ONE READER AT A TIME
ACE: A Community for Education
2014–2015 Annual Report
Update from the ACE Director
It’s been a noteworthy year for ACE! !
Among several achievements this past year, we received recognition from the
White House as a Bright Spot in Hispanic Education; we added five new
schools to our list of ACE partners; and we tutored over 2,000 elementary
school children, the largest number of young readers that ACE has ever
impacted in a single year.!
But 2014–2015 was significant beyond the accomplishments of this one
school year. We also celebrated the final year of our 2012–2015 strategic
plan, which guided us as we dramatically expanded our reach throughout
Central Texas. Over the past three years, our programming has more than
doubled in size—from 43 tutors to 104 tutors, from 850 tutored children to
2,000 tutored children, from 11 school partners to 30. In the face of these
enormous changes, our student assessment outcomes and success rates
have held steady. To me, that fact says loud and clear what I’ve always
known: ACE works!!
The past three years would not have been possible if you hadn’t decided to
take this journey with us. We know that we can’t rest on our laurels. We must
keep extending our reach to meet the ever-growing need for literacy tutoring
in our community. The new journey has just begun, and I look forward to
having such a passionate group of supporters with us along the way.!
Thank you for your investment in ACE. I hope that you will continue to join us
in our fight against illiteracy—one reader at a time!!
!
!
Mary Ellen Isaacs, Ph.D.!
ACE Director!
November 20, 2015!
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About ACE
ACE is a program of
The Charles A. Dana Center,
an organized research unit of
The University of Texas at
Austin. The Dana Center
supports educators, education
leaders, and policymakers in
building an education system
worthy of all of our children.!
“As someone who started
reading at a very young age
and grew up in a family that
heavily emphasized reading, !
I took these skills for granted.
I now realize how important
literacy is to all aspects of life.” !
Tara Nair
ACE donor and former tutor!
Our Mission We place highly
trained AmeriCorps members
in low-income schools to
deliver intensive and effective
tutoring that advances K–2
students to grade level in
reading by 3rd grade.!
Our Vision Every child in
Central Texas is a successful
reader before 3rd grade,
setting them on a path of
excellence in school and in
life.!
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ACE by the Numbers
5
Growth in Perspective
school
year
students
served
elementary
schools
2011–2012!
851!
11!
2012–2013!
2,045!
23!
2013–2014!
1,932!
25!
2014–2015!
2,058!
30!
2015–2016
(projected)!
2,200!
32!
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Our Communities
ACE tutors served at 30
elementary schools in lowincome communities in Austin
and Manor, Texas.!
The schools in these communities are Title 1 schools, which qualify for additional federal support, such
as the free and reduced lunch program, because of high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students. This past
year, 90% of the students we tutored were considered economically disadvantaged—meaning they come from households
trying to support a family of four on $45,000 or less. National studies have shown that if students cannot read at grade level
by 3rd grade, they will become four times as likely to drop out of school.
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Where We Served
30 schools
in 2014–2015
In Austin
!  24 elementary schools
in Austin ISD
!  2 elementary schools in
Wayside Charter
Schools
In Manor
!  4 elementary schools in
Manor ISD
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Who We Served
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Developing Readers
The ACE Model
After being selected for ACE tutoring, each student receives daily one-on-one, 30-minute lessons tailored to his or her literacy
level and reading needs. Each child continues working with the same ACE tutor until he or she reaches or exceeds gradelevel benchmarks on critical reading skills. As students successfully reach benchmarks for their grades and exit the program,
ACE selects new students throughout the year.!
Our tutors work with 8 to 11 students each day, tutoring an average of 20 students per year. We monitor children’s progress
weekly using AIMSweb (a nationally recognized reading assessment program), and we administer comprehensive
benchmark assessments three times per year for each child we serve. !
