Help Open Door Fill the Gap and our mission to be Open to All! The difference between what the government pays for tuition subsidies for children from low-income families and our actual tuition totals over $175,000 per year. As Open Door's mission is to give all children-regardless of family circumstances or special needs-a strong start in life, please make it possible for us to continue to be Open to All! For example, it takes $5124 to Fill the Gap for a Toddler's annual tuition; $4356 to Fill the Gap for an Infant's annual tuition; or $3732 to Fill the Gap for a Pre-K student's annual tuition. We rely on community members like you to help us Fill the Gap and make the magic happen, and to help financially struggling families keep their kids enrolled.

Here’s how you can help our 2019 Amplify Austin campaign to keep Open Door Prechools Open to All.

• DONATE EARLY in any amount by scheduling your donation here. This year, I Live Here, I Give Here will award $5000 to the organization with the most dollars pledged before Amplify begins.

• If you haven’t already, make sure you “like” us on Facebook to follow all of our exciting #AmplifyATX news and invite your friends to like us too.

• Share you love for Open Door by using the #OpentoAll and #AmplifyATX

Open Door Preschools
~ 2018 Fall Fête ~

Saturday, September 29th at 7pm
Thinkery — 1830 Simond Ave. — Austin, Texas

The 2018 Fall Fête: Keep Austin Open took its inspiration from our city’s sites and sounds, and featured Austin’s favorite bites and beverages by Pearl Snap and Sourced, live music by Dysfunkshun Junkshun, an Open Austin Raffle, and more!

2018 Fall Fête Honorees

Lack Family Visionary Volunteer Award: Michelle Mann Adams
Former Open Door Board Chair who brought our fundraising into the present.

Opening New Doors Award: Susan Eason
Longtime Executive Director of the Arc of the Capital Area.

The Open Austin RAFFLE featured 5 great packages

• Wine & Dine - Enjoy date nights in style at several of Austin's most delicious eateries then sit down and enjoy a glass of fine wine. Included are Juniper, Uchi/Uchiko, Wink, Jack Allen, and more with a case of fine wine to enjoy. (value: $1,100+)

• Austin Chic - update any wardrobe with a designer Devi Kroell Italian handbag and private Kendra Scott Colorbar party, including a $500 gift card. (value: $4,600)

• ACL Weekend - Have a blast at one of Austin's greatest weekends of the year with 2 3-Day wristbands (winner’s choice of first or second weekend), gift cards to Bennu and Gibson Street Bar, Tito’s vodka, and more (value: $800)

• Self-Care - We all love it and don't get enough of it. Care for yourself with gift certificates to Kelia Skincare, Only by Nina Fitzgerald, Soul Cycle, Volume Salon, Urban Betty, Castle Hill Fitness and more. (value: $1,100+)

• Staycation - Overnight stays at the Hotel Van Zandt and the Omni, as well as dinner at Emmer and Rye and a hang-gliding adventure! (value: $1,100+)
  
  

  Thank you to our Fall Fête Sponsors

Wide Open Sponsor
— Robert Mann

Open To All Sponsors
— Lee Manford and Casey Blass; Norton Rose Fulbright

Open Hearts Sponsors
— 3M; Tony and Kate Clark; Maxwell, Locke & Ritter LLP; John McGlothlin; Cathy and Ed McHorse; Michael Nellis and Cherisse Robison; Jarrell and Shirley Rubinett Family Foundation; Samsung Austin Seminconductor; Tisch Scott; Jack Walker LLP

Open Minds Sponsors
— Alexander Law Firm; Austin Area Chevy Dealers; Paul Carapetyan and Julia Spann; Larry and Benita Elsner; Frost Bank; Marco and Tracey Matchefts; Miller Imaging & Digital Solutions; Piper and Drew Nelson; Public Consulting Group, Inc.; Justin and Amber Ross; Tall Blue Fish LLC

Open Arms Sponsors
— R.J. Adams and Michelle Mann Adams; Karen Bartoletti; David Borden and Tamara Atkinson; James Campbell; Tim and Debbie Cooper; Brooke Couch-Freeland; Brian and Carolyn DeRoeck; Char Dison; Lloyd and Libby Doggett; Glenn Goulet; Hailstone Insurance; Karen Kahan and MariBen Ramsey; Janey and Melvin Lack; Mary Austin Moody; Joe and Janis Pinnelli

Open Door Sponsors
— Buddy and Robin Beger; Linda Biderman; Marilyn Brown; Donna Bueche and Mitch Pryor; Carolyn and Jason Connolly; Rebecca and Mark Davis; Susan Eason; Jean Elsner; Barbara and Stephen Gold; Laura and Russell Gold; Kate Graham and Mike London; TexStar Chiropractic Clinics; Kirsten and Wally Ingram; James and Mary Kahle; Rick Levy and Lynn Rubinett; Lawrence Lyman and Andrea Torres; Capitol Market Research; Marco and Tracey Matchefts; Tom and Kay McHorse; Mark and Jennifer Mouritsen; Meredith Murray and Jason Segna; Carol Nelson; Walker Gate Vela PLLC; Scott and Donna Samuelson; Marcia and Barry Silverberg; Elliot Trester and Barbara Wilson; Jenny Whitten and Tim Trickey; Marc and Suzanne Winkelman; Manda Rash and Dan Wittliff; Texas Capital Bank

April 19, 2018:  Community event

When Young Children Explore their Gender Identity

Open Door Preschools and Out Youth co-hosted a panel discussion for parents, educators, and all who want to support and empower the gender-creative children in their lives.  The 90 minute panel discussion addressed common questions and issues encountered by parents, schools, and the transgender community, and shared resources to help navigate challenges and concerns.  Afterwards, panelists and guests mingled informally, asking additional questions, networking, and socializing. 

