at: www.centex.redcross.org/events/heroes.php or watch the video on Channel 8 at http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/?SecID=278&ArID=234984. Thank you, American Red Cross of Central Texas.

Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce 2011 Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award
It was quite an honor for The Friends Foundation to receive the first Non-Profit of the Year Award at the DS Chamber Suits & Boots Celebration February 5, 2011 at the Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas. The Friends are very proud to be the first to recieve this award and thank the DS Chamber of Commerce for reconigition of the work of Non-Profits.

top of page