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Developing Readers
2014–2015 Early
Literacy Tutoring
Last year, 104 ACE AmeriCorps
tutors provided intensive, one-onone tutoring to kindergarten, 1st,
and 2nd grade students five days
per week in Central Texas
schools. Many students came to
us so far behind in reading that
they needed to catch up more
than one grade level in reading
skills. Overall, 80% of the children
we served throughout the year
either exited our program reading
at grade level or had made
significant, measurable progress
in their reading skills.
“I tell kids that the main
reason that reading is cool
is because you normally
have to ask adults if you want
to know things, but having
the ability to read well means
you begin answering your
own questions.”!
Rory McDougal
ACE donor and former tutor!
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Developing Leaders
AmeriCorps
ACE tutors are AmeriCorps
members who come from all
walks of life. Some are new
college graduates, some
are making a mid-career
change, and some are
recently retired. What they
all share is a sense of social
purpose and the knowledge
that their year of national
service is meaningful and
transformational. Under
ACE staff supervision,
members gain a profound
understanding of the
realities facing low-income
communities and schools,
the role of public education
in a democracy, and the
need to build educational
equity for all children.!
“Why do I serve? !
I was drawn to AmeriCorps because, in
many ways, it holds us all accountable for
taking care of each other, our fellow man,
and the beautiful habitat in which we live.
We should all hold each other
accountable for helping those around us. !
AmeriCorps does.”!
Mary Elizabeth Marks
ACE tutor!
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Developing Leaders
10,068 hours were served with
52 nonprofit organizations
and after-school organizations.!
Community Partnerships
As part of their year in AmeriCorps, ACE tutors are required to complete additional community service beyond their full-time
work as literacy tutors. Last year, ACE helped thousands of families by volunteering with local nonprofit organizations such as
Boys and Girls Club of Austin, Latinitas, and Creative Action.!
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Developing Leaders
Volunteers in Service to
America (VISTA)
VISTAs work behind the scenes to build
organizational capacity for ACE. Since 2012,
four amazing VISTAs helped ACE increase our
public outreach efforts by producing highquality print and digital communications. This is
the final year of our 3-year VISTA grant, and we
want to thank Abbey, Daryl, Heather, and
Sabrina for their service to our community.!
“Awareness and willingness to
speak up and show up may
seem small in comparison to a
speech given on the steps of
the Lincoln Memorial, but
lasting justice cannot be
achieved without a universal
recognition of the everyday
fights that so many face in
pursuit of equality.”!
Daryl Mogilewsky
ACE Communications VISTA!
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Developing Leaders
“I’ve been able to get
phenomenal real-world
experience with ACE,
and I want to continue
fighting for better
education, better
healthcare, more
affordable housing in
Austin. I’ve been able to
gain a tremendous skill
set here with ACE, and I
want to continue building
on that skill set in grad
school.”!
Nathan Kinsman
graduate student!
and former ACE tutor!
Our Alumni
After serving with ACE, our alumni are
capable and highly trained individuals who
have gone on to such varied careers as
social work, law, and psychiatry. They also
remain engaged citizens. Our recent
alumni survey revealed that two-thirds of
respondents pursued careers in
education, while an additional 10%
pursued careers in the nonprofit sector.
Some of these alumni even returned to
continue their ACE service in a new way—
we now have five staff members who are
former ACE tutors, plus two more staff
members who previously served with
different AmeriCorps programs.!
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Developing
Developing Teachers
Leaders
ACE is creating not just teachers, but teachers with staying power. Our partnership with the Texas Region 13 Alternative
Certification Program allows qualified, returning ACE tutors to obtain teaching certification during their second or third year of
service with our program. Last year, every ACE tutor who became a certified teacher through Region 13 was hired as a full-time
teacher in Central Texas for the 2015–2016 school year. !
A recent ACE alumni survey showed that two-thirds of respondents who became teachers stayed in the classroom for more than
three years (longer than the national average), while more than half continued teaching for four or more years. The ACE
experience has impacted not only these former tutors, but also their students and the schools that benefit from lower teacher
turnover rates.!
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A Look at Our Books
Revenue
ACE receives approximately
50% of its funding from
AmeriCorps; the rest comes from
sources such as school districts,
foundations, individuals, and
corporations. !
