Bastrop County Cares had the honor of attending the Central Texas Community Foundation’s 8th Annual Legacy Luncheon, a gathering dedicated to recognizing the nonprofits, businesses, volunteers, and community leaders whose work is making a difference across Central Texas.
This year’s luncheon was especially meaningful for our organization. For the second consecutive year, Bastrop County Cares was nominated for the Impact Award and selected as one of only five finalists. For us, this recognition is about much more than an award. It is an opportunity to celebrate what is possible when people and organizations come together around a shared commitment to strengthening their communities.
What Is the Impact Award?
Presented by the Central Texas Community Foundation, the Impact Award recognizes the Nonprofit of the Year and honors an organization creating meaningful change and making a significant difference in the lives of people in need.Being named a finalist places Bastrop County Cares among organizations across Central Texas doing the important, and often difficult, work of responding to community needs, building partnerships, expanding access to resources, and creating opportunities for individuals and families to thrive.
To receive this recognition for the second year in a row is especially meaningful. It reminds us that community impact is rarely the result of one program, one event, or one organization. Lasting change happens through consistency, trust, collaboration, and a willingness to keep showing up.
Why This Recognition Matters to Our Community
Awards may recognize organizations, but the work behind them belongs to communities. Every program delivered, partnership formed, resource shared, meeting held, family supported, and community voice heard represents people working together toward something better.
At Bastrop County Cares, our role has always centered on connection and collaboration. We bring people and organizations together to address challenges that no single organization can solve alone. That means working alongside nonprofits, schools, healthcare providers, local leaders, funders, businesses, volunteers, and, most importantly, the residents who know their communities best.
Recognition like the Impact Award brings greater visibility to that work. It shines a light not only on Bastrop County Cares, but also on the needs, strengths, partnerships, and possibilities that exist throughout Bastrop County. When community-based organizations are recognized, their communities are recognized with them.
Celebrating Our Fellow Finalists
We are also proud to have stood alongside four remarkable organizations as finalists for this year’s Impact Award: The Black Fund of Central Texas, Candlelight Ranch, The Charlie Center, and Con Mi MADRE.
We know firsthand what it takes to do this work. Behind every nonprofit are people answering calls, building programs, searching for resources, developing partnerships, raising funds, solving problems, listening to families, advocating for their communities, and continuing to show up even when the work is difficult.
That is why we want to congratulate every organization nominated and recognized at this year’s Legacy Luncheon. Being named among organizations committed to serving Central Texas is an honor in itself, and every finalist represents people working every day to make their communities stronger.
This Recognition Belongs to Our Community
Being named an Impact Award finalist for the second consecutive year is an accomplishment our entire Bastrop County Cares team is proud to celebrate. But we also know we did not get here alone. This recognition reflects the dedication of our staff, board, volunteers, community partners, funders, supporters, and residents who continue to trust us, work alongside us, challenge us, and help shape the work we do.
We are grateful to the Central Texas Community Foundation for recognizing the organizations and individuals working to strengthen communities throughout our region. Being a finalist for the second year in a row gives us another reason to celebrate, but it also gives us another reason to keep going. Congratulations to every 2026 Impact Award finalist. We are proud to be in such good company, and even prouder to continue doing this work alongside the community we serve.