Panelist: Cassidy Laminack, LMFT-A (moderator); Greg Bonetti, M.A., Ph.D. candidate, UC Berkeley; Rev. Carmarion Anderson, Executive Director at Black Transwomen International; Kathryn Gonzales, M.B.A., Operations & Programs Director at Out Youth; Rachel Gonzales, parent and Education and Resource Coodinator at Equality Texas; Diana Peyton, M.A., M.S.W., Child Development and Family Consultant.

March 3, 2018

43rd Birthday Celebration and Taco Takedown
at Threadgill's World Headquarters

What a wonderful day to be outside, having fun at Open Door's 43rd birthday!  Free admission and Dr. Seuss -themed games and activities for the kids -- including face-painting, an arts-and-crafts table, free Dr. Seuss books, and much more!  We also celebrated and honored this year's teacher-recipients of the Nira Changwatchai Living the Mission Award: Catherine Knowles (Central), Samra Butt (East), and LaToya Payne (M Station).  Don't forget the delicious cakes for winners of the cake-walk!  Plenty of eats for purchase, along with music, song, and dance by kid's rap artist Big Don and his hip-hop take on classic kid's songs.  And, of course, BIRTHDAY CAKE and the not-to-be-missed Taco Takedown contest!  In addition to donations at the party before/during the TakeDown, each school's Taco Team also raised funds March 1-2 through Amplify Austin -- Thank you to everyone who supported their favorite team(s) and team mebers: Central: Oh, The Places You'll TACO!; East: The 3 Amigos + 1!; and M Station: The Taco Terminators!

And a great big Thank You! to everyone who joined us for the festivities.  Here are a few pics of the party -- more will be added.

Taco TakeDown competition -- three schools, three teams
Oh, The Places You'll TACO! (Central).   The 3 Amigos + 1! (East).   The Taco Terminators! (M Station)

March 1-2, 2018

Amplify Austin 2018: 24 Hours of Giving

Thank you to everyone who helped make Amplify Austin such a success.  Your generosity enables Open Door to remain Open to ALL,  providing inclusive and accessible high quality early childhood education to children from a variety of backgrounds and with diverse needs.  This year's Amplify Day was also tied in with our Birthday Party and Taco Takedown, with pages for each school's taco team!

Donations can still be made via
Open Door Preschools' Amplify AUSTIN PAGE: https://amplifyatx.ilivehereigivehere.org/OPENDOORPRESCHOOLS

The 2018 Taco Takedown Teams did fundraising through Amplify Austin, as well:
Central: Oh, The Places You'lL TACO!
East: THE 3 Amigos + 1! 
M Station: THE TacO Terminators!

Many thanks to individual Fundraisers: Meghan Alexander; Cherelle and Ryleigh, Tony Clark, Larry Elsner, Laura Gold, Glenn Goodrich, Hayden & Ancely, Kirsten Ingram, Cathy McHorse, Cherisse Robison, Victoria Vlach

2017
Fall Fête at The Thinkery, September 16

For forty-two years, Open Door Preschools has -- with the generous support of our community sponsors -- transformed the ideal of inclusion into a beautiful reality.  Over the years, we have also learned how to throw a really great party, and the 2017 Fall Fête: What a Colorful World, at the Thinkery, was no exception! Great friends and community supporters, fabulous food and drink, rockin' music, fun activities, and lively camaraderie created a wonderful time for all!

~~ Congratulations to our 2017 Honorees ~~

MANY THANKS to our Fall Fête SPONSORS

Thank you to everyone for helping us build
a more wonderful, colorful world, one child at a time.

Thank You to our Birthday Party Sponsors

Cakewalk Sponsor: Shirley Rubinett
Party Hat Sponsors: Alexander Law Firm; Carol Corley Nelson; Janis and Joe Pinnelli
Balloon Sponsors: Ada Belle Fudell; Ed and Cathy McHorse; Kate Graham and Mike London; Diane Holloway; Cecilia Lynch; Brooks, Edythe, and Alberta Wright
Party Games Sponsors: Nathan Eakle; William and Janet Krejci; Richard and Cahterine Nathan; Mr. and Mrs. Joe T. Seibold

Teacher of the Year Awards

Amplify Austin Day March 2-3, 2017

Open Door Preschools raised nearly $19,000 plus $10,000 in matching funds during this year's Amplify Austin Day!
Thank you for your generous support!

Open Door Celebrates Teacher Excellence

the Austin Association for the Education of Young Children (AAEYC) recognized two Open Door Teachers for their outstanding work with children -- Congratulations Chantal and Brandy!
Read the whole article here. 

February 21, 2017

Past Events