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A Look at Our Books
Expenses!
A total of 91% of our budget is
spent on program expenses,
including stipends and training
for our tutors, while the
remainder is divided between
administration and fundraising
costs.!
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Engage, Inspire, Invest
“ACE is something that everyone can
get involved with. !
Everyone has had a relationship
with literacy and with reading
growing up.”
!
Rachel Jonkers
ACE volunteer!
1.  Sign up for monthly updates from the classroom at
www.aceaustin.org. !
2.  Subscribe to the ACE blog, The Alphabet Avenue,
where we report on our everyday challenges and
successes.!
3.  Engage the ACE community on Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest, and LinkedIn. We are @acecommunity.!
4.  We provide jobs, coaching, and professional
development to over 100 AmeriCorps tutors each year.
Send potential applicants to our website at
www.aceaustin.org. !
5.  Let our results inspire you. Contact us at
ace.dev@austin.utexas.edu for a deeper look at our
data.!
6.  See for yourself how literacy tutoring works. Contact
Associate Director of Development Rachel Mallernee
to schedule a tour: rmallernee@austin.utexas.edu.!
7.  Invest in the future of Central Texas by donating on our
website at www.aceaustin.org. Every penny goes
toward high-quality, intensive, one-on-one tutoring for
low-income students in our community. !
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ACE Is…
Mary Ellen Isaacs, Ph.D., ACE Director!
Susan Buchanan, ACE Education Director!
Rachel Mallernee, Associate Director of Development!
ACE Staff
Jamie Binaut, Accountant!
Gabriela Garcia-De Avila, Senior Program Coordinator!
Jason Buckingham, Senior Program Coordinator!
Despina Lambros, Accountant!
Lea DeForest, Development Specialist !
Amanda Miller, AmeriCorps Operations Manager!
Melissa Dominguez, Administrative Associate!
Monica Ortiz, Program Coordinator!
Cristina Flores, ACE Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator!
Anique Reese, Senior Program Coordinator!
Kristin Hall, Development Specialist !
Alexandra Rodgriguez, Program Assistant!
Calista Harder, Administrative Assistant!
Sebastian Wren, Ph.D., Senior Program Coordinator!
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ACE 2014–2015 Tutors
Abby Morales, 3rd year member!
Alexis Perez, 1st year member!
Ally Young, 1st year member!
Amanda Gonsal, 1st year member!
Amber McCombs, 1st year member!
Andre LeBlanc, 2nd year member!
Andrea MacKenzie, 1st year member!
Anna Asbury, 1st year member!
Anna Cooper, 1st year member!
Anna Gonzalez, 2nd year member!
Ben Wollam, 1st year member!
Bethany Ward, 1st year member!
Brendan Wunnicke, 1st year member!
Brooke Van Court, 1st year member!
Caitlin Lavery, 2nd year member!
Caris Longoria, 2nd year member!
Carolina Andrade, 1st year member!
Caroline Sallee, 1st year member!
Catie Cleary, 1st year member!
Christina Puentes, 1st year member!
Christina Thomas, 1st year member!
Cristina Barriot, 1st year member!
David Hackenbracht, 2nd year member!
Edna Rangel, 1st year member!
Eliud Uresti, 1st year member!
Emily Weitekamp, 1st year member!
Erica Mathews, 2nd year member!
Esther Minjares, 1st year member!
Geraldine Gaona, 1st year member!
Grace Scrivo, 1st year member!
Heather Allison, 1st year member!
Heather Brodbeck, 1st year member!
Heather St. Pierre, 2nd year member!
Jennan Sliman, 1st year member!
Jennifer Woods, 1st year member!
Jessica Hines, 1st year member!
José Giaccardi, 3rd year member!
Joseph Mintz, 1st year member!
Julianne Jones, 1st year member!
Julie Puma, 1st year member!
Julio Gutierrez, 2nd year member!
Kat Williams, 1st year member!
Kate Harslem, 1st year member!
Kate Kreager, 1st year member!
