The Austin Chamber has announced the finalists for the Austin Gives Awards, recognizing exceptional philanthropic efforts and corporate social responsibility within the Central Texas business community. These remarkable individuals and organizations have demonstrated a commitment to fostering a culture of giving back.

After a nomination process, The annual awards process included a community-wide call for nominations followed by evaluation and scoring by a volunteer committee of business leaders. The winners in each category will be announced at the Austin Gives Awards event on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Four Seasons Hotel.

“The Austin Gives Awards are a great opportunity to acknowledge individuals and businesses that are making a difference in Austin,” said Bobby Jenkins, Chair of Austin Gives and Owner of ABC Home and Commercial Services. "I believe deeply that the business community can impact some of Central Texas' most pressing issues by giving back and supporting charitable causes."

The finalists for the 2023 Austin Gives Awards are:

Volunteer of the Year Finalists

Rachel Bond- Greater Texas Credit Union
Buck Bracey - Alotten
Tim O'Hara - OneStudyTeam
Devan McDonald - Charles Schwab

Employee Engagement Finalists – Small-Sized Business

McGuireWoods LLP
Red Fan Communications

Employee Engagement Finalists – Large-Sized Business

Brohn Homes
Greater Texas Credit Union

Employee Engagement Finalists – Extra-Large Sized Business

Charles Schwab
UFCU

Generous Business Awards Finalists – Charitable Champion (Small)

Growth Acceleration Partners
Logictry
Shipshape
WaFd Bank

Generous Business Awards Finalists – Big Heart (Medium)

Austin Detours
Legacy Lightin
Venturi Private Wealth
Vintage IT Services

Generous Business Awards Finalists – Bold Giver (Large)

Armanino
Austin FC
Pape-Dawson Engineers
STG Design

Generous Business Awards Finalists – Community Leader (Extra Large)

3M
A+ Federal Credit Union
JuiceLand
PIMCO
Texas Oncology

“The Austin Chamber wants to encourage philanthropy because the business community can be a force for good in Austin,” said Bethany Leffingwell, Senior Advisor for Social Impact for the Austin Chamber of Commerce. “Giving back is not just good for the community; it is also good for businesses. Data shows that purpose-driven companies have a higher employee retention rate, enjoy a faster brand value growth rate, and are more appealing to current and future investors. The Austin Gives Awards celebrates businesses that embrace generosity and empower the workforce to make a positive impact.

At the event, the Austin Chamber will also recognize the winners of the 2023 Bobby Jenkins Philanthropic Leadership Award, Tomi and Pete Winstead. Over the years, the Winsteads' remarkable dedication and unwavering commitment to serving the Greater Austin community. To read more about their commitment to philanthropy, click here.

In addition to announcing the honorees, the Austin Chamber is delighted to reveal the speakers for the 2023 Austin Gives Awards event will be Senator John Cornyn and Sara Rodell, Founder and CEO of Loop & Tie.

Senator Cornyn will join the Austin Gives event to highlight the importance of corporate philanthropy, provide an update on his work in the United States Senate and congratulate his longtime friends Tomi and Pete Winstead for being recognized for their contributions to the Austin community.

Rodell will join the event to share her experience as an Austin native and launching Loop & Tie after a successful career at UBS in New York City, where her experiences inspired her to develop a more innovative, streamlined, and sustainable approach to managing end-to-end corporate gifting.

Sara has been recognized as a Female Entrepreneur to watch by Inman News, Thrive Global, and Buzzfeed. Sara brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in corporate gifting and creating sustainable business practices.

For more information about the Austin Gives Awards and to learn more about the finalists, please visit https://www.austinchamber.com/events/austin-gives-awards-2023.