Katelin Norris, 1st year member!
Katelynn Olson, 1st year member!
Katharine Moffit, 1st year member!
Kathleen Herlihy, 1st year member!
Kathy Humphreys, 1st year member!
Katie Mathews, 1st year member!
Katie Samuelson, 1st year member!
Katrina Baumann, 1st year member!
Katy Collins, 1st year member!
Kaylee Howard, 1st year member!
Kelsey Christian, 1st year member!
Kiren Henry, 1st year member!
Kirsten Darner, 2nd year member!
Kirsten Queen, 1st year member!
Lalique Martinez, 1st year member!
Laura Thompson, 1st year member!
Lindsay Loftin, 2nd year member!
Lucero Castillo, 1st year member!
Madeline Newchurch, 1st year member!
Maria Malacara, 1st year member!
Marie Medrano, 1st year member!
Mariela Rodriguez, 1st year member!
Mario Guerra, 2nd year member!
Mario Posada, 2nd year member!
Mary Elizabeth Marks, 1st year member!
Mary Renfro, 1st year member!
Matthew Fulghum, 2nd year member!
Melissa Foggo, 1st year member!
Michelle Nguyen, 1st year member!
Michelle Orduna, 1st year member!
Michelle Perez, 1st year member!
Miguel Rizo, 1st year member!
Mirna Salazar, 3rd year member!
Molly Gramling, 1st year member!
Morgan Gribble, 1st year member!
Nicki Escott, 2nd year member!
Nicole Lloyd, 2nd year member!
Olivia Torres, 1st year member!
Patricia Figueroa, 2nd year member!
Patrick Moore, 2nd year member!
Rachel Ellinor, 1st year member!
Rachel McDaniel, 1st year member!
Richard Alexander, 3rd year member!
Ryan Nittinger, 1st year member!
Sam Rives, 2nd year member!
Sarah Dingeldein, 1st year member!
Tracy Bates, 1st year member!
Tricia Traeger, 1st year member!
Vicki Martinez, 1st year member!
Yvonne Ajaroh, 1st year member!
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Thank you
Commitment to early literacy in
Central Texas is stronger than
ever. Our supporters
understand that reading is the
key that opens the door to
academic success and a
lifetime of learning.!
We’d like to thank the following
foundations, corporations, and
community partners as well as
hundreds of individuals who
generously donated to ACE
last year.!
!
If you see a ★ next to a
person’s name, that donor is
a current or former ACE
tutor.
Our Supporters
Without your financial
support, ACE could not
continue to serve the
growing number of
struggling readers in
our communities. !
Donations can be
made on our donate
page at our website:
www.aceaustin.org. !
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ACE Dedicated Partners
AmeriCorps State and National!
AmeriCorps VISTA!
Austin Independent School District!
The Charles A. Dana Center for Math and Science Education!
Manor Independent School District!
OneStar Foundation!
Region 13 Education Service Center!
The University of Texas at Austin!
Wayside Schools!
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Foundations & Community
Austin Community Foundation!
RGK Foundation!
Benge-Hury Family Foundation!
The Robert Cratchit Fund!
Children's All-Star Foundation!
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation!
The Donald D. Hammill Foundation!
Shield-Ayres Foundation!
I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation!
St. David's Episcopal Church!
I Live Here, I Give Here!
The Stahl Family Foundation, Inc.!
The KLE Foundation!
Topfer Family Foundation!
The Klein Foundation!
United Way for Greater Austin!
The Long Foundation!
The University of Texas Foundation, Inc.!
The Meadows Foundation, Inc.!
Walter/Jennifer Long Trust!
The Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation!
The Webber Family Foundation!
The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation!
Women's Fund of Central Texas!
National Philanthropic Trust!
Wright Family Foundation!
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Corporate Supporters
3M Foundation Inc.!
Frost Bank!
Applied Materials Foundation!
Gray & Becker Construction!
ARM, Inc.!
H E B Tournament of Champions!
Austin Beerworks!
IBM International Foundation!
Austin Energy!
Open Lending, LLC!
Benchmark Bank!
Oxford Commercial!
Dell Inc.!
Party Time Beverages!
Dollar General Literacy Foundation!
RetailMeNot.com!
ElectricChoice.com!
Samsung Austin Semiconductor LLC!
Ericsson Inc.!
Staples Foundation!
ExxonMobil Foundation!
Target Corporation!
Thompson & Horton, LLP!
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In-kind Supporters
Alamo Drafthouse!
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill!
Amy's Ice Cream!
Nicely Noted!
Austin Java!
Odd Duck!
Ben E. Keith Beverage Distributors!
Pluckers Wing Bar!
Boomerang Pies!
P.Terry's Burger Stand!
Deep Eddy Vodka!
Randalls!
Eliza Page!
Starbucks!
Eureka!!
St. Philip Pizza Parlor + Bakeshop!
Fall Creek Vineyards!
Texas Honey Ham Company!
Fresa's Chicken al Carbon!
Texas Keeper Cider!
GoodPop Frozen Pops!
ThunderCloud Subs!
Hat Creek Burger Company!
Topo Chico !
Hopdoddy Burger Bar!
Torchy's Tacos!
Hyde Park Bar & Grill!
Trader Joe's!
Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile!
Uchi!
JuiceLand!
VertsKebap!
Kendra Scott!
Wanderlust YOGA!
Knot Standard Austin!
Whole Earth Provisions!
Liz James Designs!
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ACE Sustainers
Amy Lambert!
Lela Aberg!
Bill Stutts!
Louisa Stegmann!
Bryan Sheffield!
Lyn and Tom Phillips!
Carol and Tom Martine!
Mary Lynn Rice-Lively and Bob Lively!
David Wiltz!
Matt Morgan ★!
Gretchen Ellis!
Rachel Jonkers!
Holliday Hinckley!
Reed Arnos!
James Reilly!
Sheryl and Steve Prater!
John Beckworth!
Stewart Jarmon!
Karin and Fred Harder!
Sue and Donnie Ayers!
Kathy and Patrick Terry!
Sylvia and Robert Franco!
Kristin and Christopher Gossett!
Kathy and Patrick Terry!
Laila and Jordan Scott!
David Wiltz!
Thanks to ACE
donors who
gave $1,000
and up.!
Friends of ACE
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Andrea and Dave Wenholz!
Maria Farahani!
Anique Reese!
Marie Giradot!
Brenda Russell!
Mark Feldman!
Carol and Adam Wagner!
Mary Barone!
Chloe Walker ★!
Mary Ellen Isaacs!
Cory Wolf!
Mary Lee and Randy Jonkers!
David Lastrapes!
Meghan McCarty!
Deborah Hornickel!
Natalie Gray!
Diane Cox!
Paige and Salvador Castañeda!
Donna Osborn!
Peter Aberg!
Erika Mittag!
Retta Van Auken!
Erin and Richard Donoghue!
Sam Zigrossi!
Gina Ahn Pierce ★!
Sebastian Wren!
Holly McIntush!
Sheri Artaza!
Jane Lowe!
Sherrie Frachtman!
Joan Gillcrist!
Stephen Schottman!
Joe M. Morris!
Susan and Ted Hull!
Jordan Ware!
Susan Protich!
Karen Fry!
Tamarah Duperval-Brownlee!
Kristen Bridgeman!
Valerie Borchers!
Laura and Rex Bohls!
Will Jones!
Thanks to ACE
donors who gave
$250 to $999.!
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ACE Donor Wall
Abbie Phillips!
Adam Dawes!
Adam Swanson!
Aiken Reeves!
Aisha and Lars Hagen!
Alexandra Rodriguez!
Alexandra Williams!
Alicia Rascon ★!
Alisha Thompson!
Alison Daughtrey!
Allison and Jason Buckingham ★★!
Allyson Buchanan!
Amanda Adams!
Amanda and Hil Miller!
Amanda Fuller!
Amanda Haines!
Amanda Swann!
Ammie Trainor!
Amy Gayhart!
Amy Salinas!
Amy Story!
Anastasia Rigney!
Andrew Carr!
Andrew Church!
Andrew Gill!
Angela Osborn!
Angie Bennett!
Anna Hayden-Moy ★!
Eugenia Harrell!
Eva Wong!
Evans Finger!
Fay Evans-Martin!
Frank Burgher!
Gabi Garcia-De Avila and Steve De Avila ★!
Gabriel Smith!
Gauthum Ravishankar!
Geanine Garcia-Poindexter!
Grace Alrutz!
Grant Schallock!
Gregory Sherman!
Hallie Brant!
Harvey Cohen!
Heather Cooke!
Holt James!
Irma Castro!
Jack Skaggs!
Jackie Fry ★!
Jacqueline Mata!
James Dillon!
James Gray!
Jami Hampton!
Jamie and Adam Binaut!
Jamie Bombara!
Janeanne Yager!
Janis VanderBerg!
Javier Abrego!
Margaret McIntosh!
Maria Nehring!
Marilyn Toomey!
Marjorie Burciaga!
Mark Williams!
Mary Alvirez!
Mary Calcote!
Mary Hearon!
Mary Pierce!
Mary Tipps!
Marylyn Toledo!
Matt Stillwell!
Matthew Streif ★!
McCall Cunningham!
Meeta Kothare!
Meghan Shannon!
Melanie Zepp!
Melinda Garvey!
Melissa Pearce!
Meredith Prater ★!
Michael Barnett!
Michelle Castillo!
Michelle Koeth ★!
Michou Shell!
Mike Meserole!
Mike Reid!
Mindy Gomillion!
Miranda Fisher!
Thanks to ACE
donors who gave
up to $250.!
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Anne Boswell!
Anne-Marie Walker!
Annie Vo ★!
Bach Bui!
Barbara Wand James!
Ben Fuller!
Beth and David Malitz!
Beth and Kelly Cunningham!
Bill Brewer!
Bo Anderson!
Brett Vetorino!
Brittany Hopper!
Calista Harder ★!
Calvin Smith!
Cameron Duncan!
Camille and Sam Butler!
Carlos Villareal!
Carol and Sandy Dochen!
Carol Freeman!
Carol J. Martin!
Caroline Kay!
Caroline Merideth!
Carolyn Esposito!
Carolyn Landel!
Carrie Hundley!
Carrie Spradley!
Carter Beckworth!
Catherine Creighton!
ACE Donor Wall
Jayme Mathias!
Jean and Fred Heath!
Jeannine Ripp!
Jennifer Corbett!
Jessica Calhoun!
Jessica D'Arcy!
Jessica O'Mary!
Jessica Wassenaar!
Jo Harrell!
Joe Udell!
Johanna Gretschel!
John Lewis!
John Nixon!
Joshua Gonzales!
Judy Butler!
Justin Dudley!
Kaili Goslant!
Karen Affeld!
Karen Aidman!
Karen Myers!
Karen Sanchez!
Karen Wilson!
Karin Kling Bright!
Katelin Norris ★!
Katherine Hinton-Rosenberg!
Katie Van Winkle ★!
Kelley MacDevitt ★!
Kelsey and David Campbell!
Monica Ortiz and Peter Perez ★!
Thanks to ACE
Nadia Zakariya!
donors who gave
Nancy Edwards!
up to $250.!
Nathan Kinsman ★!
Nichole Henderson!
Nichole Prescott!
Omar Barnhart!
Pam Autrey!
Pat Diaz!
Patience Worrel!
Patricia Webb!
Patrick Tennant!
Perry Nelson!
Peter More!
Philip Johnson!
Rachel and Louie Mallernee!
Rachel Bell!
Reuben Reimer!
Rhonda Dirvin!
Richard Spradley!
Riley Cunningham!
Robert Bennett!
Robert Russell!
Rory McDougal ★!
Rugh Hughs!
Russell Eppright!
Sabrina Savinski ★!
Sam Cunningham!
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Catherine Hanna!
Cathy Condray!
Chris Crowley!
Chrissy Tkacz ★!
Christa Tuttle!
Christian Bradbury!
Christina McGee!
Christine Absher!
Christine Menagaz ★!
Cindy Tom ★!
Claudia Chidester!
Clayton Mulford!
Clendon Ross!
Dagney Pruner!
Dan Zimmerman!
David Terry!
Derek Posey!
Despina Lambros!
Don Barr!
Douglas Snyder!
Douglas Weissinger!
Drew Lawson!
Elizabeth Bayer!
Elizabeth Graper!
Elizabeth Ross!
Elizabeth Watson!
Emilee Bunker!
Emma Harker!
Erin Gurak!
ACE Donor Wall
Kelsey Donovan!
Kimberly Menge!
Kirsten and Nick Voinis!
Kirsten Darner ★!
Kristi Tonn!
Kristin Hall!
Kristina Tarsha!
Lacey Galen ★!
Landon Shultz!
Lars Anderson!
Laura and Ryan Coaxum!
Laura Rosenberg!
Lauren Walkowski!
Laurie Drucker!
Lea DeForest!
Leigh-Anne Spokane!
Leslye Kellner!
Lillian Binner!
Linda McDavitt!
Lisa Brown!
Lisa Skalla!
Liz Schnautz!
Lois Kim!
Lollie Trimino!
Louisa Chandler!
Lucy Elder ★!
Lydia Deats!
Maddie and Kyle Loeffelholz!
Malou Flato!
Sarah Bird!
Sarah Morrill!
Sean Bell!
Sean Callaway!
Sireesha Singamsetty!
Sirichi Srisan!
Slava Karaytcheva ★!
Sommer Sprowls ★!
Sophie Hruza!
Starla Terry!
Steven Harrison!
Steven Zamora!
Susan Buchanan!
Suzanne Napier!
Tara Nair ★!
Taylor Ashy!
Terrye Wiggins!
Tess Peters!
Tiffany Leon-Guerrero!
Tricia Moose!
Vanessa Sarria!
Vicky Blackman!
Vicky Dill!
Victoria Huffines!
Vincent Liao!
Walker Cain!
Wayne McCullough!
Wesley Gottesman!
Ynema Mangum!
Thanks to ACE
donors who gave
up to $250.!
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ACE Advisory Board
Thank you, 2014-2015 ACE
Advisory Board!
Chair
Kara Belew!
Community Engagement Chair
Helen Watkins!
Board Affairs Chair !
Teresa Oppedal!
Sheila Bostick!
Tabatha Brown!
Connie Dawes!
Shelley Dahlberg!
Matt Morgan!
Jeff Peek!
Julie Shields!
Marian Wallace!
Tobi Young!
The ACE Advisory Board is composed of community members committed to early literacy in
Central Texas who provide strategic guidance to the ACE Director and contribute to ACE’s
fundraising endeavors.!
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Coming Up in 2016
What’s In a Name?
Same ACE, new face. ACE is currently
going through a rebranding process to find
a new name for our program, one that more
specifically captures our youth literacy work
and our commitment to serving the
community. Stay tuned for more news about
rebrand developments in 2016! !
Growing Our Impact
ACE has experienced rapid growth since
2011, from 11 to 32 schools and from 30 to
over 100 tutors. However, the need for our
work continues to grow. ACE is turning our
attention to how we can grow our impact
sustainably while also achieving the same
quality outcomes. !
Serve Austin
ACE is leading a collaborative effort among the ten Austin AmeriCorps programs to elevate
awareness of our collective impact and to expand national service opportunities to more
Central Texans. Austin AmeirCorps programs provide over 750,000 hours of direct service
to some of our most vulnerable community members every year. We are truly working to
address the Tale of Two Austins, and to mitigate the economic segregation of our region
through addressing education, college access, homelessness, affordable housing, and
disaster relief and recovery.!
www.aceaustin.org
2014–2015 Annual Report